Lung Oxygen Cooling Coil With PEEP for Longer Organ Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lung preservation methods for transplantation face challenges in maintaining optimal temperature and pressure to prevent ischemic injury and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), particularly due to the air-filled nature of lungs acting as a temperature isolator, limiting transport time and increasing healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a cooling coil connected to an oxygen source and endotracheal tubing, with a positive end expiratory pressure valve, maintains a continuous flow of cooled oxygen between 0-4°C and positive end expiratory pressure to preserve lungs during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external ice cooling is used for lung preservation, then tissue injury from hypoxia and hypoperfusion is decreased, but the air-filled lungs act as a temperature isolator preventing effective cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the lung into multiple segments by inserting cooling balloons into different bronchial branches. Each balloon can be independently inflated and cooled, allowing segmented cooling of different lung regions to overcome the insulating effect of air-filled alveoli.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling balloons act as intermediaries between the external cooling source and the lung tissue. These balloons are inflated with cold fluid (not air) and positioned within the bronchial tree to directly transfer cooling effect to the surrounding lung parenchyma, bypassing the air-filled alveolar barrier.
2Duration of action of moving object
If traditional external cooling is used, then some protection from hypoxia is provided, but transport time is limited to 6 hours and healthcare costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling balloons are pre-positioned and inflated within the bronchial tree before the cooling process begins. This preliminary placement ensures immediate and effective cooling contact with lung tissue from the start of preservation, maximizing protection during the entire transport period.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous cooling through the preservation period by keeping the balloons inflated and connected to the cooling circuit. The continuous flow of cold fluid through the balloons ensures uninterrupted cooling action throughout transport, extending viable preservation time beyond the traditional 6-hour limit.
3Stability of the object's composition
If air is used to fill lungs after procurement, then lungs maintain structure, but air acts as a temperature isolator affecting bronchioles and causing chronic lung allograft dysfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful air from the bronchial tree by removing it and replacing it with cooling fluid in the balloons. This extraction eliminates the temperature isolating effect of air while the lung parenchyma remains structurally intact during preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the gas phase from air (insulating) to cold liquid or gas in the balloons (conductive). This parameter change transforms the thermal properties within the bronchial tree, enabling effective heat transfer to protect bronchioles from ischemic injury while maintaining lung structural integrity.
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
Extends the preservation time of lungs for transplantation, reduces ischemic injury, and decreases complications like CLAD by ensuring optimal temperature and pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler at least partially housing a cooling coil... supplying a continuous flow of cooled oxygen to airways within the lung via the cooling coil
Implementation Method 2
a positive end expiratory pressure valve connected to the endotracheal tubing... maintaining a positive end expiratory pressure
Data Source
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.