3 ms·
Page won't load, so I can only speculate based on the title. Barring miracles, the answer is "very far off". Sure, the macroscopic structure is relatively simpl
by Tharkun 7y ago
Page won't load, so I can only speculate based on the title. Barring miracles, the answer is "very far off". Sure, the macroscopic structure is relatively simple. And sure, it's just a pump. But it's a pump with its own frequency generator (SA node). Which supplies blood to itself. Which is self-repairing to a large extent, in spite of the insane volumes of blood it pumps every living moment and the stresses that puts on its own blood vessels. It's an electromechanical Swiss watch, where timing is crucial and various types of tissue have various conductive properties.
Good luck with the 3D printer. Maybe start with a valve that lasts longer than a pig valve, move up from there.
Edit: nerve replacement would be a nice next step. Or simple muscle replacement. Lots of people would benefit from that, and both are likely prerequisites to "printing" a heart.