An artificial uterus (or womb) is a theoretical device that would allow for extracorporeal pregnancy or extrauterine fetal incubation (EUFI) by growing an embryo or fetus outside of the body of a female organism that would normally internally carry the embryo or fetus to term.
An artificial uterus, as a replacement organ, would have many applications. It could be used to assist women with damaged or diseased uteri to bring the fetus to term. This can potentially be performed as a switch from a natural uterus to an artificial uterus, thereby moving the threshold of fetal viability to a much earlier stage of pregnancy. In this sense, it can be regarded as a neonatal incubator with very extended functions. Also, it can potentially be used for initiation of fetal development. Furthermore, it could avail for performing, for example, fetal surgery procedures at an early stage instead of having to postpone them until term of pregnancy.
Read more about Artificial Uterus: Components, Potential For Controversy, In Fiction
Famous quotes containing the word artificial:
“You must recollect however that I know nothing of painting & that I detest it, unless it reminds me of something I have seen or think it possible to see.... Depend upon it of all the arts it is the most artificial & unnatural—& that by which the nonsense of mankind is the most imposed upon.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)