02-27-2013, 09:41 PM
More and more people in the world have artificial organs, thanks to bionics. Although progress has been fantastic, some parts of the body like the liver or lungs, are too complex to be copied using present-day technology.
Artificial organs are now a reality. Doctors, researchers and bio-engineers were able to make almost perfect replacement for parts of the human body. Hundreds of thousands of people have artificiall shoulders, knees or hips, toes or arms, arteries and skin, teeth and jaws, pancreas and kidneys, trachea, larynx, limbs, bones, eyes, etc...
Using these technological advances, the patients who have lost part of their body or some of their organs stopped functioning due to illness or injury, will again be able to live without assistance. According to Donald O'Neill, vice president of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, "Warner - Lambert" scientists will soon be able to replace every human organ. Bionic men from science fiction movies are slowly becoming a reality. These bionic organs are going to be developed as a result of united efforts of several scientific disciplines: Polymer chemistry, microelectronics, engineering and molecular biology. In 1982 the world has watched amazed as all phases of the surgical procedure, by which is a heart of dr. Barney Clark's replaced by artificial heart of aluminum and polyurethane, and named after the creator of “Jarvik 7”. The leader of the team from the University of Utah, et al. William Kolff, on this occasion said: "Very soon, a marathoner, with a super efficient artificial heart, will have to be disqualified because of the unfair advantage over other runners with normal hearts."
Artificial Hip
One of the most important artificial human parts at this time is artificial hip. In a complete replacement of this important part of the body, diseased and exhausted or injured hip is replaced with metal hip, along with the joint that is built into acrylic plastic cap. Acrylic cement fixates the artificial parts to the natural bone. Of course, there are problems: Artificial hip implanted in elderly is likely to last long enough, but the younger will have to undergo another surgical procedure when the cement is depleted. However, only five percent artificial hips should be changed after ten years of use, and expiration time depends on the type of artificial hip and cement structure.
Knee replacement surgery is also very common. As with hip, artificial knee is installed primarily to reduce the patient's pain, in most cases caused by arthritis.
Today, with the appropriate prosthesis, almost complete restoration of the normal function of the lost limb or part of the limb is possible. Very famous "Hand of Utah" - named after its author, dr. Steven Jacobson from the University of Utah, uses electrical impulses generated by muscle contraction. Electrodes on the remains of muscle arms send signals to microcomputer, located at the elbow of artificial hands and it instantly turns them into a command that runs hand in the desired direction.
Portable Kidneys
Dialysis - the removal of harmful substances from the blood machine that replaces the kidneys, is the only source of life for many patients. The patient is connected to the unit for dyalisis for a couple of hours a day, but that problem was solved by "portable kidney" - the battery powered device which is placed on the patient's chest, and which allows an easier life to these patients.
A prosthesis that replaces the trachea has enabled thousands of people to speak. Tiny electrodes embedded in the inner ear with associated battery bring back the hearing to deaf ears.
It is anticipated that the scientists will soon be able to fit in some micro cameras in the human eye, and within a micro-computer that will play the image to the brain to allow the blind to see.
Construction of insulin pump is significant because it automatically injects the pancreatic hormone in human body, thus avoiding the hypodermic needle.
Researchers are currently generating the pancreas to produce insulin and tissue cells are taken from the bodies of healthy animals.
Today most of the spare parts replace diseased, damaged or removed organs, but the scientists are increasingly working on creation of spare parts, which will not only act as the part of the body but will also stimulate growth of damaged organs.
One such example is the artificial skin, which is most widely used on burns. When placed on the burned skin area it provides the natural skin to grow and heal the wound which greatly reduces the risk of infection. In a similar way, they have made the blood vessels - the tissues and organs that carry out blood or any other liquid.
The Liver and The Lungs - No Copy
Although progress in the production of artificial parts is fantastic, some organs such as the lungs and liver, are too complex to be replaced at the present level of technology, but bionics is a young science and further major advances and achievements are expected.
Dr. Kolff from the University of Utah said: "People get luck and happiness, and not only the replacement of lost or diseased parts of the body."
It's nice to see a smile on the face of people who have fallen into grief and despair over the loss of a body part, because by their loss, they have also lost the part of themselves, and this science allows them to return to normal life, hope, inspiration and encouragement to go on.
Artificial organs are now a reality. Doctors, researchers and bio-engineers were able to make almost perfect replacement for parts of the human body. Hundreds of thousands of people have artificiall shoulders, knees or hips, toes or arms, arteries and skin, teeth and jaws, pancreas and kidneys, trachea, larynx, limbs, bones, eyes, etc...
Using these technological advances, the patients who have lost part of their body or some of their organs stopped functioning due to illness or injury, will again be able to live without assistance. According to Donald O'Neill, vice president of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, "Warner - Lambert" scientists will soon be able to replace every human organ. Bionic men from science fiction movies are slowly becoming a reality. These bionic organs are going to be developed as a result of united efforts of several scientific disciplines: Polymer chemistry, microelectronics, engineering and molecular biology. In 1982 the world has watched amazed as all phases of the surgical procedure, by which is a heart of dr. Barney Clark's replaced by artificial heart of aluminum and polyurethane, and named after the creator of “Jarvik 7”. The leader of the team from the University of Utah, et al. William Kolff, on this occasion said: "Very soon, a marathoner, with a super efficient artificial heart, will have to be disqualified because of the unfair advantage over other runners with normal hearts."
Artificial Hip
One of the most important artificial human parts at this time is artificial hip. In a complete replacement of this important part of the body, diseased and exhausted or injured hip is replaced with metal hip, along with the joint that is built into acrylic plastic cap. Acrylic cement fixates the artificial parts to the natural bone. Of course, there are problems: Artificial hip implanted in elderly is likely to last long enough, but the younger will have to undergo another surgical procedure when the cement is depleted. However, only five percent artificial hips should be changed after ten years of use, and expiration time depends on the type of artificial hip and cement structure.
Knee replacement surgery is also very common. As with hip, artificial knee is installed primarily to reduce the patient's pain, in most cases caused by arthritis.
Today, with the appropriate prosthesis, almost complete restoration of the normal function of the lost limb or part of the limb is possible. Very famous "Hand of Utah" - named after its author, dr. Steven Jacobson from the University of Utah, uses electrical impulses generated by muscle contraction. Electrodes on the remains of muscle arms send signals to microcomputer, located at the elbow of artificial hands and it instantly turns them into a command that runs hand in the desired direction.
Portable Kidneys
Dialysis - the removal of harmful substances from the blood machine that replaces the kidneys, is the only source of life for many patients. The patient is connected to the unit for dyalisis for a couple of hours a day, but that problem was solved by "portable kidney" - the battery powered device which is placed on the patient's chest, and which allows an easier life to these patients.
A prosthesis that replaces the trachea has enabled thousands of people to speak. Tiny electrodes embedded in the inner ear with associated battery bring back the hearing to deaf ears.
It is anticipated that the scientists will soon be able to fit in some micro cameras in the human eye, and within a micro-computer that will play the image to the brain to allow the blind to see.
Construction of insulin pump is significant because it automatically injects the pancreatic hormone in human body, thus avoiding the hypodermic needle.
Researchers are currently generating the pancreas to produce insulin and tissue cells are taken from the bodies of healthy animals.
Today most of the spare parts replace diseased, damaged or removed organs, but the scientists are increasingly working on creation of spare parts, which will not only act as the part of the body but will also stimulate growth of damaged organs.
One such example is the artificial skin, which is most widely used on burns. When placed on the burned skin area it provides the natural skin to grow and heal the wound which greatly reduces the risk of infection. In a similar way, they have made the blood vessels - the tissues and organs that carry out blood or any other liquid.
The Liver and The Lungs - No Copy
Although progress in the production of artificial parts is fantastic, some organs such as the lungs and liver, are too complex to be replaced at the present level of technology, but bionics is a young science and further major advances and achievements are expected.
Dr. Kolff from the University of Utah said: "People get luck and happiness, and not only the replacement of lost or diseased parts of the body."
It's nice to see a smile on the face of people who have fallen into grief and despair over the loss of a body part, because by their loss, they have also lost the part of themselves, and this science allows them to return to normal life, hope, inspiration and encouragement to go on.
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