The world's first medical trial is being conducted at Concord Hospital in Sydney, Australia. Using the patient's own skin cells, biomaterials can be printed directly onto the wound, helping to restore tissue in the treatment of burn patients.

"This is a technology that changes the lives of people with burns and soft tissue loss, and further enhances the reputation of the Concord Burns Unit as a developing center of excellence in burn care worldwide," said New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park.

The new procedure aims to use the patient's own cells and was developed by Inventia Life Science. Working with the hospital's Skin Lab, the team has been able to use new techniques to generate new skin using a robotic 3D printer called the LIGŌ Surgical Robot.

"LIGŌ has the ability to reconstruct all layers of tissue, allowing for physiological regeneration with the potential to improve healing, enhance integration, and ultimately reduce or completely eliminate the need for grafts," according to the Inventia Life Science website.

Five patients have already received 3D-printed skin. Five more are scheduled to undergo the procedure before testing moves on to the next phase.

One of the patients, Rebecca Jane Torbrugge, is receiving treatment after burning her leg while go-karting. The team believes that this type of treatment can contribute to faster recovery and pain reduction in patients.

"I was so surprised that there was no pain—I was expecting some pain, at least where they took the graft—but everything was fine. My biggest problem was staying still for six days!" said Torbrue.

For her and other patients in the trial, the machine is currently being used to print skin onto a wound caused by taking a skin graft to treat a burn. Researchers hope that in the future, the machine will be able to print directly onto burn sites, as well as deeper wounds.

"This is the future. For the first time in the world, at Concord Hospital, we are 3D printing at the bedside," explained Dr. Joe Meitz, head of the burn and reconstructive surgery research group. | BGNES