Lung assist device technology with physiologic blood flow developed on a tissue engineered scaffold platform

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Respiratory Physiology
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Limited technological solutions exist for supporting failing lung function outside of hospital settings.
• An implantable artificial lung is needed to augment lung capacity, serving as a bridge to lung transplantation or as destination therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an implantable artificial lung assist device using biomimetic principles.
• To optimize the device for physiologic blood flow and gas exchange for ambulatory patients.

Main Methods:

• A microfluidic vascular network was designed using biomimetic principles for blood flow.
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis optimized blood flow and shear stress within the network.
• A micro-milled mold with 3D features was used to create the device architecture.
• Gas exchange was facilitated across a thin silicone membrane separating the vascular network and an alveolar chamber.

Main Results:

• The device featured a surface area of 23.1 cm² and a respiratory membrane thickness of 8.7 ± 1.2 μm.
• Achieved carbon dioxide transfer of 156 ml min⁻¹ m⁻² and oxygen transfer of 34 ml min⁻¹ m⁻².
• Demonstrated gas exchange comparable to hollow fiber oxygenators while maintaining physiologic blood flow.

Conclusions:

• A tissue-engineered artificial lung assist device successfully achieved significant gas exchange.
• The device design supports physiologic blood flow, crucial for long-term function.
• This technology holds potential for scaling into an implantable ambulatory artificial lung.