ONGOING Project_ Phase 1

The PULMO concept originated from a conversation where one of my interlocutors started discussing about freediving and then came to me the idea of designing a biodesigned apparatus, en exo-organ that would have the ability to recycle a diver’s breath and thus extend their time underwater.

The PULMO concept is a rebreathing mask to extend a diver’s designed to cycle the diver’s initial breath taken at the surface. At a time when the user would resurface to breathe, the user exhales the air into the mask and then re-inhale that air. Inspired by the Anole lizard, branchial respiration, and cutaneous respiration it is designed to release CO2 in the water. Through a gills-inspired system the mask collects oxygen which is then stored in the air pockets (dead space). The exhaled air collects the oxygen stored in the air pockets and thus provide a new breath to the user without the need to resurface.

Besides the obvious technological/biological constraints of the concept, the mask is purposely designed to blur the line between a technological and biological aesthetic, to explore our comfort zone with bio-hybrid systems. Following the Type 1 design philosophy, this bio-hybrid system must not contain any petroleum derived material. It can only be designed with biomaterials, sustainable materials, and living components. 

Principal Investigator: Yves A. Michel_Professor of practice, MASc (industrial designer, conceptual biodesigner)

Current team/ research assistants: Nivi Felix_2nd year IID student, Leland Hanewall_2nd year IID student, Maisie Pierce_2nd year IID student, Lilly Forney_4th year Design Studies student, Lily Minicozzi_4th year IID student

Life Science Consultants: Austin Garner, PhD/biology, Dave (Moz) Mozdehi, PhD/chemistry

3D Animation: Nell DeChick/ Five Peaks Animation, Trevor Moucha/ Five Peaks Animation

3D CAD: Leland Hanewall_2nd year IID student, Kevin Sutherland/ Forty Forty Lab

Past research assistants: Carolyn Fernandes/IID, Natalie D’Alto/IID student, Donovan Capdeville/IID student, Son Cao/IID student