The artificial womb is the technical device in which ectogenesis takes place. Leading platforms in 2026 are the Biobag (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, program EXTEND) and the Dutch PLS platform (Perinatal Life Support).
The artificial womb is an instrument, not a subject. It does not take the place of gestational motherhood (German), but replaces it functionally, without reproducing the personal-bodily reality of pregnancy. The ectogenetically gestated child remains a complete human person with full ontological dignity.
Ontological classification
- is a prerequisite of: ectogenesis
Sources: Generated by querying the Personhood ontology. (Research as of 25 April 2026.)
Further sources:
- Partridge, E. A. et al. (2017): An extra-uterine system to physiologically support the extreme premature lamb. Nature Communications 8: 15112 (CHOP/EXTEND Biobag).
- Usuda, H. et al. (2019): Successful use of an artificial placenta to support extremely preterm ovine fetuses at the border of viability. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 221(1): 69.e1–69.e17 (Western Australia/Tohoku group).
- Van der Hout-van der Jagt, M. B. et al. (2022): Interprofessional Consensus Regarding Design Requirements for Liquid-Based Perinatal Life Support (PLS) Technology. Frontiers in Pediatrics 9: 793531 (Maastricht/Eindhoven PLS).
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Center for Fetal Research / Vitara Biomedical (spin-off): program documentation for the preparation of first clinical trials (2024–2025).
See also
- Ectogenesis
- Gestational motherhood (German)
- Motherhood