An artificial lung is a prosthetic device that is implanted into the body to replace biological lungs. It is different from a heart-lung machine in that it is internal and designed to take over the functions of the lungs for long periods of time rather than on a temporary basis. Recent developments include a device that uses small hollow fibers and the heart's own pumping power to oxygenate blood. It may be necessary for a person to receive artificial lungs if theirs become diseased or damaged beyond repair.
Famous quotes containing the words artificial and/or lung:
“Kings are not born: they are made by artificial hallucination.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Dylan used to sound like a lung cancer victim singing Woody Guthrie. Now he sounds like a Rolling Stone singing Immanuel Kant.”
—Also quoted in Robert Shelton, No Direction Home, ch. 2, “Prophet Without Honor” (1986)