Artificial lung technology could reduce the death rate for patients awaiting a lung transplant, say US scientists.
Advanced lung disease is characterised by an inability to remove carbon dioxide from the blood and reduced oxygen uptake efficiency. A shortage of donors can mean long delays and high mortality rates for those awaiting a transplant. The only technology available to aid sufferers during this time is based in intensive care units, hindering quality of life.
Now, Joseph Vacanti and coworkers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, have developed a device that achieves the CO2/O2 gas exchange that, when implanted in the body, could allow patients more freedom when awaiting a transplant. Their design is a microfluidic branched vascular network through which blood flows, separated from a gas-filled chamber by a silicone membrane less than 10um thick. The network is formed by casting polydimethylsiloxane, a biocompatible polymer, on a micro machined mould.
A device that achieves carbon dioxide/oxygen gas exchange could allow patients more freedom when awaiting a lung transplant
A major challenge faced by Vacanti's team was achieving a blood pressure within the device's channels similar to that in veins and arteries. They applied computational fluid dynamics to optimise the vascular network's structure to avoid clotting induced by excessive blood pressure. 'Fulfilment of these design criteria necessitated creating channels that had variable depth throughout the network and also had precise curvature,' says Vacanti's coworker, David Hoganson.
Vacanti's device could be scaled up for implantation. According to Hoganson, an implant-sized device could be fabricated by 'stacking the functional layers of the device to achieve the necessary surface area for gas exchange'.
Jaisree Moorthy, who specialises in using microfluidics in tissue engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, says that Vacanti's device provides a very elegant solution. Compared to existing devices, Moorthy comments that it 'is more efficient due to a thinner membrane, and mimics the biological CO2/O2 transfer rate'.
In the future, Vacanti hopes to develop the device further to incorporate engineered lung tissue.
Erica Wise
Link to journal articleLung assist device technology with physiologic blood flow developed on a tissue engineered scaffold platform
David M. Hoganson, Howard I. Pryor II, Erik K. Bassett, Ira D. Spool and Joseph P. Vacanti, Lab Chip, 2011
DOI: 10.1039/c0lc00158a
Now, Joseph Vacanti and coworkers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, have developed a device that achieves the CO2/O2 gas exchange that, when implanted in the body, could allow patients more freedom when awaiting a transplant.
ChemScience Volume 2010 12 lung implant breath fresh air click to see source
4 comments:
Will this encourage people not to stop though? Even if the other option is so drastic, if there is another option will smokers be more likely to do this?
I do not think it will encourage people to stop doing that. Although Thanks a lot for the posting and keep sharing.
This is quite interesting. Will people think that because they have this implant they will be fine and abuse the artificial lung or will it make them think twice about it as smoking has got them to this stage?!?
Chantix The Aid To Giving Up Smoking
Buy online eCig Cigarettes in Pakistan
E-Cig has no fire, no tar, no carbon monoxide, no ash, no stub. E-Cig lets you enjoy and satisfy those tactile taste sensations without any risk on smoking and on tobacco. Actually, you can smoke E-Cig anywhere healthily without environmental pollution. E-Cig can help you to reduce or quit smoking habits. You can received your order within just 1-2 business days and deliver your own very special, very fresh E-Cig product to your door within just 2-5 business days globally with the lowest worldwide express shipping cost.
E-Cigarettes Pakistan
03215115899
03127177717
Post a Comment