Addressing lung injuries through microbubble tech

Husker engineer Benjamin Terry and colleagues from the National Strategic Research Institute were awarded $3.7 million in new funding from the Department of Defense for a project that expands research into a potentially life-saving treatment for soldiers with traumatic lung injuries. The project, launched in 2016, focuses on delivering microscopic bubbles of oxygen to the abdomen via a portable device, mimicking the role of alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs that release oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The technology allows the damaged lung or lungs to rest while enabling the brain and other critical organs to maintain function while the patient is en route to a medical facility.