FDA Testing Artificial Liver

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 4, 2009 @01:28PM from the with-artificial-onions dept.

NIckGorton writes "Research is now underway in the US to seek FDA approval for an artificial liver. The Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD) filters blood through a cartridge containing immortalized human liver cells with fiber tubes running through that allow the patients blood to interact with them. This allows the matrix of liver cells to perform both the metabolic (cleansing the blood of toxins/waste) and synthetic (producing albumin, clotting factors, etc) functions of the patient's failing liver. A small trial in China showed a statistically and clinically significant difference in 30 day survival with ELAD."

1 of 146 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Cure for hemophilia... by Rooked_One · 2009-02-04 15:06 · Score: 1, Offtopic

albeit a not so pretty one...

Currently hemophiliacs must give themselves a shot in order to obtain the factor 8 they need to complete the factor chain and make a clot.

In an extreme accident where a person couldn't be able to give themselves the medicine immediately, the chances for survival drop greatly.

Knowing that they could walk around like a normal person would be a god-send to these people.