The BioLung
One example of an artificial organ is the artificial lung. A new device is has been developed that can help patients in need of a lung transplant. One medical team at the University of Michigan, led by Dr. Robert Bartlett, have developed the BioLung. This lung works with the hearts own pumping action to help manage the oxygen and blood flow throughout the body. The BioLung uses the heart rather than mechanics in order to pump blood, which allows the patient to stay active at home instead of being hooked up to a machine and sedated at the hospital. This device can also stay in place following the lung transplant until the lungs are fully operational.
Pros and Cons of Artificial Organs
Pros:
-Allows the patient to possibly conquer a disease or illness
-Has the possibility of prolonging life and making the general quality of life better
-Can help burn victims regenerate skin
-While a proper lung has not been developed, they are working on it (but now the BioLung has been created)
-Organ transplant lists will become unnecessary one day
Cons:
-Possible presence of latent or hidden disease/illness in the base tissue. There is the possibility that if foreign body tissue was used to reconstruct particular tissue matter for a patient, there could be hidden disease within that tissue.
-Ethical issues
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