Researchers Create Lung On a Chip

ElectricSteve writes "Utilizing human lung and blood vessel cells, researchers have created a device mounted on a microchip that mimics a living, breathing human lung. About the size of a rubber eraser, the device was developed by a team from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and Children's Hospital Boston. Because it's translucent, researchers can watch the processes taking place inside of it — something that's difficult to do with an actual lung. It will be used for testing the respiratory effects of environmental toxins, aerosolized therapeutics, and new drugs. Using conventional models, such tests can cost more than $2 million."

Comments

Science Friday

[Microlith]

For anyone interested, this is the topic of Science Friday on NPR -right now-.

Re:Science Friday

[Microlith]

Too late for live listening, the audio will probably be up in the next day or so here:

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201006252

Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[TinBromide]

So before a whole bunch of people talk about implanting a RAID array of solid state lungs in you, or helping people, or finding a better way to assist people with breathing issues, I'm going to give kudos to the submitter for putting the intended purpose of these things in the summary.

That aside, when will we be able to implant a RAID array of solid state lungs?

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

Would be a RAIL array..

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[gumbi west]

Isn't it a beowulf cluster, how long have you been here?

If you want to go raid, how would RAID 5 work with these?

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[weirdo557]

That would be a RAIL. redundant array of independent lungs array would be redundant in the wrong way.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

Yep.

And cybernetic stoners would have to smoke marijuana from a tiny redundant array of inexpensive bongs...

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

If you want to go raid, how would RAID 5 work with these?

With n-1 lung efficiency, i guess.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

if you require redundancy on your bong, you might be the only person on earth who is actually addicted to weed.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[boneclinkz]

That aside, when will we be able to implant a RAID array of solid state lungs?

Soon enough, but it will be costly. I hope you can remember your PIN number at the ATM machine.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

Your lungs are already RAID-1

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

The phrases "PIN Number" and "ATM Machine" were entered into public lexicon specifically as a litmus test for those with a unique combination of OCD and lack of social skills. You sir, have failed the litmus test, please report to the nearest hugbox for processing.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[omnichad]

The "R" in RAID stands for redundant. I thought most people wanted their RAIDs to be redundant ;-)

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[spazdor]

Oh, go type your PIN number into an ATM machine.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[boneclinkz]

I'm back from processing, and now entirely comfortable with the concept of a redundant RAID array of independent disks. Also, I have newfound confidence in social situations.

I even talked to a girl.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Hatta]

You're probably better off just going with JBOL.

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[mcgrew]

That aside, when will we be able to implant a RAID array of solid state lungs?

Imagine a beowolf cluster of them...

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't that be a RAIL? Redundant Array of Independent Lungs

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[Psion]

I'd be up for a RAID array of solid state lungs if they're more efficient than normal lungs. Up to now, I've been hoping for re-engineered lungs based on those used by birds. I figure the high-efficiency of bird lungs will allow me to opt for smaller lungs and then give me room for a second heart (because it just doesn't make sense to have only one organ doing such an important job). Now with hyper-efficient lungs and two hearts spreading all that oxygenated blood through my circulatory system, I expect to be extra alert and a bit more sharp. Then I'll finally be able to figure out how to make my garden shed bigger on the inside. WHO knows where that could lead!

Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement

[vidnet]

And, of course, there are benefits beyond the stated cost savings. We get to see the effects on human lung tissue rather than on approximations like mouse lungs, and it can reduce the number of animals needed for testing.

LungChips

[jayhawk88]

Now available in Regular, BBQ, and Cool Ranch flavors.

Obligatory: But Will LOAC

[Anonymous Coward]

run WinBLOZE?

Yours In Krasnoyarsk,
K. Trout

hands off our chips!

[slashmojo]

Legions of british couch potatoes were almost moved to protest the inhuman experiments on their national dish.. but couldn't be bovvered.

*phew* lucky I read the summary after..

Hey its friday, gimme a break! ;)

Conventional methods?

[God'sDuck]

"Using conventional models, such tests can cost over $2 million."
 
Conventional methods for testing human lungs? Like, for shackles, hiding bodies and bribing the local police?

Re:Conventional methods?

[Anonymous Coward]

D@mn expensive, that is.

Re:Conventional methods?

[Anonymous Coward]

"Using conventional models, such tests can cost over $2 million."

Conventional methods for testing human lungs? Like, for shackles, hiding bodies and bribing the local police?

Actually it is easier to just market the thing you want to test, to children.

Progress

[Ukab the Great]

First I can't stick magnets to my hard drive. Now I can't smoke around my CPU. These new-fangled inventions are killing all my fun.

Two words...

[peteinok]

self aware. We weren't meant to recreate life, simply enjoy it.

Re:Two words...

[Anonymous Coward]

and if I enjoy recreating life?

Re:Two words...

[mcgrew]

My head just asploded.

recreate

We weren't meant for recreation, we were meant to have fun! Uh, and I doubt these artificial lungs are self-aware. But the artificial lens in my left eye sees a lot better than the real one it replaced did, even if it's not self-aware. I don't think the real lens was self-aware, either.

Re:Two words...

[hierophanta]

say what now? we're not supposed to procreate? (and yes i do believe procreate / recreate / create all have the same meaning here)

What would be really

[Anonymous Coward]

What would be really neat is if they could do the same thing but in reverse, ie. carbon fixation.

Re:What would be really

[Anonymous Coward]

It's called a tree.

Terminators?

[ubermiester]

So are we putting the pieces together on our own or is SkyNet reaching back from the future to make us do it..?

What next?

[aBaldrich]

Yesterday we had the story about artificial lungs implanted on rats, today we have this... I think in a week we'll have a story about a computer system, which will be given command over all military hardware...

The sport version

[syntheticmemory]

Denies it is on steroids...

Ill Pass...

[night_flyer]

...I prefer Queso, Salsa and Jalapenos on my chips

Re:Ill Pass...

[hitmark]

hey, stop eating mexican over a open computer case!

will work for cheese

[uncanny]

With yet another job taken by machines, how will the mice find work so they can feed their little babies?

For whom the bell tulls

[jollyreaper]

Sitting on a lab bench
Came of mad science with good intent.
Environmental toxins
Clear tissues seared by nasty goo!
Twitching under cold lights
shivering as endless tests are run.
Looking quite obscene
If it had a mouth it would probably scream.

Microlung!

Re:For whom the bell tulls

[MaerD]

...Luckily Ian Anderson is still with us, else the speed of his rotating in his grave would throw the earth off axis and we'd all need "MicroLungs"

Great news for smokers...

[UBfusion]

Can this thing can just allow nicotine and perform tar garbage collection?

Re:Great news for smokers...

[TangoMargarine]

Come again?

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion