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Guide to Collections Relating to the History of Artificial Internal Organs

Repository

McGowan Center for Artificial Organs, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center



Address

200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213


Telephone

(412) 624-4725


Fax Number

(412) 383-8788


Website

http://www.upmc.com/services/regenerative-medicine/about/pages/history.aspx



Contact Person

Harvey S. Borovetz, M.D.


email

borovetzhs@msx.upmc.edu



Access and Services

Appointment required.



Abstract

The McGowan Center for Artificial Organ Development was begun in 1992 with the support of William and Sue Gin McGowan. Initially it embraced a challenging but very focused goal to develop a reliable and affordable artificial heart that would ease the scarcity of human donor hearts for transplantation. Much as our benefactor developed broadening business interests, the McGowan Center has grown such that its mission now is to simply be the most respected developer of artificial organs worldwide. To be considered such, its efforts continue to be driven by the needs of patients who suffer from deteriorating heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, or blood.




Collections


title/date

Artificial Heart Development Program Collection, 198-



Collection ID


Quantity


Biographical Note


Collection Description

The University of Pittsburgh Artificial Heart Program is comprised of a basic science and engineering program of developmental research and an applied clinical program aimed at treating end-stage heart failure. The engineering and developmental research is housed at The McGowan Center for Artificial Organ Development located in the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh while the surgical program is located at UPMC Presbyterian.



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title/date

Artificial Lung Development Program Collection, 198-



Collection ID


Quantity


Biographical Note


Collection Description

The Artificial Lung Laboratory is part of the McGowan Center for Artificial Organ Development at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The mission of the Laboratory is to research and develop next generation artificial lung devices (or oxygenators) that can support patients with acute lung disease, or bridge patients with chronic lung disease to lung transplantation. Research within the Laboratory is tackling the fundamental technical problems associated with making artificial lungs more biocompatible and efficient, so that smaller devices can support more gas exchange, and be made implantable or wearable. One such device, in an advanced stage of development within the Laboratory, is an Intravenous Membrane Oxygenator (IMO), being developed for temporary support of patients with acute lung failure.



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title/date

Artificial Blood and Hemorheology Research Program Collection, 198-



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Biographical Note


Collection Description

The Artificial Blood and Hemorheology research group addresses a variety of hemodynamic, hemorheological, hematological, biochemical, and biomaterial issues in artificial organ development ranging from pre-clinical studies and in-vitro testing of new devices to theoretical and experimental modeling of processes related to design and functioning of artificial organs, studies of the fundamental phenomena in blood circulation and hemorheology, and development of the novel artificial blood. The focus of the artificial blood research is the development of a safe and effective artificial blood, which can replace donor blood. Development and realization of this product is very important from both humanitarian as well as commercial standpoints.



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Metabolic / Biohybrid Organ Replacement Program Collection, 198-



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Collection Description

The mission of the Metabolic / Biohybrid Organ Replacement program is research and development of engineering solutions to metabolic organ failure. Metabolic organs that have current projects are the liver, pancreas, and kidney. The goal of the Liver Support Program is research and development of liver support systems, both detoxification and biohybrid, to support patients with sudden onset, fulminant liver failure or acute decompensation of chronic liver failure until patient liver function is recovered or as a bridge to transplant. The goal of the Artificial Pancreas Program is to develop non-intrusive methods for controlling diabetic patient glucose levels through appropriate manipulation of insulin levels. The goal of the Renal Assist Program is to develop a more socially-acceptable, transportable hemodialysis system as an alternative to in-center dialysis for patients with end-stage renal (kidney) disease.



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