$0.30 3D-printed stethoscope beats $200 stethoscope

[JosephDredd]

These guys are trying to change the world (link).

Tarek Loubani, an emergency physician working in the Gaza strip, has 3D-printed a 30 cent stethoscope that beats the world's best $200 equivalent as part of a project to bottom-out the cost of medical devices.

Loubani together with a team of medical and technology specialists designed the stethoscope and tested it against global standard benchmarks, finding it out performed the gold-standard Littmann Cardiology 3.

The team is now developing cheap but effective 3D-printed medical devices including a pulse oximeter which monitors blood oxygen levels in the blood and is at a stage ready for calibration.

They are also working on an electrocardiogram for cardiac patients and will work on haemodialysis machines.

These he says are three of the most ubiquitous and expensive life-saving devices in any medical centres.

Good for these guys. 3D printing could change the world.

 

[Adamant]

How long until this technology is sold at Best Buy? It should be available to everyone.

But then it'll only be a matter of time before countless idiotic restrictions and regulations are put on it, and the government tells us what we can and can't print, or use it for.

 

[Stump]

super cool

 

[JosephDredd]

How long until this technology is sold at Best Buy? It should be available to everyone.

But then it'll only be a matter of time before countless idiotic restrictions and regulations are put on it, and the government tells us what we can and can't print, or use it for.

This is the only time that I've really entertained the idea of massive control conspiracies, but if I put on a tinfoil hat it's going to be about 3D printing. It has the power to demolish capitalism and hurt EVERY company that influences politics. I would not be surprised to see it brutally suppressed.

 

[ripskater]

I heard they could make guns off of those. I doubt they are very reliable though for gun making.

 

[JosephDredd]

I heard they could make guns off of those. I doubt they are very reliable though for gun making.

How 3-D Printed Guns Evolved Into Serious Weapons in Just One Year (link).

 

[Shokushu Goukan]

Ok, so how cheap are the 3D printed Real Dolls? My friend's birthday is coming up. Seriously. For Real.

 

[7437]

How long until this technology is sold at Best Buy? It should be available to everyone.

But then it'll only be a matter of time before countless idiotic restrictions and regulations are put on it, and the government tells us what we can and can't print, or use it for.

Don't know about best buy, but you can buy them on amazon.

 

[Rod1]

Amazing discovery in such unlikely place, the middle east used to be the cradle of civilizations, i wonder where humanity would be right now if abrahamic religions had never existed.

 

[Shokushu Goukan]

i wonder where humanity would be right now if abrahamic religions had never existed.

Which ones? What do you think would happen to your "middle east was the cradle of civilization" and the spread of Islam.

 

[gigantalor]

Ok, so how cheap are the 3D printed Real Dolls? My friend's birthday is coming up. Seriously. For Real.

Friend, eh? :redface:

 

[Orgasmo]

Medical equipment companies and big pharma will find someways to gouge you back whatever you saved.

 

[Rod1]

Which ones? What do you think would happen to your "middle east was the cradle of civilization" and the spread of Islam.

1.- All of them

2.- Islam is an abrahamic religion.

 

[no fat chicks]

War Science.

 

[KILL KILL]

Step #1- 3d printing
Step #2 - Replicators from Star Trek
Step #3 - Live long and prosper.

 

[Arkain2K]

Step #1- 3d printing
Step #2 - Replicators from Star Trek
Step #3 - Live long and prosper.

Don't screw up Step 2 and make a Replicator from Stargate though, 'cause we still haven't made contact with the Asgards yet.

 

[5H3RD0G]

Everything will get cheaper but where will millions of those jobs be created to replenish the losses. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM I like cheaper stuff at great quality but people aren't just going to sit around and accept machines taking there jobs for long. Robots will also eat a huge chunk of the work now what will be left for billions and billions to do? I sure hope these politicians have a space ship they will need it if they don't get smart right away. :icon_lol:

 

[UpaLoompa]

Everything will get cheaper but where will millions of those jobs be created to replenish the losses. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM I like cheaper stuff at great quality but people aren't just going to sit around and accept machines taking there jobs for long. Robots will also eat a huge chunk of the work now what will be left for billions and billions to do? I sure hope these politicians have a space ship they will need it if they don't get smart right away. :icon_lol:

Continuing automation and technological advances like 3d printing will indeed make things massively cheaper and also end up resulting in the loss of many jobs. I think this will actually force a pretty major shift in society. Someone mentioned replicators, a topic in the background of Star Trek: TNG actually dealt with some of the implications of this. If everything is cheap and readily available you end up with essentially no economy and people pursue their interests, it actually makes a meritocracy far more feasible too.

 

[edco76]

I want one! I'm always losing my stethoscopes so I just buy cheap ones now.

 

[method115]

How long until this technology is sold at Best Buy? It should be available to everyone.

But then it'll only be a matter of time before countless idiotic restrictions and regulations are put on it, and the government tells us what we can and can't print, or use it for.

Hopefully it's like the internet and they just lose control of it. So while there may be laws to prohibit printing certain things and it will be taken as serious as downloading an MP3.