Artificial womb developed for premature babies

An artificial nutrient-rich amniotic fluid has been tested on foetal lambs equivalent to 161-days old foetus.

The artificial womb can give foetus the same protection woman womb can give; synthetic amniotic fluid that is full of nutrients flows in and out of the temperature-controlled container, it creates womb environment for premature foetus to develop their vital organs like lungs from 23 to 28 weeks.

Director of the Center for Fetal Research at the Children's hospital of Philadelphia, US, said the artificial womb will prevent illness suffered by premature babies by providing a medical technology that can create womb environment.

According to Dr Alan Flake, six preterm lambs were used to test the artificial womb, they could breathed and swallowed normally.

The animal grew wool and developed properly functioning nerves and organs, the artificial womb cannot replace woman's womb, the aim of developing artificial womb is  to help premature babies