2006/11/11, IRIB

Scientists have built an artificial stomach to simulate human digestion.

The Institute of Food Research hopes it will aid the development of new superfoods by revealing how they are broken down in the gut.

The device, made from sophisticated plastics and metals, can withstand the corrosive gut acids and enzymes, and can be fed real food.

It mimics both the physical and chemical reactions that take place during digestion - and can even vomit.

This is an important tool that will allow us to understand what happens in the gut.

Chief designer Dr Martin Wickham said his model was much more sophisticated than previous attempts, which tended to focus solely on reproducing the chemistry of digestion.

It even mimics the stomach contractions which are used to break up food, and send it on its way along the alimentary canal.
 
Science-Artificial Stomach