For the first time, doctors used a drone to transport donated lungs for a safe and rapid transplant between two hospitals in a 6-minute flight.
The drone carrying the lungs for transplantation. (Photo: CBC)
The flight took place at 1 AM local time on September 25. The lungs were transported from West Toronto Hospital to Toronto General Hospital. 63-year-old Alain Hodak became the first person in history to receive a lung transplant transported by drone. This innovative transportation method has the potential to accelerate the speed of organ transplants from donors to recipients, especially in urban areas. A matter of minutes can be critical for patients waiting for transplants, playing an essential role in ensuring that the organs can function after surgery.
Maintaining sufficient oxygen for the lungs and keeping the organ functional is a significant challenge. In fact, 80% of donated lungs cannot be used for transplantation for this reason. “This is a turning point for both the aviation and medical industries“, said Mikaël Cardinal, vice president of the organ transport management program at Unither Bioélectronique, the company developing the drone.
The pioneering flight lasted only 6 minutes, but the engineering team at Unither Bioélectronique spent 18 months preparing the drone for takeoff. They designed an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber container that could withstand changes in altitude, pressure, and vibration. The engineers conducted numerous test flights with dummies. The container was equipped with a parachute and a positioning system before being used for the flight.
However, the lungs transported by Unither Bioélectronique were not the first organs to be carried by drone. A drone was previously used to transport a kidney in Baltimore in 2019. The engineering team hopes that the success of this trial could pave the way for semi-automated organ transport, helping to increase the availability and efficient distribution of organs for transplantation.
Unither Bioélectronique is also looking to expand its operational range by developing drones capable of flying up to 160 km and eventually 320 km. They plan to use drones to transport lungs, hearts, and kidneys across North America.
