Researchers at Japan's University of Tsukuba, have created a new modeling method for the human liver. Instead of printing our complicate multi-material 3D models of patient's livers they are able to produce a model which costs about one third the price. By reducing the material required they have been able to convey the same information from the CT scans and MRIs as the more expensive model can. Such models are expected to be put into use within the surgical field sometime next year as researchers now work on additional organs. Details on this research can be found here: http://3dprint.com/79900/cheap-3d-printed-organs


Below is a picture of the more expensive 3D model on the left and the new 3D printed liver model on the right: