Veterans Administration scientists at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in Michigan https://www.annarbor.va.gov have announced they are developing a 3D printed artificial lung that could potentially revolutionize treatment of veterans affected by lung disease. Researchers hope to build the first artificial lung that will be portable or wearable for short and long term respiratory support.
Exposure to burn pits and diesel exhaust and chemicals are some of the most commonly cited factors that can lead to lung problems for active duty military. About 20 percent of patients with severe TBI also have acute lung injury. In addition, COPD affects five percent of American adults, plus16 percent of the veteran population have emphysema.
In the near term, the 3D device could be used as a temporary measure and act as a bridge to help patients waiting for a lung transplant or used as an aid for veterans with recovering lungs. According to researchers, future versions could have longer term applications.
Biomedical Engineer Dr. Joseph Potkay with the VA Ann Arbor Health Care System and his team have been working with Old World Labs https://www.oldworldlabs.com, a company in Hampton Virginia, specializing in high resolution 3D printing.
The company should be able to produce a small scale functional prototype sometime in the coming months. The prototype will be about a half inch cube in size and the 3D printed human scale lung should occupy no more than a six inch cube space. Potkay envisions that the human 3D device will fit in a backpack with the device to be usable for more than a week.