Artificial lung technology offers hope for chronic lung disease
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and their spinoff company, Advanced Respiratory Technologies, are developing an artificial lung device that could offer a new treatment option for patients with chronic lung disease.
For years, doctors have lacked effective long-term treatments for conditions like COPD, but this new technology aims to fill that gap.
Unlike traditional ventilators which mechanically pump air into the lungs, the ART device circulates a patient’s blood through an external device that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, bypassing the lungs altogether. The team overcame a major challenge, the body’s natural tendency to clot blood around foreign materials, by designing a compact device and coating its surfaces with a bioengineered material that prevents clotting. This layered approach, combining multiple technologies, proved more effective than seeking a single solution.
The device allows patients to remain awake, eat, and move freely, potentially improving their quality of life significantly. According to the American Lung Association, over 335,000 people in the U.S. were hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2020. Advanced Respiratory Technologies is now working to gain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with a goal of having the device available in hospital settings within the next 18 to 24 months.
The technology also holds promise for treating wounded soldiers and veterans who often experience chronic lung conditions, as well as offering a portable life support system for battlefield evacuations.
