h a l f b a k e r yNot so much a thought experiment as a single neuron misfire.
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This one is really out of the box.
How about filling a lung will an oxygen carrying fluid, such as perfluorocarbon, then, with sonics, massage the foreign debris to a drain at the most efficacious place of the lung. Hopefully, the policing cells and held particles will freely come away from the lining
with a bit of musical encouragement.
This is sort of amped up version of what the lining mucus, cells and cilia are suppose to do but can't because of the types of particles inhaled. Maybe, the sound pumped in could be Jethro Tull's Locomotion breath.
Anything is probably a option when faced with silicosis or asbestosis.
[link]
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Hmm. Pulmonary lavage is a thing, but not widely used. |
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With associated jiggle vibration or just flow and retrieve? |
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Well, it seems for PAP, Pulmonary Aveolar Proteinosis, primarily an autoimmune problem, it is. |
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I was thinking tuned sound waves could dislodge other more macro problems. |
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With silicosis and asbestosis (and indeed byssinosis) the problem is that the contaminants are not superficial, but embedded in the alveolar wall. Rinsing, even with the addition of ultrasound, isn't going to dislodge them. |
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//Locomotion Breath//... Aqualung surely? |
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If caught early enough, it might lower the density in the lung. The cells surrounding the particles would either want to try a absorb the particle or to try to encapsulate it for removal. The later could be helped with a bit of orchestration. |
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Aren't there modes of ultrasound that break up scar tissue? I suppose it would depend on how much damage needs to be done to remove the particles and how much regrowth capability the lung tissue has. A bit of aveolar gardening or ultrasound surgery under fluid. |
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//drain at the most efficacious place//
Due to the "spread" of the branching system, there probably
isn't one; I would suggest a slow rotation of the patient
while washing, finishing with being hung upside-down to dry. |
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The solution is therefore trouser lungs; then you can be wearing one pair while the others are in the wash. |
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I've always thought that things like the heart and breathing
muscles could do with a rest, every now-&-then. Once a
year, get yourself hooked up to an artificial system to "take
over" the blood pumping, oxygenation, etc, while your real
bits have a rest (& get some maintenance, if required). A
lung wash would be part of that. |
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Burn some mechanical candle for a bit. A life more extended. |
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