They say this is no incubator cos unlike conventional incubator, the artificial womb reproduces conditions in a real womb.
It incorporates a plastic bag filled with artificial nutrient-rich amniotic fluid.
The infant’s own heart circulates blood through the umbilical cord into an external gas-exchange machine taking the place of the mother’s placenta. No mechanical pump is used because even gentle artificial pressure could fatally overload an underdeveloped heart.
Synthetic amniotic fluid enriched with nutrients flows in and out of the temperature-controlled, near-sterile ‘biobag’.
The aim is to provide an environment in which tiny premature babies can safely develop their lungs and other organs during the critical period from 23 to 28 weeks after conception
The extra-uterine support device has been successfully tested on fetal lambs equivalent in age to 23-week-old human infants.
Mirror
It incorporates a plastic bag filled with artificial nutrient-rich amniotic fluid.
The infant’s own heart circulates blood through the umbilical cord into an external gas-exchange machine taking the place of the mother’s placenta. No mechanical pump is used because even gentle artificial pressure could fatally overload an underdeveloped heart.
Synthetic amniotic fluid enriched with nutrients flows in and out of the temperature-controlled, near-sterile ‘biobag’.
The aim is to provide an environment in which tiny premature babies can safely develop their lungs and other organs during the critical period from 23 to 28 weeks after conception
The extra-uterine support device has been successfully tested on fetal lambs equivalent in age to 23-week-old human infants.
Mirror
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