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The lungs have enormous surface area which is used for gas exchange. Blood close to the surface of the alveoli drop off CO2 and absorb O2. But sometimes the lungs are hurt, and can't get the job done.
The other organ with surface area comparable to the lung is the intestine. Usually this area
is used to absorb nutrients and excrete waste, but the blood doesn't know the difference - with the right concentration gradients gas exchange could occur just as easily.
I propose the Bung Lung for folks who have temporarily or permanently impaired lungs. An oxygenated fluorocarbon fluid (in existence - see link) would be infused into the intestine, and gently circulated via an indwelling tube. Oxygen would be absorbed and CO2 excreted. An external machine would then filter the fluorocarbon and restore gas balance.
This machine might be used for premature infants to allow time for lung development. It is more physiologic and less invasive than existing "extracorporeal circulation" machines which use indwelling arterial catheters. A portable backpack version could be devised for those with weak lungs but strong sphincters, to allow them to go about their lives unimpeded by lack of lungs.
Perfluorocarbons
http://classes.kumc...lation/wikeper.html
This stuff is so dang cool. [bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]
Partly baked by dragonfly larvae.
http://www.earthlif...nsects/odonata.html
These critters pump water in and out of their rectum to respire. [bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]
Lake Titicaca Frog
http://www.eeb.ucon...96S02/SNPHOTO28.jpg
Who needs lungs when you got that much skin? The same tyrannical principle applies. [bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Annotation:
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alternative title: the Ass-pirator. |
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Your idea reminds me of the movie The Abyss, only the fluid's clear, not pink. |
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Anyway, your idea deserves to stay, if only for [sambwiches] humor and your cool Perfluorocarbon link. |
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This explains how some folks are able to breathe, even with their heads up their asses. |
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Self Contained Underwater Bung Lung Apperatice. |
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I can just picture Whitney Houston in a crowded elevator, waiting to exhale. |
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The only disadvantage I find: Everything would smell REALLY bad. |
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What about abdominal perfusion ? It's used as an adjunct to dialysis, and (I think) to raise body temperature rapidy in cases of hypothermia. Could a nonreactive sterile, oxygenated flurocarbon be cicrulated through the abdominal cavity to provide additional "respiration" ? |
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OUCH! ouch! It hurts! Make the laughing stop! It HURTS! |
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In regard to [8th of 7]'s idea about using the peritoneum - it could be done. The intestine is probably better because it has a very high surface to volume ratio compared to the peritoneum and so would be better suited for gas exchange. Compared to the peritoneum the intestine is tougher and accustomed to hard poop, corn, etc - and so might more readily accomodate perfluorcarbon swishing back and forth. |
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Now I am wondering if the gut could be used for dialysis. Hmmm.... |
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I wonder if you were running 800m whether having a couple of litres of this stuff in your guts might allow you to sprint the whole way, or if it would be possible to put in an additive that would react with the co2 and precipitate out as a solid. Or whether another additive could be made to slowly decompose, release oxygen and remove the need for a pump. |
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For a somewhat less -icky- alternative, a dialysis machine could probably be modified to work on the same principle.* Not as fun though, nor as beautifully simple. I salute you. |
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*And that in short, was Jaques Cousteau's dream for the ultimate SCUBA system, but I guess he never found anyone willing to actually try it. |
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