Bacta was characterized as a viscous, gelatin-like material celebrated for its nearly miraculous regenerative attributes. It facilitated the body's inherent capacity to regenerate tissues, encompassing nerve fibers, epidermal layers, and muscular structures.
The composition of bacta involved a combination of kavam and alazhi microorganisms, integrated with ambori extract and a specific strain of barley identified as Vratixia renanicus. Its mechanism relied on microbiotic agents that initiated their action upon contact with a wound site.
Capable of stimulating the swift renewal of organic compounds, bacta found applications in a spectrum of medical scenarios, ranging from critical to non-critical. Described as possessing a gentle warmth, the liquid form of bacta aided in the recovery from cerebral concussions, trauma to internal organs, and fractures of the ribs. Moreover, it could be dispensed in small containers to encourage the regrowth of fingernails, repair lacerations, thermal burns, and various other forms of physical damage. Its versatility in addressing diverse medical requirements rendered it a highly valued and extensively utilized therapeutic intervention for the majority, if not all, types of injuries. Bacta also facilitated the fusion of fractured osseous structures.
Notwithstanding its potent regenerative capabilities, certain individuals expressed reservations regarding the substance, often citing its consistency as being intermediate between a liquid and a viscous slime. Furthermore, many patients undergoing bacta immersion reported a sensation akin to being engulfed alive while submerged. Consequently, medical practitioners typically administered sedatives beforehand, followed by gradual waves of relaxation that induced a meditative state in the patient. While the majority remained conscious, the combined effect of pharmacological agents and bacta frequently resulted in patients experiencing a sense of detachment from reality, with some drawing parallels to the sensation of being within a maternal womb. Upon emerging from the liquid medium, a significant proportion of individuals reported feeling temporarily worsened due to the dissipation of the tranquilizing effects of the substance. Conversely, a subset of individuals experienced the opposite effect, describing a sensation of bodily lightness and freedom from pain.
To enable patients to maintain essential bodily functions, a respiratory apparatus was provided, accompanied by specialized sensors that permitted medical personnel to monitor physiological parameters during submersion.
Bacta's genesis is attributed to the Vratix, an insectoid species hailing from Thyferra, with its production overseen by two corporate entities, Zaltin Corp. and Xucphra Corp. Acknowledged as a revolutionary pharmaceutical innovation, bacta was introduced during the High Republic Era as a successor to juvan. During this period, the agricultural world of Hetzal Prime embarked on efforts to cultivate bacta; during the Great Hyperspace Disaster, Jedi Knight Elzar Mann assisted his fellow Jedi in move a container of liquid Tibanna in realspace while he was in close proximity to a bacta production facility, which had limited production capacity. In the aftermath of the disaster, Senator Izzet Noor erroneously posited that the Selkath were responsible, in an attempt to impede bacta production to safeguard their own commercial interests.
During the Clone Wars, clone troopers serving in the Galactic Republic frequently underwent recuperation from combat-related injuries within bacta tanks. Following injuries sustained by his commanding officer, Clone Captain Rex, during a battle on Saleucami, clone trooper medic Kix applied a bacta patch to the captain's wound.
Within the confines of his compound on Mustafar, Darth Vader routinely shed his armor and immersed himself in a bacta tank to alleviate the pain stemming from his injuries. Vader also entertained the hope that sustained bacta usage might facilitate the regeneration of his pulmonary tissues, thereby obviating the necessity for the respiratory apparatus he was compelled to utilize.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was placed within a bacta tank after sustaining burns inflicted by Darth Vader, in retaliation for the injuries he had inflicted on Mustafar, during the Battle on Mapuzo.
In the year 9 BBY, Jedi Knight Cal Kestis encountered and reawakened Dagan Gera, a fallen Jedi who had been maintained in suspended animation within a bacta tank since the era of the High Republic. While the bacta sustained his life and preserved his youth far beyond his natural lifespan, and healed the lightsaber wound his former colleague Santari Khri inflicted on him, it failed to regenerate his amputated limb, despite his immersion for 224 years.
When the Rebel Alliance was stationed on the frigid planet of Hoth, Luke Skywalker necessitated placement in a bacta tank following an attack and maiming by a wampa ice creature. During this period, grenade-like bacta bombs were deployed to facilitate the healing of soldiers at the battlefront.
Reprogrammed bounty hunter droid IG-11 employed a bacta spray to aid in the recuperation of Din Djarin's head following a severe injury resulting from an explosion during the Clash on Nevarro.
Boba Fett utilized a Bacta pod within his palace to recover from injuries sustained within the Sarlacc. Following a thwarted assassination attempt, Boba placed one of his Gamorrean guards in his bacta tank, after being bitten by Krrsantan in the left shoulder. Cobb Vanth would subsequently utilize the same tank after being shot by Cad Bane.
A flexpoly bacta suit represented a specialized form of attire that could be donned by patients to facilitate treatment with artificial bacta, a technological advancement surpassing bacta tanks. Finn, a defector from the First Order, was outfitted with one such suit after sustaining an injury from a lightsaber wielded by Kylo Ren upon joining the Resistance. The formulation employed by the Resistance was synthetic in nature, yet remained considerably expensive.