A ‘bio-bag’ has been developed, which will simulate a natural womb. The initial goal is to provide a more natural environment for premature babies to develop within. Although it has only been tested with sheep so far, premature human babies are clearly the target.
“One of the main challenges was re-creating the intricate circulatory system that connects mom to fetus: the mom’s blood flows to the baby and back, exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide.”
This is interesting from a medical perspective, and also because it is synthesising one of the most nurturing and human things in the world – a mother’s womb. It treads within the increasingly blurry lines between humans and machines.
