FDA Testing Artificial Liver 146
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."
Hello, Eh, Can we have your Liver? (Score:5, Funny)
"Don't worry, there's nobody who's had their Liver taken out by Us who's survived."
Yum (Score:1, Funny)
Now if we could just get some artificial onions to go with that...
Immortalized? (Score:4, Funny)
Imagine... (Score:2, Funny)
Just imagine... a beowulf cluster of cancer cells! Woo!
Re:Yum (Score:5, Funny)
I was feeling more like fava beans, and maybe a nice chianti.
An artificial liver? (Score:5, Funny)
I'll drink to that!
Re:An artificial liver? (Score:3, Funny)
Chinese controls (Score:5, Funny)
A small trial in China showed a statistically and clinically significant difference in 30 day survival with ELAD.
So more people with this ELAD liver replacement were alive at 30 days than a control group, who presumably had their livers removed and replaced with nothing...
Re:IMMORTAL! (Score:2, Funny)
For the US market, they're offering a range.... (Score:2, Funny)
The product line itself will vary in capability and price. From the basic "Joe Sixpack" model, you can move up to the "Jazz Musician". If you've got enough money you can go all the way up to the full "Kieth Richards" model.
A longer term solution... (Score:5, Funny)
I think I'd just ask if they could immortalize all of my body's cells.
Never compete with bacon (Score:2, Funny)
Re:IMMORTAL! (Score:5, Funny)
Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, and the tendency to transform into a zombie when exposed to the light of the full moon.
funding (Score:3, Funny)
Surprisingly, it was revealed that funding for liver replacement research was provided entirely by the liquor industry.
Now the guy at Mickey Mantle's press conference (Score:3, Funny)
who asked the transplant surgeon if the donor was still alive, to which the surgeon replied
"You're a sportswriter, aren't you?"
won't feel like such a roob anymore.
Re:IMMORTAL! (Score:1, Funny)
Until you chop off their heads to gain their power.
Re:Yum (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I'm confused by your post (Score:3, Funny)
How is that different from any other Wednesday?
Very different.
Today's Thursday. ;)