MC3 Develops Promising Artificial Lung

Patients suffering from acute respiratory failure or other lung associated complications have few treatment options. Although respiratory assist devices do exists, most require intubulation that leads to infection, are costly, and the devices are immobile. For these reasons, the medical community is in search for an artificial lung. MC3, a medical device company is creating such a lung.

MC3 Biomedical Engineer Scott Merz of Ann Harbor, Michigan has a 5$ million grant from the National Institute of Health to develop such an artificial lung. Currently Merz has developed a soda-canned sized artificial lung containing bundles of polymer fibers that function to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen as blood washes over them. The BioLung is worn outside the body and attached to larger blood vessels in the chest, arms, or legs. Similar to natural lungs, the Biolung relies on the heart to pump blood through, and this allows the blood to flow naturally between the high pressure in an artery to the lower pressure in a vein. Similar companies testing comparative devices have seen success with temporary use.

Merz states the largest obstacles are finding a membrane that allows oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange without causing blood to clot or damaging the blood. Some research exists in discovering enzymes that, when coating the fibers of the artificial lung, accelerate the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood. However, most lung-assist devices, and potential lung implants are currently for temporary use.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-01-29-artificial-lungs_N.htm