‘Uber For Organs’ Drone Delivers Kidney To Patient
Moving human organs designated for transplantation is an incredibly time-sensitive task, as they only remain usable or operable for a short amount of time.
Now, Business Insider reports a custom-made drone has delivered a kidney to a transplant patient in an apparent world first.
It was only a short test flight- less than 3 miles in total. The team that created the drone at the University of Maryland says it was a worldwide first and a critical step in its quest to speed up the delicate and time-sensitive task of delivering donated organs.
The patient named Trina Glispy is a 44-year old nursing assistant from Baltimore, Maryland, and spent the last eight years on dialysis.
Dr. Joseph Scalea led the project, and hailed the delivery as a triumph–describing it as “Uber for organs”.
The drone was not just any old garden-variety delivery vehicle, either.
It was able to monitor and maintain vital criteria like the kidney’s temperature in real-time. It was also fitted with backup propellers, dual batteries, and a parachute to protect its precious payload.
