Indiana Donor Network First In US To Use In House Lung Perfusion System To Make Declined Lungs Transplantable

Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton Backs New Perfusion Technology Saving Marginal Lungs For Transplant

USA: An Indiana donor’s lungs have been restored and transplanted into another Hoosier after multiple transplant centers declined the organs, thanks to a new perfusion system now in use at the Indiana Donor Network. The intervention turned lungs once considered marginal into viable organs for transplantation, directly saving a life and underscoring the promise of advanced organ recovery techniques.

The device, developed through collaborations between a Swedish firm and a Wisconsin company, supplies oxygen and nutrients to donor lungs outside the body, allowing clinicians to evaluate and rehabilitate damaged tissue before transplant. Indiana Donor Network is the first organ recovery organization in the U.S. to establish an in‑house lung perfusion system; the organization also operates perfusion devices for kidney and liver recovery.

Medical teams say the technology expands the pool of usable organs by rescuing lungs that would otherwise be declined, and improves outcomes by enabling better assessment prior to procurement and transplantation. The program is presented as a way to maximize authorized donations and ensure that more gifts translate into lifesaving transplants.

Beyond the operating room, Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton has been active in raising public awareness about organ donation, linking community outreach to advances in transplant technology. Clinicians and donation advocates hope the combination of high-profile advocacy and new perfusion tools will increase donor authorization and turn more marginal organs into viable transplants.

Video originally published on 2026-03-16 01:15:00