VOA慢速英语2019 德国科学家3D打印透明人体器官（在线收听）

German Scientists Create See-Through Human Organs

Scientists in Germany say they have used new technology to create see-through human organs. They say the technology could lead to production of three-dimensional (3D) body parts for use in transplant operations.

德国科学家称，他们利用一项新技术创造出透明的人体器官。他们表示，这项技术可以生产出用于移植手术的3D人体器官。

The scientists are with Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. They said they developed a process that uses a solvent to make transparent organs, such as the brain and kidneys.

这些科学家任职于慕尼黑的Ludwig Maximilians大学。他们表示，他们研发出一种利用溶剂制造透明器官的方法，例如，大脑和肾脏。

The German researchers use lasers in a microscope to scan the organ to be replaced. The laser light helps them see the blood vessels and every single cell inside.

这些德国研究员在显微镜中使用激光扫描待替换的器官。激光有助于他们观察血管以及血管内的每个细胞。

The researchers use this information to print out the structure of the whole organ. For this, they need special equipment. They use a 3D printer to manufacture the structure – one that has height, width and length.

研究人员利用这一信息打印整个器官结构。为此，他们需要特殊的设备。他们使用3D打印机制作出有高、宽和长的（器官）结构。

The researchers then load the printer with stem cells, which can become any kind of cell in the body. The stem cells act as “ink” in the printer. They are injected into the correct position, making the organ fully operational.

然后，研究人员将干细胞装入打印机，干细胞可以转换为人体中的任何一种细胞。干细胞在打印机中充当“墨水”。他们被注射到正确的位置，使器官完全正常运转。

The leader of the study, Ali Erturk, described the new technology as a major development for 3D printing in the medical field.

领导这项研究的阿里·埃尔特克（Ali Erturk）称这项新技术为：3D打印在医学领域的一个重大发展。

Until now 3D-printed organs lacked detailed cellular structures because they were based on two kinds of medical scanning technology, he explained. The two are computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging.

他解释说，到目前为止，3D打印器官缺乏详细的细胞结构，因为它们毕竟是基于两种医学扫描技术的图像。这两种技术分别是计算机断层扫描（CT）和磁共振成像。

“We can see where every single cell is… we can actually replicate it exactly the same,” Erturk said. “I believe we are much closer to a real human organ for the first time now,” he added.

“我们能够看到每个细胞的位置……实际上我们可以完全复制它，”埃尔特克表示。“我相信我们现在第一次离真正的人体器官更近了，”他补充说。

Erturk and his team plan to start by creating a transparent, bioprinted pancreas over the next two to three years. They hope to develop a human kidney within 5-6 years.

埃尔特克和他的团队计划在接下来的两三年内先制造一个透明的生物打印胰腺。他们希望在未来五六年内培育出人类肾脏。

The researchers will first test to see if animals can live with bioprinted organs and could start tests within five to 10 years, he predicted.

研究员们将首先测试动物能否在生物打印器官下存活，并且可能在五到十年内开展临床测试。

Words in This Story

three-dimensional – adj. having length, height and depth

transplant - v. to perform a medical operation in which an organ or other part that has been removed from the body of one person is put into the body of another person

transparent – adj. something one can see through completely

solvent – n. a liquid used for breaking down other substances

scan – v. to look at the inside of (something) by using a special machine

ink – n. a colored liquid used for writing

replicate – v. to recreate something exactly