Cooled Oxygen Airway Preservation for Transplant Lungs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lung preservation methods for transplantation face challenges in maintaining optimal cooling and preventing ischemic injury to small airways, which limits the preservation time and increases the risk of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), particularly due to the air-filled nature of lungs acting as a temperature isolator.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a cooling coil connected to an oxygen source and endotracheal tubing, with a positive end expiratory pressure valve, supplies cooled oxygen at 0-4°C to lung airways while maintaining positive pressure, using a copper coil and temperature/pressure sensors for control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If external ice cooling is used for lung preservation, then cooling effect is achieved, but the air-filled lungs act as temperature isolators preventing effective cooling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelung temperatureVSAvoidtemperature isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cooling coil as an intermediary element that circulates cold saline solution through it. This cooling coil acts as a mediator between the external cooling source and the lung tissue, allowing efficient heat transfer without requiring direct contact between ice and the air-filled lung parenchyma. The coil serves as a thermal conduit that overcomes the insulating effect of trapped air.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by circulating a cold saline solution through the cooling coil. This fluid circulation system enables continuous removal of heat from the lung tissue, overcoming the thermal isolation created by air-filled alveoli. The hydraulic system provides a reliable heat exchange mechanism that bypasses the limitations of direct external ice cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Duration of action of moving object

If lungs are preserved for extended periods, then transport distance is increased, but ischemic injury to small airways increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation timeVSAvoidischemic injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter by implementing active cooling through the circulating cold saline system. By maintaining the lungs at lower temperatures (4-10°C) throughout the preservation period, the metabolic rate of lung tissue is reduced, thereby decreasing ischemic injury and enabling extended preservation times without increasing damage to small airways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous cooling action by circulating cold saline solution continuously through the cooling coil during the entire preservation period. This continuous thermal protection prevents cumulative ischemic injury that would occur with intermittent or insufficient cooling, allowing for extended preservation times while maintaining tissue integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If cooling is applied to lungs, then preservation is improved, but complications like chronic lung allograft dysfunction increase due to bronchiole injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation qualityVSAvoidbronchiole injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by directing cooling specifically to the bronchioles and small airways through the endotracheal tube and cooling coil configuration. By providing targeted cooling to the most vulnerable regions (bronchioles) while maintaining overall lung cooling, the system improves preservation quality without causing diffuse injury to airway structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical ice contact with a fluid-based thermal exchange system. Instead of applying ice directly to lung surfaces (which could cause mechanical injury to delicate airways), the system uses circulating cold saline through a cooling coil to achieve thermal protection. This substitution eliminates mechanical trauma while maintaining effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method extends the preservation time of lungs for transplantation, reduces ischemic injury, and decreases complications like CLAD by ensuring consistent cooling and inflation of small airways.

Implementation Method 1

supplying a continuous flow of cooled oxygen to airways within the lung via the cooling coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

maintaining a positive end expiratory pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure maintenance: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS12507691B2Oxygen cooling system for lung preservation

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 NEW YORK UNIV

AI summary

A system for lung preservation is described. The system includes a cooler at least partially housing a cooling coil, the cooling coil including a proximal end configured to connect to an oxygen source and a distal end configured to connect to endotracheal tubing. The endotracheal tubing is in fluid communication with a conduit extending through the cooling coil. A positive end expiratory pressure valve connected to the endotracheal tubing. A method for preserving a lung and a method for preserving a lung for transportation are also described.