Microfluidic Device Mimics the Lungs for Safer Treatment

Oct-02-15 A new device that better mimics the structure of the human lung could offer a safer alternative to conventional respiratory machines.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), in which the blood flows over an external device, is a common form of live-saving treatment for patients suffering from acute respiratory distress. However, the blood tends to clot in the device and requires that the patient take large doses of anti-clotting medication, which carries its own risk.

To make the ECMO devices safer to use, a team from Draper Laboratory created a microfluidic oxygenator that more closely mimics the environment inside the lungs—eliminating the need to take anti-clotting drugs. The device features a “three-dimensional branching structure” that allows the blood to flow from larger channels to progressively smaller ones, much like the way blood moves from blood vessels to capillaries. Not only does the new design help prevent clotting, it also offers a more efficient gas exchange than current ECMO devices.

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