Contents:
- Medical Video: Scientists grow lamb fetus inside artificial womb
- What is the artificial uterus made of plastic like?
- Artificial uterus to increase the life expectancy of premature babies
Medical Video: Scientists grow lamb fetus inside artificial womb
There is a study that is able to find a new breakthrough in the field of health that sounds almost impossible. There is a figure of a fetus who is born prematurely and can be large outside the mother's womb, but not in an incubator. But in the artificial womb of plastic.
What is the artificial uterus made of plastic like?
The research team from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia created the plastic bag and used it as an artificial uterus. This special plastic bag is made of polyethylene which is commonly used for baby milk bottles and filled with amniotic fluid, which is a liquid that is also present in the uterus. This liquid serves to provide nutrients needed for fetal growth and tested on goat embryos.
In the bag, equipped with gas exchange such as the placenta. In addition, a circulatory system is made similar to that in the womb. For a heart pump, do not use an external pump, but the natural heart of the goat. Amazingly, to approach the real conditions. The fetus is placed in a dark place and the mother's heartbeat is heard.
How do researchers test the effectiveness of an artificial uterus? The researchers conducted a study on sheep embryos that were the same age as 23-week-old human embryos. The embryo is inserted in the bag containing amnion. Umbilical cordit is connected to an air engine via a hose that functions like a placenta.
The artificial uterus is also connected to a bag containing nutrients, like intravenous fluids. Artificial bags are also placed in sterile rooms and optimal temperatures. The test results showed that the embryo grew normally. It can be seen from his open eyes and normal hair growth. Not only that, the lungs and brain of the goat embryo also develop normally.
Artificial uterus to increase the life expectancy of premature babies
At present, the life expectancy of premature babies born at 23 weeks of gestation is almost zero percent, age 23 weeks 15 percent, 24 weeks 55 percent, and 25 weeks 80 percent. Normally, a baby is born at 40 weeks' gestation. Those born less than that period have the potential to experience death and developmental disorders. Plastic artificial uterus is an effort made to increase the chances of life in premature babies born at 23-24 weeks of gestation, and not less than that.
Although successful in sheep, this does not mean that the procedure can be used directly for humans. The research team still needs to do other experiments to confirm it. One challenge is sterility. If not sterile, the artificial uterus and its contents can actually endanger the embryo.Another challenge is finding the right amnion liquid formula for humans and the growth hormone needed.
