US regulators will consider clinical trials of a system that mimics the womb, which could reduce deaths and disability for babies born extremely preterm.
Also, image what little Jimmy is gonna think when he finds out he was grown in a laboratory
That’s not what artificial wombs will do. Currently we have incubators, that’s pretty successful for births between 32 and 37 weeks gestation and sort of successful for 28 to 32 weeks gestation. Artificial wombs will allow hospitals to have better rates of success for the 28 to 32 weeks gestation and allow for a new group of 22 to 28 weeks gestation.
In a round about way the artificial wombs are much more sophisticated incubators. Instead of well controlled rooms and layers of barrier to prevent pathogens, the preterm child is placed in a sack filled with fluids. And rather than concentrated oxygen delivered via a nasal cannula (which requires some pretty advanced development of the lungs), it’s delivered via the umbilical cord. Delivering nutrition to a preterm is a complex determination but in some cases it may require delivery via IV, in the artificial womb it is also delivered via the umbilical cord.
For the most part the artificial womb will allow higher success rates for preterm birth. The artificial womb will not be useful for births < 22 weeks and will not be something that preterm babies would spend months at a time in. It’s not that sophisticated a device nor attempts to be that. At most a preterm child would spend a few weeks within the bag and then be transferred to an incubator when chances of success are much higher there.
No one is popping embryos inside a bag and then opening it up nine months later to pull their kid out. We’re still really, really, really far from that point. Likely we’re not going to have that technology for some time from now, but who knows? That said, it ain’t this technology.
That’s not what artificial wombs will do. Currently we have incubators, that’s pretty successful for births between 32 and 37 weeks gestation and sort of successful for 28 to 32 weeks gestation. Artificial wombs will allow hospitals to have better rates of success for the 28 to 32 weeks gestation and allow for a new group of 22 to 28 weeks gestation.
In a round about way the artificial wombs are much more sophisticated incubators. Instead of well controlled rooms and layers of barrier to prevent pathogens, the preterm child is placed in a sack filled with fluids. And rather than concentrated oxygen delivered via a nasal cannula (which requires some pretty advanced development of the lungs), it’s delivered via the umbilical cord. Delivering nutrition to a preterm is a complex determination but in some cases it may require delivery via IV, in the artificial womb it is also delivered via the umbilical cord.
For the most part the artificial womb will allow higher success rates for preterm birth. The artificial womb will not be useful for births < 22 weeks and will not be something that preterm babies would spend months at a time in. It’s not that sophisticated a device nor attempts to be that. At most a preterm child would spend a few weeks within the bag and then be transferred to an incubator when chances of success are much higher there.
No one is popping embryos inside a bag and then opening it up nine months later to pull their kid out. We’re still really, really, really far from that point. Likely we’re not going to have that technology for some time from now, but who knows? That said, it ain’t this technology.
Congratulations, here is your “has read the fucking aritcle” award 🏆
Well I’ll give it the benefit of a doubt for premature birth situations.
Didn’t read the article, did ya?