| skin, artificial | Synthetic material used for the treatment of burns and other conditions involving large-scale loss of skin. It often consists of an outer (epidermal) layer of silicone and an inner (dermal) layer of collagen and chondroitin 6-sulfate. The dermal layer elicits new growth and vascular invasion and the outer layer is later removed and replaced by a graft. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| insemination, artificial | Artificial introduction of semen into the vagina for the purpose of inducing conception. (12 Dec 1998) |
| insemination, artificial, heterologous | Human artificial insemination in which the semen used is that of a man other than the woman's husband. (12 Dec 1998) |
| insemination, artificial, homologous | Human artificial insemination in which the husband's semen is used. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth, artificial | A fabricated tooth substituting for a natural tooth in a prosthesis. It is usually made of porcelain or plastic. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Jarvik artificial heart | A pneumatic artificial heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| eye, artificial | A ready-made or custom-made prosthesis of glass or plastic shaped and coloured to resemble the anterior portion of a normal eye and inserted for cosmetic reasons in the socket of an enucleated or eviscerated eye. (12 Dec 1998) |
| yeast artificial chromosome | <molecular biology> A vector system that allows extremely large segments of DNA to be cloned. Useful in chromosome mapping, contiguous yeast artificial chromosomes covering the whole Drosophila genome and certain human chromosomes are available. Acronym: YAC (15 Nov 1997) |
| kidney, artificial | Device(s) which can substitute for normally functioning kidneys in cleansing the blood. (12 Dec 1998) |
| urinary sphincter, artificial | An artifical implanted device, usually in the form of an inflatable silicone cuff, inserted in or around the bladder neck in the surgical treatment of urinary incontinence caused by sphincter weakness. Often it is placed around the bulbous urethra in adult males. The artificial urinary sphincter is considered an alternative to urinary diversion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| larynx, artificial | A device, activated electronically or by expired pulmonary air, which simulates laryngeal activity and enables a laryngectomised person to speak. Examples of the pneumatic mechanical device are the tokyo and van hunen artificial larynges. Electronic devices include the western electric electrolarynx, tait oral vibrator, cooper-rand electrolarynx and the ticchioni pipe. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver, artificial | Devices for simulating the activities of the liver. They often consist of a hybrid between both biological and artificial materials. (12 Dec 1998) |