Artificial organs and transplantation.

The status of development of artificial organs in 1977 is reviewed. A small, wearable battery-powered artificial kidney weighing about 8 lb and using a hollow fiber dialyzer is described that has been proved effective for home dialysis of patients. Results of tests of the performance of artificial hearts in calves, improvements in the development of artificial arms, and preliminary results in development of artificial eyes and artificial ears are reported. (CH)