Just saw this today. Apparently doctors are now starting to use 3D Printed skulls and Brains to practice Brain Surgery. Rather than having to use dead bodies, they can now use these extremely realistic 3D Printed models.

Here is a video


And this is what the 3D Printed brains look like:

Scientists from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur recently created a realistic 3D-printed skull that matches the dense grey matter texture of our brain, including the layers of connective tissue. So maybe no more cutting into cadavers, med students can practice on 3D models, that are more realistic than anything previously produced (see photo at top for a sample of a previous model.)

Today's cutting-edge printers can produce plastic in all kinds of textures, from matte gooey to shiny hard. The scientists in Kuala Lumpur were able to manipulate the settings on their printer to create super realistic skin and bone. They created the tumor by filling a 3D printed cavity with jelly-like plastic and positioned it according to brain-scans taken from a real patient.
Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/digital_f...gery_26200.asp