A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) has developed a new device for protecting donor lungs amid transport for transplant surgery.

Traditionally, donor organs are stored on ice in coolers and have a limited window before they become unusable. As such, the team developed a new way to protect donor lungs in transport with their new thoracic organ-recovery cooler.

Source: UTD

"We are working on a better way to transport donor organs to reduce risks of complications after transplant," the team explained.

According to its developers, the new thoracic organ-recovery cooler reportedly controls temperature, pressure and humidity within a sealed, sterile environment. This design reportedly better preserves organs.

"Lungs have the highest discard rate of organs because they are so frail," the researchers said. "If we can improve this process in any way, we can save more lives."