Extracorporeal Artificial Lungs: Co-Creating Future Technology – A Qualitative Analysis

Medical Devices Evidence and Research, vol. Volume 16, pp. 201–210

Abstract

Background: Terminal lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in progression cause a large reduction in quality of life and may lead to bilateral lung transplantation (bLTx). An artificial portable lung could provide a bridge to lung transplantation, allowing patients to remain at home and mobile for longer. To advance the development of such an artificial lung, patient feedback is essential. The aim of this study is to analyze patient acceptance about an extracorporeal artificial lung and to implement these findings into the development. Methods: In collaboration with a medical device developer, we presented a portable dummy oxygenator to patients with advanced lung disease, as potential end users. Data collection in Germany and France was based on two different methods: an online questionnaire and face-to-face interviews (F2F). Results: A total of 604 participants answered the online questionnaire and 17 participants were included in the F2F interviews. The majority of participants (COPD n=140, PH n=17) were able to walk more than 1 km with a mean suffering pressure of 2.87 and 3, respectively. Six of the 17 F2F participants who could walk <1 km were interested in an assistive device. The statistical value of Fisher's exact test for suffering pressure and desire for a portable oxygenator was 0.45. Conclusion: In patients with advanced lung disease, there is no statistically significant association between subjectively increased suffering pressure and desire for a portable oxygenator, so market introduction may be difficult. Potential end users should be implemented early in device development. Data collection via an online questionnaire combined with personal interviews has proven to be a successful approach here.

Authors 9

1. Julia Dormann Aachen Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Michael Dreher Aachen Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Kelly Ansems Aachen Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Carole Rolland

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Translational Innovation in Medicine and Complexity · Université Grenoble Alpes

   Affiliation as printed

   Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité (TIMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France

   Techniques de l’Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité (TIMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France

5. Jan Wilhelm Spillner Aachen Department of Thoracic Surgery Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

6. Agnieszka Szafran Aachen Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

7. Christophe Pison

   Inserm · Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble · Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Bioenergetics · Université Grenoble Alpes

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pneumology and Physiology, CHU Grenoble Alpes; University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France

   Département Universitaire des Patients Grenoble Alpes, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France

   Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Bioenergetics, LBFA, Inserm1055, Grenoble, France

   LBFA - Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Bioenergetics = Laboratoire de bioénergétique fondamentale et appliquée (Bâtiment B Biologie, 2280 Rue de la Piscine, 38400 Saint Martin d'Hères - France)

8. Tom Verbelen

   Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven · KU Leuven

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven and Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

9. Carina Benstoem Aachen Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Intermediate Care, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany