# 3D Printed Microfluidic Artificial Lung for Veteran Rehabilitation

> **NIH VA I01** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2024 · —

## Abstract

The long-term goal of this technology development project is to improve rehabilitation of Veterans suffering
from lung disease through the development of the first truly portable, biocompatible, artificial lung capable of
short and long term respiratory support. Current artificial lungs have recently been used to rehabilitate lung
disease patients; however, significant advances in gas exchange, biocompatibility, and portability are required
to fully realize their potential. Microfluidic artificial lungs promise to enable a new class of truly portable artificial
lungs through feature sizes and blood channel designs that closely mimic those found in their natural
counterpart. However, current microfabrication techniques limit the microfluidic networks in these devices to
two dimensions, thereby severely limiting potential device topologies and resulting in inefficient blood
distribution networks. Further, current construction techniques may not be suitable for the large area
production required for human applications. In this study, we will for the first time harness high resolution 3D
polymer printing technology to create large area microfluidic lungs with truly three dimensional blood flow
networks and topologies. Constructed 3D printed microfluidic artificial lungs will exhibit gas exchange suitable
for some human applications, while using a fraction of the blood contacting surface area, blood volume, and
total volume of current commercial devices. The objectives of the current technology-development Merit
proposal are thus to: 1) optimize resin [resolution, permeability, toxicity, and blood compatibility] for microfluidic
artificial lungs; 2) Construct an adult-scale 3D printed microfluidic lung and validate in vitro; and, 3) Acute and
chronic in vivo testing of an adult-scale µAL. At the conclusion of this study, we will be ready to for extended
testing of our 3D printed microfluidic artificial lungs in a large animal model and for scaling up to larger rated
blood flows. The listed objectives are thus critical to advancing this promising technology towards initial acute
systems for Veteran pulmonary rehabilitation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10786077
- **Project number:** 5I01RX003920-02
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph Allen Potkay
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10786077

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10786077, 3D Printed Microfluidic Artificial Lung for Veteran Rehabilitation (5I01RX003920-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10786077. Licensed CC0.

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