Conception

Assisted reproduction

Another big part of my life

Preliminaries

It is in January 2015 in Cumberland Ontario that it all started. The Author was lend a small 3D printer from his good neighbour Normand to experiment and play with (Thanks Normand). After printing many small figurine type objects, like everybody else who start with 3D printing, the Author discovered a more functional, but still useless object; a robot hand. This was way to cool to pass, he had to print and make it move. Since he had been recently introduced to a new robotic technology for personal use (thank's David), it didn't take too long to mix the two together.

Assisted reproduction

In vitro fertilization

It is in a high tech laboratory with artificial insemination equipment (3D printer) that the assisted reproduction of type in vitro was carried out.

The 3D printer fertilizing process in action.

A magnified view of the 3D printer fertilizing process in action

Artificial insemination equipment: a 3D printer inside a home made chamber, and plastic filament spools in a home made rack.

Embryonic development

During the development of mass of cells (embryo-genesis), cells begin to differentiate into the various body systems. The following ultrasound images shows the premature formation of the head, the muscles and the hand, including the tendons.

Cell division process forming the palm of the left hand. On this ultrasound image, we can see the formation of the tendon membranes (fishing wire channeling).

Magnified view of many parts inside de head.

Advanced cell division process.

On this ultrasound image, we can see the premature formation of the hand and the head.

Mass muscles formation (servo motors)

Formation of the hand is almost complete.

Fetus development

As the embryo continues its development, it eventually reaches the fetus stage. This is when the fetus start making involuntary motions (quickening).

Forming head.

Enhanced view of the forming hand with detail view of the tendons membrane formation.

Another detail view of the forming hand. Here we can see a completed tendon go across the palm of the left hand.