This is a protective patch that will guide the way cells heal after shoulder surgery. It is made from microfibers 100 times finer than human hair and will completely disintegrate to prevent long term complications. And it was constructed by hand - on a wooden loom.

It baffles the mind how such high tech stuff can be made by hand. The patch was devised at the University of Oxford, and it is meant to wrap around soft tissue after shoulder surgery to prevent subsequent tendon tears.

The microscopic fiber that comes in contact with the repaired tissue, guides cells to develop strong bonds as they heal. On the outside, the patch is strong enough to take on the shoulder's complex movement. Even better, it disappears after months of being left alone.

Researcher Osnat Hakimi explains that the manual loom is the perfect tool for weaving the patch's protective cover.

The patch is showing really great results in lab tests, so hopefully human trials are next to come. [BBC]