Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a hyperelastic biomaterial that can be quickly 3D printed in an endless variety of shapes and sizes, perfect for molding it to different body parts. The material is composed mostly of hydroxyapatite — a mineral form of calcium found in human teeth and bones — which was mixed with one of two polymers used in medicine and tissue engineering. Initial tests included bone grafts built with the material and implanted into mice, rats and one macaque that became integrated into tissue and stimulated bone growth without adverse effects.

New experimental virtual reality (VR) applications are starting to be developed within rehabilitation settings to help people treat pain and anxiety.

• Researchers from Ohio University developed a virtual dodgeball intervention designed to elicit graded increases in lumbar spine flexion while reducing expectations of fear and harm.
• The University of Washington Medicine Regional Burn Center at Harborview in Seattle has used VR therapy for distracting burn patients from excessive pain during wound care.
• Bloomberg recently published coverage on the effects that virtual reality has on Alzheimer’s and chronic pain.

There’s a lot more research needed before VR is going to be widely accepted as a pain relief method. Brennan Spiegel, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai who’s also director of health services research at the Los Angeles hospital, is about to begin a study on many more patients.