RespirocytesA Mechanical Artificial Red Cell: Exploratory Design in Medical Nanotechnology-Robert A. Freitas Jr.

OverviewIntroductionPreliminary Design IssuesNanotechnological design of Respiratory Gas carriersBaseline designTherapeuticsSafety and Bio-compatibilityApplicationsSummary and Conclusion

IntroductionMolecular manufacturing processes applications.Medical implications precise interventions at cellular and molecular levels.Medical nanorobots research, diagnoses and cure.Preliminary design for artificial mechanical erythrocyte or Red Blood Cell (RBC) Respirocyte.

Preliminary Design IssuesBiochemistry of respiratory gas transport oxygen and carbon-dioxide.Existing Artificial Respiratory Gas carriersHemoglobin Formulations50% more O2 than natural RBCs.Dissociates to dimers, Binds to O2 more tightly, Hemoglobin oxidized.Fluorocarbon EmulsionsPhysical solubilization emulsions of dropletsShortcomings of Current technologiesToo short life timeNot designed for CO2 transportvasoconstriction

Design of Respiratory Gas carriersPressure VesselSpherical, Flawless diamond or sapphire1000atm optimal gas molecule packing densityDischarge time very less -

Molecular Sorting RotorsBinding site pockets rims 12 armsSelective bindingEject cam actionFully reversible load and unload7nm x 14nm x 14nm2 x 10-21 kgSorts molecules of 20 or fewer atoms106 molecules/ sec

Molecular Sorting Rotors (contd)Power saving generator subsystem90% occupancy of rotor binding sitesMulti-stage cascade virtually pure gases

Nanotechnological Design of Respiratory Gas carriers (contd)Sorting Rotors binding sitesO2, CO2, Water, GlucoseDevice ScalingOn-board computer 58nm diameter sphere37.28% of tank surface sorting rotorsReasonable range 0.2 to 2 micronsPresent study assumes approx. 1 micronBuoyancy controlLoading and unloading water ballastVery useful exfusion from bloodExample specialized centrifugation apparatus

Baseline Design - Powerglucose & oxygen Mechanical EnergyGlucose blood & Oxygen onboard storageGlucose Engine 42nm x 42nm x 175nmOutput is water approx. glucose absorbedFuel tank glucose storage 42nm x 42nm x 115nmMechanical or hydraulic power distributionRods & gears Pipes & valvesControl onboard computer

Baseline Design - CommunicationsPhysician broadcast signalsModulated compressive pressure pulsesMechanical transducers surface of respirocytesTransducers pressure driven actuatorsInternal CommunicationHydraulic - Low pressure acoustic spikesMechanical - Mechanical rods and couplings

Baseline Design - SensorsSorting rotors quantitative molecular concentration sensorsInternal pressure sensors gas tank loading, ballast and glucose fuel tanks, internal/external temperature sensors.

Baseline Design Onboard Computation104 bit/sec computer105 bits of internal memory

Gas loading and unloadingRotor field and ballast tank managementGlucose engine throttlingPower distributionInterpretation of sensor dataSelf-diagnoses and control of protocols

Glucose rotor, Tank, Engine and Flue Assembly in 12-station Respirocyte baseline design

Pumping Station Layout

Equatorial Cutaway View of Respirocyte

Polar Cutaway View of Respirocyte

Baseline Design Tank Chamber DesignDiamondoid honeycomb or geodesic grid skeletal frameworkPerforated compartment wallsPresent design CO2 and O2 separateProposed same chamberDisadvsRespiration control CO2 levelReverse CO2 overloadingReduction of maximum outgassing rate

TherapeuticsMinimum Therapeutic doseHuman blood O2 capacity 8.1 x 1021 moleculesEach respirocyte 1.51 x 109 O2 moleculesFull duplication 5.36 x 1012 devicesHypodermal injection or transfusionMaximum Augmentation DoseFully O2 charged dose 9.54 x 1014 respirocytes12 minutes and peak exertion3.8 hours at restControl ProtocolsPrecise external control by physicianProgrammable for sophisticated behaviors

Safety and Bio-compatibilityMechanical failure modesDevice overheatingNon-combustive device explosionRadiation damageCoagulationInflammationPhagocytes

ApplicationsTransfusionsTreatment of AnemiaFetal and Child-related disordersRespiratory DiseasesCardiovascular and Neurovascular applicationsTumor therapy and DiagnosticsAsphyxiaUnderwater breathingEndurance oriented sport eventsAnaerobic and aerobic infectionsVeterinary medicine

Summary and ConclusionArtificial erythrocyteAvoiding carbonic acidity mechanical transport of CO2236 times more O2 per unit volume than natural RBCsTough diamondoid materialNumerous sensorsOn-board nano-computerRemotely programmableLifespan of 4 monthsFuture advances in molecular machine system engineering actual construction.

ReferencesDrexler KE. Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and Computation. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1992.www.foresight.org

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