Artificial Lung Build to Mimic Nature

Jun-09-15 An artificial lung that more closely mimics the real thing could offer a safer and more effective option to patients requiring artificial lung support.

One method of treating people suffering from acute respiratory distress is through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which runs the patient’s blood through a bundle of fibers in order to receive the oxygen. But this method tends to lead to blood clots, since the environment inside the machine is so different from the blood’s natural environment.

The microfluidic device developed by engineers at Draper Laboratory could drastically improve the performance of the ECMO machines, making them both safer and more effective. The device is made of a biocompatible polymer that has been embedded with tiny channels that branch off in three dimensions, much like the way blood vessels branch into capillaries. The lung is able to accommodate high blood flow rates with a more natural motion, which helps prevent the blood from clotting.

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[TECHNOLOGYREVIEW.COM]
[DRAPER.COM]

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