Dateline: May 3 2036
Wheng Fei ran his finger down the list of markers on the small slip. Blood pressure’s OK, blood glucose’s good, oxygenation’s OK, liver function’s acceptable, kidneys ... hmmm that could need a bit of help...
He pulled up the Lotus BioMed app on his phone, shared the blood analysis data and waited. The app beeped and he scrolled through the options: a lab-grown kidney with four years’ warranty (given his current lifestyle) or a 3D-printed synthetic version promising another 40 years.
He clicked on the synthetic option and selected one of the timeslots available for next week Thursday, just after the resurfacing of his knee joints. He accepted the calendar request and approved the payment through a facial scan.
The elective kidney procedure completed his allocated quarterly upgrade programme, which was a major part of his accepting this new job. Wheng flicked the half-finished cigarette into the gutter and headed back into the bar to join his new colleagues.
Lotus BioMed’s advances in 3D organ and tissue printing had catapulted them into stardom in the late 2020s, allowing for rapid acquisitions of ancillary biotech companies. They could now offer a full suite of printed and grown organs, biomechanical joints and bones, carbon-fibre-enhanced muscle tissues, and were working on an advanced memory backup product that would help them open up a new business segment.
China’s more flexible regulatory environment had enabled local companies to become world leaders in elective bio-enhancements, and millions of wealthy customers flocked into the private medical suites around Shanghai annually. The industry has capitalised on a perfect storm of events: self-driving cars have almost eliminated fatal traffic accidents worldwide, which in turn strangled the supply of organ donors. The fast emergence of black market organs by criminal syndicates was quickly squashed by AI-driven policing systems, leaving the approval for private organ growing and printing the only viable option. Once the demand from medically related needs was fulfilled, the industry looked for new markets.
Wheng Fei is one of the new breed of customers, belonging to the rich elite that opt for elective organ replacements and bio-enhancements to boost their energy, performance, and longevity. The 3D printing of synthetic organs allows for quick swap-outs to counteract any wear and tear, diminishing performance, or for new models with enhanced features.
With this new technology, designer organs are cheap and abundant. Gone are the days when you could wait years for a donated organ. Now they are available on demand.
- First published on Mindbullets May 2 2024
Printing the Philosopher’s Stone
3D printing could be the key to unlocking immortality
Dateline: August 9 2029
Until recently, pancreatic cancer was largely considered a death sentence. But, thanks to advances in nanotechnology, 3D printing and stem cell research, the narrative is rapidly changing. When Sydney artist Clive Tucker was given the chance to be part of a cutting-edge treatment trial, he jumped at the opportunity. Now, six months after his successful organ transplant, he is back on the local art scene and making waves.
Diagnosed in June 2028 with stage 3 pancreatic cancer, Tucker immediately began aggressive chemo and radiation therapy but experienced limited results. When his oncologist contacted him about a trial involving stem cells harvested from healthy tissue, nanotechnology and 3D-printed organs, Tucker was initially sceptical.
As one of a thousand trial participants worldwide, Tucker spent several months in a specialist facility where all the procedures were carried out, including the simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant.
Stem cells are harvested from healthy bone marrow tissue, then transferred to a bioreactor for further cultivation. Once cultivated, the stem cells are mixed with bioprinter ink and, using an innovative nanotech-based ink distribution system, are used to print replacement organs.
The 3D-printed organs were successfully transplanted in March this year, after which Tucker spent several weeks being monitored at the facility before being transferred to a Sydney convalescent home for the remainder of his recovery.
The initial trial recorded an extremely positive 78% success rate, with only 220 of the 1,000 patients experiencing post-transplant complications, ranging from infection and posttransplant diabetes, to rejection, which was recorded in only 29 cases. Statistically speaking, a 2.9% rejection rate is significantly lower than normal, probably due to the organ being grown from the recipient’s stem cells.
Due to the success of this experiment, several additional trials are planned for the next two years, including liver and lung transplants. With future success in 3D-printed organ replacements all but guaranteed, immortality seems that much closer at hand.
- First published on Mindbullets July 7 2022
• Despite appearances to the contrary, Futureworld cannot and does not predict the future. The Mindbullets scenarios are fictitious and designed purely to explore possible futures, and challenge and stimulate strategic thinking.
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