Severe respiratory muscle weakness, specifically diaphragm dysfunction, can arise from many conditions, including trauma and neuromuscular disorders. Patients with diaphragm dysfunction experience respiratory failure due to ?pump failure?, in which the mechanical pumping function of the respiratory muscles fail to generate the necessary motion and pressure gradients to drive respiratory ventilation, specifically inspiration. Moderate respiratory failure may be addressed with non-invasive ventilation, however if non-invasive ventilation techniques fail, invasive ventilation via tracheostomy is currently the only other option. Invasive ventilation is often declined by the patient due to the interference with quality of life. The major long-term goal of this project is to develop of an alternative therapeutic ventilation option based on medical soft robotics: an ?implantable ventilator? based on augmenting diaphragm motion. We chose to use soft robotic actuators as they can interact nondestructively with biological tissues and can augment the mechanical motion of muscles. In order to achieve the overall objective we will build a pressurized benchtop testbed of the diaphragm to allow for rapid prototyping and testing as there is currently a lack of in vitro models of diaphragm biomechanics. We will iteratively design and test our device prototypes in the in vitro set up and in situ within pig cadavers to optimize device function. We will evaluate the final device within an in vivo porcine model. Such a device may provide patients with end-stage mechanical respiratory failure an alternative therapeutic option to invasive ventilation.

Public Health Relevance

Patients with diaphragm dysfunction can lose the mechanical pumping function of the respiratory muscles, and fail to generate the necessary motion and pressure gradients to drive respiration. Current treatment options are invasive and severely reduce quality of life. Here we propose to build an implantable ventilator for patients with end-stage mechanical respiratory failure an alternative therapeutic option to invasive ventilation. We will validate its function with a high fidelity benchtop simulator and an in vivo model of diaphragm dysfunction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21EB028414-01A1
Application #
10057755
Study Section
Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section (BTSS)
Program Officer
Wolfson, Michael
Project Start
2020-09-17
Project End
2023-09-16
Budget Start
2020-09-17
Budget End
2023-09-16
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
001425594
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02142