The world’s first clinical trial is underway using 3-D printed skin at the Concord Hospital in Sidney Australia! This skin grafting technique was first developed in 2023, it uses the patient’s own skin stem cells to create a liquid that it is then able to spray onto a wound.

How did they do it?

The skin graft was applied using a LIGO surgical robot, at the patient’s bedside. The robot printer sprayed a skin cell mixture layer by layer to rebuild the skin cell by cell – making a skin graft.

What did the patients think?

As part of this current clinical trial, five patients have received a 3D printed skin graft and five more are waiting for one. They reported it causing no pain.

What are the future applications of this technique?

Thanks to this new type of creating skin graphs. It can either be applied directly to the skin or printed separately and then applied, depending on the type of wound. This allows patients to get treated faster, and reduces pain and scaring. In the case of one patient, her skin was not healing naturally and this 3D graft was the best option.

As covered on the Daily Tech News Show on May 27th 2025. For a more detailed discussion of the topic, listen here:

News: https://slhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sydneyconnect/2025-news/world-first-3d-printed-skin-trial-under-way-concord-burns-unit

Robot: https://inventia.life/ligo