An artificial organ is typically an engineered device that can be implanted or integrated into a human body with the aim of interacting with living tissue to replace a natural organ, to duplicate or augment a specific function or functions so the patient can return to normal life as soon as possible (Wang, 2019). Organs can be categorized into three basic groups: 1) mechanical, formed of inanimate polymers (such as plastics); 2) biomechanical, made of partially living cells; and 3) biological (or “bioartificial”), made of living cells, biodegradable polymers; and/or metal elements. The biological type is typically able to completely and permanently restore defective/failed organs, whereas the first two classes can only partially and temporarily replace or repair the failing organs in the human body (Wang,2019). The most interesting of the three is the bioartificial organs since, unlike the other two types, this can be used as a permanent replacement/solution.
Despite the decades-long organ shortage, there has been no significant improvement in the supply-to-demand ratio of organs, meaning other solutions must be explored to solve this issue, one of these such solutions is the development of artificial organs. The production of artificial organs is an interesting field with great potential, and it is a field of study in the baby steps of its evolution.
This study will explore the manufacturing, maintaining, and use of artificial organs as well as the following
What are artificial organs?
What organs/ parts of organs can be manufactured
The different manufacturing processes and which organs each can be produced