Portable 3D‑printed artificial lung to help Veterans breathe
3D Printed Microfluidic Artificial Lung for Veteran Rehabilitation
This project plans to create a small, biocompatible 3D‑printed artificial lung to support breathing and rehabilitation for Veterans with lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310859 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers are using high‑resolution 3D polymer printing to build tiny, branching blood channels that copy how real lungs move blood and exchange oxygen. The team will design larger, three‑dimensional microfluidic networks than current two‑dimensional devices, aiming to improve gas exchange while reducing blood volume and device size. Work will begin with lab tests of gas exchange and blood compatibility and then move toward prototypes suitable for some human uses. The goal is a truly portable device that could provide short‑ or long‑term respiratory support and help Veterans regain mobility during recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adult Veterans with moderate to severe lung failure or respiratory insufficiency who may benefit from extracorporeal or portable respiratory support and who meet device trial eligibility.
Not a fit: People with only mild lung disease, children, or those with medical conditions that prevent blood‑contact devices (for example severe clotting disorders) may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable portable respiratory support that helps Veterans breathe better, speeds rehabilitation, and reduces dependence on large hospital machines.
How similar studies have performed: Existing artificial lung and microfluidic devices have shown promise in lab tests and limited clinical use, but creating large‑area, truly 3D‑printed microfluidic lungs for humans is a new and largely untested step.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Potkay, Joseph Allen — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Potkay, Joseph Allen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.