A bioengineering agency has at this time claimed it’s creating a ‘head transplant system’, in a world-first transfer.
In a stunning video it proposes utilizing synthetic intelligence and robotics to switch the mind and spinal twine from a affected person to a donor physique.
Uploaded by the corporate, BrainBridge, the prototype might be be able to carry out the groundbreaking medical operation in as little as eight years.
The US startup claims recipients of the grim process may even stay properly past common life expectancy, given the mind is ‘able to lasting a number of hundred years offered that the remainder of the physique stays younger’.
Specialists at this time, nonetheless, advised MailOnline the idea was a ‘gross oversimplification of how the mind works’, labelling it a ‘unhealthy joke’ and ‘stuff of fiction’.
In a stunning video it proposes utilizing synthetic intelligence and robotics to switch the mind and spinal twine from a affected person to a donor physique. Uploaded by the corporate, BrainBridge, the prototype might be be able to carry out the groundbreaking medical operation in as little as eight years
The US startup claims recipients of the grim process may even stay properly past common life expectancy, given the mind is ‘able to lasting a number of hundred years offered that the remainder of the physique stays younger’. Specialists at this time, nonetheless, advised MailOnline the idea was a ‘gross oversimplification of how the mind works’, labelling it a ‘unhealthy joke’ and ‘stuff of fiction’
In 2016, the Ethico-legal Committee of the European Affiliation of Neurosurgical Societies declared head transplantation in people unethical.
The committee, nonetheless, has no authorized energy to cease to process from being carried out, however produces skilled tips for neurosurgery apply.
‘The dangers concerned for the affected person present process a head transplant [would be] monumental, together with the danger of demise,’ it concluded on the time.
‘There is no such thing as a strong proof base for all steps of the process; for some, there’s even lack of proof of idea.’
However based on BrainBridge, such transplants may present sufferers with life-altering situations corresponding to paralysis and spinal twine accidents the chance to have a ‘absolutely useful physique’.
Below the proposed system, the donor’s physique — a brain-dead affected person with a useful physique and the recipient, whose head shall be transplanted onto the brand new physique, would first each be cooled to five°C (41°F) to ‘cut back potential mind injury’.
An undefined focus of ‘synthetic plasma resolution’ is then administered into each our bodies to maintain the mind and physique oxygenated and stop clotting.
Surgical procedure, undertaken robotically, would ‘rigorously’ expose the carotid and vertebral arteries and jugular veins.
The blood is then utterly drained from the recipient’s head to forestall clotting earlier than it’s ‘instantly’ related to the circulatory system of the donor physique and pumped with recent oxygenated blood.
AI algorithms, it claims, would additionally monitor each muscle groups and nerves throughout surgical procedure to ‘facilitate seamless reattachment’.
The chemical polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a ‘specialised implant’ would even be utilized to the backbone at its fusion level to assist reconnect the severed neurons.
PEG is often used as a laxative to deal with constipation and a thickening agent. PEG hydrogels can quickly restore nerve conduction.
The corporate didn’t make clear how it might be used.
In 2016, the Ethico-legal Committee of the European Affiliation of Neurosurgical Societies declared head transplantation in people unethical. The committee, nonetheless, has no authorized energy to cease to process from being carried out, however produces skilled tips for neurosurgery apply
Below the proposed system, the donor’s physique — a brain-dead affected person with a useful physique and the recipient, whose head shall be transplanted onto the brand new physique, would first each be cooled to five°C (41°F) to ‘cut back potential mind injury’
The donor’s facial muscle groups and mushy tissues would then be transplanted to scale back the likelihood of tissue rejection and ‘rejuvenate’ the recipient’s face.
After spending as much as a month in intensive care, the place the affected person is monitored in a coma and given immunosuppresive medication to forestall the immune system from rejecting the donor physique, the mind ought to regain management.
Dubai-based venture lead, Hashem Al-Ghaili, at this time stated: ‘The objective of our know-how is to push the boundaries of what’s potential in medical science and supply revolutionary options for these battling life-threatening situations.
‘Our know-how guarantees to open doorways to lifesaving therapies that had been unimaginable just some years in the past.’
Presently, the corporate is within the means of recruiting specialists to assist overcome these obstacles, and hopes unveiling the idea will ‘entice prime expertise from around the globe fascinated with pushing the boundaries of biomedical science and altering the world for the higher’.
But consultants at this time insisted ‘science fiction’ was not but any nearer to actuality.
Dr Ahmad Al Khleifat, a neuroscientist at King’s School London advised MailOnline: ‘There is no such thing as a proof of idea that head transplantation is possible in people.
‘This displays a gross oversimplification of how the mind works and the way these ailments develop, suggesting that this proposal may be a nasty joke.
Dr Dean Burnett, a neuroscientist and honorary analysis fellow on the Cardiff College Psychology Faculty, additionally stated: ‘I’ve seen some fantastical claims from personal and industrial efforts earlier than, however that is by far probably the most excessive.
‘In some ways, it is like a dozen unlikely, ridiculous claims bundled into one handy package deal.’
He advised MailOnline: ‘To start with, a direct head transplant stays the stuff of fiction.
‘Whereas a lot of the key hurdles are acknowledged on this video, the ‘options’ provided are, at greatest, imprecise allusions to issues that are nonetheless a long time, if not centuries away from discovery. Assuming they occur in any respect.’
After spending as much as a month in intensive care, the place the affected person is monitored in a coma and given immunosuppresive medication to forestall the immune system from rejecting the donor physique, the mind ought to regain management
In 2017, controversial Italian neurologist Dr Sergio Canavero (pictured), dubbed Dr Frankenstein, claimed one head transplant has already been carried out between two lifeless our bodies
‘Given all the obvious qualities of this video — the extremely slick corporate-themed CGI graphics, the wildly optimistic unsupported claims, the fixed invoking of probably the most buzzwordy know-how, and the emphasis on longevity and restored youth — I am assured that this video exists purely as a form of honey pot.
‘One supposed to tempt a type of tech billionaires obsessive about immortality to fund this startup.
‘It is the one rationalization that is smart, based mostly on the whole lot we find out about trendy science, and the way it works.’
In the meantime, Hampshire-based NHS surgeon, Dr Karan Rangarajan, stated: ‘When surgeons join nerves in any a part of the physique like an arm transplant, for instance, we simply do not know if the nerves will work usually afterwards.
‘Even when the whole lot will get related, if any of these connections leak or get unplugged after surgical procedure that might imply immediate demise for the affected person.
‘To not point out the necessity for lifelong remedy to forestall transplant rejection.’
He added: ‘Should you unplug a human and switch off the swap are you positive you may get the identical human if you flip the swap on once more?’
Responding to the announcement, one X consumer who claimed to be a coronary heart surgeon, additionally stated: ‘Science fiction….we now have a great distance’.
One other warned a ‘head transplant system’ would increase ‘profound moral considerations’.
As a substitute, ‘rigorous testing and oversight’ could be very important to make sure ‘security and knowledgeable consent’.
MailOnline has tried to contact BrainBridge for remark.
In 2017, controversial Italian neurologist Dr Sergio Canavero, dubbed Dr Frankenstein, claimed one head transplant has already been carried out between two lifeless our bodies.
An 18-hour operation noticed the backbone, nerves and blood vessels reconnected at Harbin Medical College.
However many specialists on the time branded the experiment as having negligible scientific or medical proof and questioned Professor Canavero’s ethics.
In the identical 12 months, Russian laptop scientist Valery Spiridonov volunteered to turn out to be the primary head transplant.
He suffers from muscle-wasting illness Werdnig-Hoffman, a type of spinal muscular atrophy usually resulting in low life expectancy.
The analysis did not get help in Europe and the US because of moral considerations, however was allowed in China.
In 2019, nonetheless, Mr Spiridonov, who moved to Florida together with his spouse and son admitted he wouldn’t be searching for the therapy any time quickly after his obligations as a father made him rethink his resolution.
Dr Canavero had deliberate to sever the mind from the spinal twine by chopping it with a diamond blade after which cool the mind to a state of deep hypothermia to guard it, earlier than connecting it to a brand new physique.
