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Device Keeps Lungs Breathing Outside the Body

Posted by timothy on from the trade-creepy-feeling-for-staying-alive dept.

Al writes "A new system that keeps lungs breathing outside the body could improve the chances of a successful transplant. The Toronto XVIVO Lung Perfusion System, developed at Toronto General Hospital, can keep a pair of human lungs slowly breathing inside a glass dome attached to a ventilator, pump, and filters. The lungs are maintained at normal body temperature of 37 C and perfused with a bloodless solution that contains nutrients, proteins, and oxygen. The organs can be kept alive in the machine for up to 12 hours while surgeons assess function and repair them. See a video of the system keeping a pair of lungs alive."

9 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Getting them over with. by Dripdry · · Score: 4, Funny

    What a breath of fresh air!
    I'm glad they're breathing new life into transplant technology.
    The medical community did well but they shouldn't go getting all puffed up over this.

    phew. There. I'm taking a karma hit for everybody who even considered making those jokes.

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    1. Re:Getting them over with. by Aranykai · · Score: 2, Funny

      The news media is just inflating this story to improve their ratings. Nothing to see here.

      --
      If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
    2. Re:Getting them over with. by mfnickster · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, I'm glad you achieved your aspiration.

      --
      "Slow down, Cowboy! It has been 3 years, 7 months and 26 days since you last successfully posted a comment."
  2. cool & creepy by BigGar' · · Score: 2, Funny

    While this is rather cool, I can't help thinking that,somehow, Vincent Price had a hand in the project.

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    Shop smart, Shop S-Mart.
  3. I'm strangely aroused by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe it's not the heaving of breasts that is so attractive about women. Perhaps it's something more primal, more core.

    Watching the lungs inflate and deflate rhythmically makes me feel all funny inside.

    Like I want to retch.

  4. Krang by Java+Pimp · · Score: 2, Funny

    Damn that's just creepy! I half expect to see it moving around trying to take over the world!

    --
    Ascalante: Your bride is over 3,000 years old.
    Kull: She told me she was 19!
  5. Re:That's unholy by DirtyCanuck · · Score: 1, Funny

    Damn look how shitty universal health care is. Damn us socialists up here certainly live in the stone age.....

  6. Re:GOOD LORD!!!! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Pfft. How is it going to crawl into my nightmares without gleaming, razor sharp mechanical spider legs?

  7. Re:That's unholy by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think you have some issues.
    And no Canadians are not stuck in the stone age. Only an idiot would think that.
    You guys are stuck in the ice age :)

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    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.