# A Wearable CO2 Removal Device for Veteran Rehabilitation from Lung Disease

> **NIH VA I21** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2021 · —

## Abstract

Veterans are three times more likely than the general population to develop chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of US death. Current therapies are
principally palliative, and have limited ability to restore Veterans to a sustained better quality of
life. The goal of this work is to improving Veteran rehabilitation from lung disease by developing
a novel artificial lung (AL) device which is optimized for CO2 removal. Recently, we developed an
AL design based on concentric gating which improves overall device efficiency compared to
current clinical devices. In this work, we will optimize this design to develop a CO2 removal artificial
lung (CORAL) which is suitable for incorporation into a wearable system. In Aim 1, a 3D computer
model of the CORAL will be built using Solidworks and blood flow simulations will be performed
using the Solidworks Flow Simulation add-in. A porous media model will be used to model flow
resistance due to the fiber bundle. Blood flow simulations within devices having varied fiber
lengths and fiber bundle porosities will be performed. The simulations will be used to guide design
of an optimized device that meets all stated specifications for the CORAL device. Once the design
is chosen, components will be 3D printed and used for prototype fabrication. In Aim 2, CORAL
devices will be fabricated and bench tested to experimentally determine pressure drop and gas
exchange performance. In Aim 3, CORAL devices which meet gas exchange and pressure
specification will be tested using an acute sheep model of hypercapnia. The successful
completion of these aims will lead to a Merit Review application that will focus on the long-term
implementation of the developed CO2 removal device. These studies will include chronic sheep
experimentation and incorporation into an automated, wearable system, and will provide the
information necessary to plan human clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10424362
- **Project number:** 5I21RX003178-03
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph Allen Potkay
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10424362

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10424362, A Wearable CO2 Removal Device for Veteran Rehabilitation from Lung Disease (5I21RX003178-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10424362. Licensed CC0.

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