In 2017, terrifying photos appeared in the media of a premature lamb lying in a polyethylene bag connected to wires containing feeding fluid. It was an experimental artificial womb, codenamed EXTENDcreated by scientists at the Philadelphia Research Institute.
It made it possible to save the lives of lambs born too prematurely for a normal life. This period corresponded approximately to the 23rd week of human pregnancy, and the artificial uterus coped with its task.
The lambs therein continued to grow, develop and become covered in wool for three weeks. This included normal development of their brains at a level as if they were developing in their mother.
Therefore, now the question has arisen of using an artificial womb directly on humans. Scientists recently announced that they hope this problem will be solved by 2024. In total, Philadelphia scientists have conducted about 300 successful experiments with lambs.
The baby, placed in an artificial womb, was first connected via the umbilical cord to the so-called oxygenator, which ensures blood circulation. The system also ensures that the baby can breathe and swallow amniotic fluid, as happens in a normal uterus.
“The animals showed normal or increased movements, sleep-wake cycles, intermittent breathing and swallowing, and generally appeared comfortable and unstressed,” the researchers shared.
“The idea was to get through the difficulties when they were really struggling and get them to the point where they were doing well.”
Alan Flake, one of EXTEND’s developers, says their invention cannot completely replace pregnancy and is nothing more than a “sensational, speculative dream.”
But who knows what will happen in ten or twenty years, given the rapid development of science.
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