| Organ/Tissue |
Application |
| Heart |
- Pumps blood to the body.
- Life-saving heart replacement for patients
whose hearts no longer work.
|
| Lung |
- Organs of respiration.
- Life-saving lung replacement for patients
with cystic fibrosis, emphysema, or other end-stage
lung disease.
|
| Liver |
- Instrumental in energy regulation, breaking
down proteins, removing wastes from the blood.
- Life-saving replacement of non-functioning
livers for patients with end-stage liver disease.
|
| Kidney |
- Extracts wastes and excess water from the
blood; produces hormones that help to regulate
blood pressure.
- Life-enhancing/life-saving organ replacement
for patients with kidney failure; eliminates
the need for dialysis.
|
| Pancreas |
- Secretes enzymes necessary for digestion;
secretes insulin that regulates blood sugar.
- Life-enhancing/life-saving replacement of
diseased pancreas in diabetics; eliminates the
need for insulin injections and/or dialysis.
|
| Eyes/Corneas |
- Allow light to enter the eye.
- Restore vision to the blind.
|
| Fascia |
- Fibrous membrane that covers, supports, and
separates the muscles.
- Restores support; limb and soft tissue repair,
re-constructive and fascial defect repair.
|
| Skin |
- The body's first barrier against dehydration,
injury, infection, and loss of body heat.
- Life-saving covering for burn patients; decreases
pain, infection, heat and fluid loss.
|
| Cartilage |
- Connective tissue that serves as structural
support in areas like the nose and ears.
- Facial disfigurement and other re-constructive
surgery.
|
| Tendons |
- Attaches muscle to bone; allows joint movement
while keeping the joint together.
- Used to restore mobility in patients who have
damaged tendons or joint injuries.
|
| Bone |
- Structural support of the body, protects vital
organs.
- Facial reconstruction, limb salvage, correction
of birth defects, cancer treatments, spinal
and oral surgery.
|
| Bone Marrow |
- Soft bone tissue which produces new blood
cells and hemoglobin.
- Life-saving treatment for patients with aplastic
anemia, immunodeficiencies; has helped produce
remission in certain types of acute leukemia.
|
| Small Intestine |
- Upper end of the digestive tract; provides
for absorption of the products of digestion.
- Life-saving replacement for patients with
short-bowel syndrome or Crohn's Disease.
|
| Heart Valves |
- All four valves in the heart help regulate
the amount of blood in the heart's chambers
and help prevent the blood from flowing backward.
- Aortic and pulmonary valves are used to repair
heart valves damaged by genetic disorders or
rheumatic fever.
|
| Dura |
- A spongy membrane covering the brain and spinal
cord; protects brain and spinal cord from injury.
- Used in neurological surgery to repair defects
in dura; also used in general surgery to repair
large abdominal wall defects.
|
Veins |
- Transport blood.
- Used for vascular repairs including coronary
bypass surgery.
|
