U.K. researchers demonstrate for the 1st time a medical device that can keep the liver functioning while on its way from an organ donor to a recipient.

U.K. researchers performed a world 1st this month, keeping a donor liver "alive" and functioning inside novel medical device.

The device may soon replace the "on ice" method of preserving liver tissue as it moves from the donor to the recipient, at least according to the engineers and clinicians who were part of the landmark procedure.