SPLEEN!!! SPLEEN!!

            Many soldiers injured in combat die because of infection in bloodstream. The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University developed a Spleen-on-a-chip. This machine rapidly cleanse the blood of pathogens, “the patient's blood is mixed with magnetic nano-beads coated with a genetically engineered version of a human blood 'opsonin' protein that binds to a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, and toxins.” (Artificial Spleen to Treat Bloodstream Infection) In the science daily news the article Artificial Spleen to Treat Bloodstream Infection, explain this machine would glow through micro-channels “where magnetic forces pull out the bead-bound pathogens without removing human blood cells, proteins, fluids, or electrolytes” just like a human spleen does. The cleansed blood then flows back to the patient making the blood healthy. To read more visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130330130531.htm

          The spleen is an internal organ, found in the abdominal area. The spleen functions as a part of the immune system and storage of blood cells in the circulatory system. The spleen removes old red blood cells, called erythrocytes, from the blood supply and removes, stores and produces white blood cell lymphocytes. These stored lymphocytes produce antibodies and assist in removing microbes and other debris from the blood supply.  This invention can save many of our soldier’s life overseas without the right medical supplies. The project director Don Ingber, M.D., Ph.D explained. With the right funding this invetion can bring many of our soliders home. 

 

Credit: Wyss Institute