A New Technology Can Create 3D Models Using Sound

Additive manufacturing can be used in a wide range of fields and applications. Bioprinting in particular has shown real promise in the medical field. In this process, cellular structures are produced from a bio-ink to create skin, tissue and organs. To advance this field, a new project has emerged, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. The research team has created a new technology to assemble 3D matter using sound. Its concept uses multiple acoustic holograms to model objects in three dimensions.

According to a study by Research and Markets, the bioprinting market will reach $5.3 trillion by 2030. This expansion is due in part to the growing number of chronic diseases worldwide that require innovative solutions. In the US alone, 105,800 people are on the national transplant list according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) with a new person being added every 10 minutes. However, demand exceeds the supply, which is why there is an urgent need to develop new applications. Now, a further step could be taken in bioprinting with the new technology that combines sound and 3D printing.

Photo Credits: Max Planck Institute / University of Heidelberg

Characteristics of the 3D Technology

The project began when researchers first investigated how to form ultrasound using acoustic holograms. It was shown that these used sound fields could create 2D shapes. Then to make the method possible, the team developed a technology in which sound waves exert a force on the material, shaping the object. This is done using high frequency ultrasound, which cannot be perceived by the human ear. In addition, the wavelengths of the generated waves push below a millimeter, making it an ideal technique for manipulating a wide variety of materials, including biological cells and glass.