Artificial lung proves to be as efficient as the genuine organ

Use in humans is still years away, but for the 200 million lung-disease sufferers worldwide the device is a major step toward, creating an easily portable and implantable artificial lung, according to Joe Potkay, a research assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Potkay is the lead author of a paper describing the device and research in the journal Lab on a Chip.

According to CWRU, the scientists built the prototype device by following the natural lung’s design and dimensions. The artificial lung is reportedly filled with breathable silicone rubber versions of blood vessels that branch down to a diameter less than one fourth the diameter of human hair.

‘Based on current device performance, we estimate that a unit that could be used in humans would be about 6in [15cm] by 6in by 4in tall, or about the volume of the human lung,’ said Potkay. ‘In addition, the device could be driven by the heart and would not require a mechanical pump.’