Drone In Maryland Makes History By Delivering Organ For Successful Transplant

May 3, 2019

A drone has made history after it became the first unmanned aircraft to deliver a donor kidney to surgeons at the University of Maryland for successful transplantation in a patient with kidney failure.

This successful demonstration illustrates the potential of unmanned aircraft systems for providing organ deliveries that, in many cases, could be faster, safer, and more widely available than traditional transport methods.

The patient, a 44-year-old Baltimore resident, was discharged from the hospital after the transplant last week.

"The whole thing is amazing," said patient Trina Glipsy. "Years ago, this is not something that you would think about."

"As astonishing as this breakthrough is from a purely engineering point of view, there's a larger purpose at stake," said Darryll J. Pines, Ph.D., the dean of the Maryland School of Engineering. "It's ultimately not about the technology; it's about enhancing human life."