Project Description:

Each year, over 4,000 people are on the U.S. lung transplant waitlist, yet only slightly more than half receive a transplant. Many of the rest do not survive. A key reason is the strikingly low utilization rate of donor lungs—just 17%—compared to that of hearts (40%) and kidneys and livers (80%). This is largely due to the lungs’ exposure to the external environment and vulnerability to injury. One of the most common issues is atelectasis, or alveolar collapse, a major contributor to primary graft dysfunction—a severe form of rejection affecting over 30% of recipients.

Our Enhanced Donor Lung Transport System tackles these challenges with an innovative design that combines active cooling, periodic rotation, and negative pressure maintenance. An integrated cooling system keeps the lungs at a stable 8–10°C, while the organ containment unit periodically rotates them to prevent fluid accumulation in gravity-dependent areas.

In contrast to current solutions that use positive pressure—posing risks of barotrauma and tissue damage—our device employs negative pressure, more closely replicating the lungs’ natural respiratory mechanics and thus allowing for longer preservation times.

Additionally, our proposed system is fully compliant with commercial airline regulations, allowing for flexible and cost-effective transport without the need for private or chartered flights—reducing logistical costs by over 90%.

Pre-operatively, our device would help free Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity by increasing lung utilization, reducing the number of patients awaiting transplants. Longer preservation times give surgeons more flexibility to schedule procedures at optimal times—allowing them to operate with a clearer, more rested mind.

Better lung preservation would also lower the risk of post-operative complications and shorten recovery, improving patient outcomes while reducing hospital costs. Even a single day less in the ICU for a patient can save a hospital thousands of dollars.