Lung on a Chip, which was named as a finalist for the 2011 INDEX: Design for Life Award, comes as close as possible to being a real human lung. The man-made lung, which is about the size of a small USB key, mimics the mechanical and chemical properties of a lung.
What I particularly find interesting is the size of the Lung on a Chip. The implications of having hospitals equipped with secondary lungs for people that need them could be far-reaching and transformative for society as a whole.
The Lung on a Chip is a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of medicine. This type of technology also promises to replace the testing of drugs on animals in the very near future.
Man-made Respiratory Apparatuses
Lung on a Chip Mimics the Properties of a Real Lung
Trend Themes
1. Man-made Respiratory Apparatuses - The development of man-made lungs on a chip opens up possibilities for revolutionary breakthroughs in the field of medicine.
2. Secondary Lungs for Hospitals - Equipping hospitals with secondary lungs could transform the way respiratory conditions are treated and improve patient outcomes.
3. Animal-free Drug Testing - The advancement of lung on a chip technology offers an opportunity to replace animal testing in drug development, leading to more ethical and accurate results.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Devices - The development of man-made respiratory apparatuses creates disruptive opportunities in the medical devices industry to improve respiratory healthcare.
2. Healthcare - The availability of secondary lungs for hospitals can disrupt the healthcare industry by providing a new solution for respiratory conditions and improving patient care.
3. Pharmaceuticals - The adoption of lung on a chip technology presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, allowing for more accurate drug testing and reducing reliance on animal models.