Artificial Organs

Bladder Replacement

A replacement of bladder is necessary in the case of bladder cancer. For a very long time, the medical procedures in curing the cancerous bladder were as follows. The bladder would be cut out from the body through a process called cystemctomy. Afterwards, a portion of the bowel is removed through surgery, and it would function as a tube that would bring the urine outside of the body. However, one cannot ignore the numerous malfunctions that the patient has to risk for this surgical process.  There are mechanical issues involved with attaching the bowl tissues to the ureters, or attaching the bowel to the abdominal wall. There is much danger in placing a bowel in the urinary tract where the functions of the two different organs are somewhat different. In order to prevent such arduous process for a bladder replacement, neo-urinary conduit that is fit for the specific patient can be created. A surgeon takes a fat biopsy from the patient. Then, the smooth muscle cells are isolated from the fat cells, where it is then allowed to duplicate itself. These cells then combine with a tube called biodegradable scaffold. After the full growth of the smooth muscle tissue, neo-urinary conduit is ready for the patient. After the attachment of the conduit to the patient’s urinary system, the patient’s body grows urinary tissues. Only the regenerated urinary tissue remains over time.

Pros to regenerative tissue engineering:

Through this new technology, so many lives are being saved. The patients do not have to wait for an organ donor with the capability of growing their own organs. Furthermore, the patient’s body would not reject the newly implanted organ because it is made out of the patient’s own tissues.

Cons to regenerative tissue engineering:

There are ethical issues underlying the creation of a new organ. The creation of individual body parts could soon lead to a creation of a whole new being, which can raise controversy.