Abelardo R.

Cabilan II
Jose Isagani R. Ysalina
Nicole John Velez
Michael Angelo B. Maestre
Ardione Frosvene R. Fuentes

Scientific Breakthrough
Recreating The Womb: New hope for Premature Babies
Tackling Extreme Prematurity
One rising problem at present in the medical field is on saving premature babies. It is evidently
clear that a premature baby when born three or even four months early are not ready to live yet. Born
at a critically low birth weight, the very challenge of those premature infants is how to survive. Those
that do survive face very serious challenges as they grow and develop. Many infants born premature
have severe, long lasting health problems or complications. These premature infants present real clinical
challenge. Despite great advances in care and technology, doctors face great challenges in saving these
babies and helping them to overcome health problems as they grow.
About the Study
In the latest research conducted by pediatric researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,
a new device was created that may able to help extremely premature infants. The system or device
created is a recreation of the environment that a fetus normally resides in; so to say, it is like an artificial
womb. After birth, infants are put inside in a lab made amniotic fluid and kept underwater for weeks.
In the study the model or test subject used in the system was a lamb, mainly because the fetal
development of humans are much likely similar to a lamb.
The device work by two major components. First, a circulatory system that allows the baby to
get oxygen through the blood (rather than through the lungs), just like in the womb. This is a process
called oxygenation. Second, is a fluid environment – the fetus enclosed in heavy-duty bag filled with
lab-made amniotic fluid where the fetus is able to swallow and breathe just like inside a mother’s womb.
The study showed that a premature lamb who was born earlier four weeks before the expected
date when it should be born was that the fetal lung tissue specifically the air sacs was not fully
developed. However, after it was placed inside the device called ‘bio bag’ (the artificial womb) for four
weeks the air sacs showed normal development.
In the future, scientists or researchers hopes to see the device become an innovative solution
used in neonatal intensive care units to support premature infants, such as 23 or 24 week old baby who
is faced with extreme challenges adapting to life outside the uterus.

Source: http://www.chop.edu/news/unique-womb-device-could-reduce-mortality-and-disability-
extremely-premature-babies