The problem: Patients with severe lung injury or progressive respiratory failure often need extracorporeal life support systems, which act as artificial, external hearts and lungs by pumping and oxygenating blood outside the body. However, traditional systems are large and heavy, making them extremely difficult to deploy and work with, especially in battlefield settings.
The solution: With support from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), Carnegie Mellon University researchers Keith Cook and David Skoog developed a compact, lightweight pulmonary assist system for extracorporeal life support. Their resulting prototype device weighs just one-fifth of traditional systems and can operate on battery power. The device also reduces patient complications, such as blood clotting or damage to red blood cells.
Skoog, who completed his Ph.D. studies at CMU, was also a member of the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, which helps university researchers investigate the commercial potential of STEM-related technologies.
The impact: The portable technology offers a life-saving, deployable solution for both military and civilian medical care. It serves as a vital device for treating and transporting wounded warfighters, as well as facilitating transport between civilian hospitals. Cook and Skoog founded Advanced Respiratory Technologies to further develop the next generation of artificial lungs.
Go deeper: How New Artificial Lung Technology Could Change the Game for Chronic Lung Disease