Researchers Create Lung On a Chip 45
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."
Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement (Score:4, Funny)
That aside, when will we be able to implant a RAID array of solid state lungs?
LungChips (Score:4, Funny)
Now available in Regular, BBQ, and Cool Ranch flavors.
Obligatory: But Will LOAC (Score:1, Funny)
run WinBLOZE [microsoft.com]?
Yours In Krasnoyarsk,
K. Trout
hands off our chips! (Score:3, Funny)
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? (Score:3, Funny)
"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?
Progress (Score:3, Funny)
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.
Re:Two words... (Score:1, Funny)
and if I enjoy recreating life?
What next? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement (Score:2, Funny)
I even talked to a girl.
For whom the bell tulls (Score:4, Funny)
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:Sweet, a use that isn't lung replacement (Score:3, Funny)