Establishing Feasibility of Transbronchial Cryoablation With an In-Development Cryoprobe: An Ex-Vivo Human Lung Model

With informed consent obtained prior to transplantation, explanted lungs from patients undergoing lung transplantation will be obtained. The organs will be placed in an acrylic box and will be perfused at a temperature of 37 Celsius degrees. The lungs will be mechanically ventilated connected by an endotracheal tube size 7 inserted in the bronchus with the balloon inflated and a silk suture providing a hermetic closure proximal to the balloon. The cryocatheter will be inserted in the lungs and cryoablation will be performed with varying freeze-thaw cycles to confirm design and operating specifications of the device.