Authors:

Divinefavour Osuji

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About Paper:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-support system that temporarily takes over heart and lung function, but it comes with major limitations, including high pressure drops, risk of blood clotting, and poor long-term compatibility with blood. Microfluidic artificial lung devices aim to overcome these limitations by replicating the architecture and transport efficiency of the native pulmonary microvasculature. In this project, we aimed to improve both the materials and the internal geometry of a 3D-printed artificial lung device. We hypothesize that optimizing custom UV-curable resin materials and multilayer microfluidic geometries fabricated via high-resolution digital light processing (DLP) 3D-printing will reduce pressure drop and clotting risk while improving gas exchange efficiency. Artificial lung devices were designed to be small, robust, multilayer distribution networks that mimic physiological blood flow patterns. Blood is introduced through a centralized inlet and bifurcates into multiple layers using Murray's Law-optimized channel diameters and angles to promote uniform flow and minimize shear stress. Gas channels are positioned above and below each blood layer, allowing oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange to occur through diffusion across a thin membrane. Devices were fabricated using 32 m-resolution DLP 3D-printing with custom PDMS UV-curable resin formulations. Resin viscosity and post-cure flexibility were modified to improve print consistency, structural integrity, and device durability. In-vitro testing evaluated flow uniformity, pressure drop, mechanical stability, and gas transfer performance. Results demonstrated improved channel resolution and reduced deformations in printed devices. The multilayer flow distribution exhibited promising improvements in uniformity and pressure drops, thereby affecting hemodynamic performance compared to previous device iterations. Optimization of resin properties and microfluidic architecture enhances structural precision and flow dynamics in 3D-printed artificial lung devices. These advancements support the development of next-generation artificial lung technologies designed to reduce clotting risk, lower pressure drops, and improve long-term blood compatibility relative to conventional ECMO systems. PWOOSOHH OOPS OOOO ECS OSOH HOO SSS OHO OOS COC OHO CCE OOOOH OOEOHCOOO SPIFDDDIDIDDIDFISFDPFIDDIDSIFIDDIDPOFSIDDIIDSISHD9DIGDIDIDOD

Source:

Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium

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Co-authors:

Divinefavour Osuji