Another first in the medical world, a drone transported the lungs to be used for transport between two hospitals quickly and safely for the first time. The flight took just six minutes, and it’s the first time a lung has been delivered by drone anywhere in the world.
According to the CBC, the flight took place on September 25 at around 01:00 local time. Originally located at Toronto Western Hospital, the lung arrived at Toronto General Hospital, where the first lung transplant was performed in 1983. Alain Hodak, 63, made history as the first person in history to have a lung transplant carried by a double drone.
This innovation in organ transplantation is something that is really needed for transplants, especially in urban areas, with the potential to accelerate donor-to-recipient organ transfer. Minutes can be the difference between life and death for patients awaiting a transplant – time is of the essence when it comes to keeping organs alive during transplant.
There are unique challenges, as keeping the lungs adequately oxygenated and functional is no easy feat. In fact, 80 percent of donated lungs cannot be used for transplants, according to the Toronto Star.
“This is an important step forward, both in terms of aviation and healthcare,” says Mikaël Cardinal, vice president of organ delivery systems program management at Unither Bioélectronique, the company responsible for developing drones.
The hugely successful flight took just six minutes, but the engineers at Unither Bioélectronique had been working hard to prepare for it for 18 months. As Star reports, the team designed a lightweight carbon fiber container that can withstand changes in altitude, pressure and vibrations. Test flights were conducted using sample packs, and a parachute and GPS system were fitted before the rough was declared suitable for travel.
Awaiting the flying lung, the chief surgeon of Canada’s University Health Network, Dr. It was Shaf Keshavjee.
“It was a very exciting moment to see it coming over the tall buildings,” he told Star, and continued: “When it landed, I definitely breathed a sigh of relief and was able to see that everything was fine.”
But the lungs are not the first organ to ascend to the sky. While a kidney was delivered by drone in Baltimore in 2019, the corneas and pancreas have been airborne ever since.
The team behind this latest innovation hopes it can pave the way for semi-autonomous organ delivery and improve the availability and efficient delivery of organs for transplantation.
“With this unique technology, we may one day be able to transport organs with less logistical hurdles and eliminate the need to transport entire surgical teams on larger aircraft. Simply put, drones can help transplant organs to people who need them faster and more cost-effectively. ” says.
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