Cryopreservable BioArtificial Liver (UCLBAL) Design
Ultigen Engineering has worked with UCL and manufacturers across Europe as well as patient and clinical groups on the design of a workstation for a highly innovative cryopreservable BioArtificial Liver (UCLBAL) for the treatment of patients with liver failure.
The machine, the first of its kind, will buy time for a patient’s liver condition to improve or if damage to the liver is irreversible, act as a “bridge-to-transplant” by allowing the patient to remain stable until liver transplantation can be arranged.
The program which is working toward first ‘in man’ trials, is led by Clare Selden PhD, Professor of Experimental Hepatology of The Liver Group at UCL Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus.
Supported by the UCL Translational Research Office, Prof. Selden received a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) i4i award to fund this research project. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of any other organisation, the NHS, the NIHR www.nihr.ac.uk or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Ultigen Engineering’s design of the Biochamber and interface have been focused on creating an adaptable, cryopreservable chamber which allows for efficient critical care function and ergonomic design for healthcare providers.
A range of design techniques and technical methods have been employed to meet requirements for the bespoke new-in-class application. Implementing both in-house developed design procedures and collaborative design principles, Ultigen Engineering have made progress to creating a compliant design which meets the needs of all users.
Ultigen Engineering has successfully generated designs and schema for manufacture of units for clinical trials in the UK and hopes to make many more dreams and visions come true in the future by using sound engineering principles to make new realities possible in safe and commercially viable products.