The Artificial Womb for Premature Infants: Protecting the Fetus from the Outside World
摘要
Despite advancements in neonatal care, extremely premature infants—born before 28 weeks—continue to face significant health risks due to underdeveloped organs. Conventional treatments, while often life-saving, can introduce complications, creating a demand for innovative solutions like artificial womb technology. This chapter explores the development of artificial placenta and artificial womb systems, designed to recreate the natural fetal environment to support the development of preterm infants. Starting with Professor Yoshinori Kuwabara’s pioneering work in Japan in the early 1990s, which laid the foundation for further research, the technology evolved through key breakthroughs by teams in Philadelphia and in Australia. These teams successfully demonstrated that artificial wombs could support the development of premature lambs, providing hope for similar applications in human neonatal care. Additionally, research at Eindhoven University of Technology has introduced a life-like simulation mannequin, enabling medical teams to practice and perfect their procedures without the use of animals, further refining the potential for human trials. The combined expertise in biomechanics, perinatal care, and industrial design is paving the way for a revolution in how we care for premature infants, potentially reducing mortality and long-term complications associated with prematurity.