A drone solutions provider, an organ procurement organization, and a Minnesota-based hospital have just proven that drones can successfully transport a human pancreas.
The historical test flight was conducted on May 5. It was made possible through a collaboration between MissionGO, LifeSource, and Mercy Hospital.
Carrying a research pancreas from Mercy Hospital, the organ delivery drone flew a 10-mile circuit over the Mississippi River, before returning back to base. The pancreas was monitored for the entire duration of the flight, with real-time organ location information being provided to all stakeholders.
The main aim of the test flight was to study the impact of drone transportation on a live organ. To do so, biopsies were conducted both pre- and post-flight. With no changes being found in the organ, the three organizations successfully demonstrated the viability, value, efficiency gains, and speed of transporting lifesaving organs via drones within the Twin Cities metro…
