Collaborative Research: GCR: Characterization and Robust Multivariable Control of the Dynamics of Gas Exchange During Peritoneal Oxygenated Perfluorocarbon Perfusion

这一不断增长的融合研究项目满足了社会对开发一种不依赖肺的技术的关键社会需求，该技术用于为新冠肺炎等疾病引起的呼吸衰竭患者提供呼吸支持。体外膜氧合(ECMO)是目前唯一可用的此类技术，但它是一种昂贵而稀缺的资源，而且有并发症，使许多患者无法选择它，即使它是可用的。该项目将开发一种“第三肺”技术，通过腹腔循环含氧全氟碳(PFC，一种安全的惰性液体，具有非凡的气体溶解特性)来实现与肺无关的气体交换。这是一个将生物工程和控制理论与生理学相结合的研究项目，以创造一种每年有可能拯救数千人生命的技术。由NSF EIGER奖支持的初步研究结果表明，氧气和二氧化碳的清除可能挽救生命。该项目将在三个具体方向上推进研究边界：(I)开发能够测量PFC中溶解气体浓度以及PFC温度和压力的多功能光纤传感器；(Ii)使用台式和动物实验来进一步表征和模拟“第三肺”气体交换的基本动力学；以及(Iii)开发用于“第三肺”的新型稳健多变量控制算法，促进其作为治疗呼吸衰竭患者的常规辅助设备的潜在实施。这一融合的研究组合将汇集来自生物医学工程、传感、自动控制和医学领域的不同研究团队，以追求具有高潜在社会影响的研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Growing Convergence Research project addresses the critical societal need to develop a lung-independent technique for providing respiratory support to patients with respiratory failure from disorders such as COVID-19. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the only such technique currently available, but is an expensive and scarce resource with complications that preclude it as an option for many patients, even when it is available. This project will develop a “third lung” technology that achieves lung-independent gas exchange by circulating oxygenated perfluorocarbon (PFC, a safe, inert liquid with extraordinary gas-dissolving properties) through the abdominal cavity. This is a convergent research project that integrates bioengineering and control theory with physiology to create a technology with the potential to save thousands of lives every year.Preliminary research results supported with an NSF EAGER award demonstrate potentially life-saving degrees of oxygenation and CO2 clearance. This project will push the research boundaries in three specific directions: (i) the development of a multi-functional fiber-optic sensor capable of measuring dissolved gas concentrations in PFC, as well as PFC temperature and pressure; (ii) the use of both benchtop and animal experiments to further characterize and model the fundamental dynamics of “third lung” gas exchange; and (iii) the development of novel robust multivariable control algorithms for the “third lung”, facilitating its potential implementation as a routine adjunct in the treatment of patients with respiratory failure. This convergent research portfolio will bring together a diverse research team from the fields of biomedical engineering, sensing, automatic control, and medicine in pursuit of research with high potential societal impact.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.