BioMedical Engineering

Artificial Organs

“artificial organ Bio-Atelier” by HAMACHI! is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

What is it?

Artificial organs comprise complex medical devices that have active mechanical or biochemical functions such as heart, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, or neurosensory organs. Artificial organs can be either surgically implanted or extra corporeal (in which blood is temporarily processed outside the patient’s body).

What are the risks of artificial organs?

The artificial heart does carry risks, including blood clots, bleeding, infections and device malfunctions. Most Doctors are not 100% sure, and recommend additional research to examine the use of the total artificial heart as a permanent solution for patients, rather than simply a bridge to transplant.

Are artificial organs better?

The key benefits of artificial organs are that they open up the possibility of mass production and patients are less likely to experience organ rejection. Depending on technological progress and capacity in the NHS, transplant waiting lists could significantly be reduced or even disappear.

Can the body reject artificial organs?

There are three types of rejection: Hyper acute rejection occurs a few minutes after the transplant when the antigens are completely unmatched. Chronic rejection can take place over many years. The body’s constant immune response against the new organ slowly damages the transplanted tissues or organ.

How long does an artificial organ last?

“Now, doctors say different things, but they will say about 10 to 12 years for survival.” There is no particular, built-in time that a donated organ should stop working completely.