DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTRAVASCULAR PUMPING OXYGENATOR USING A NEW SILICONE MEMBRANE

A new intravascular pumping oxygenator (IVPO) was developed for intrav ascular gas exchange and circulatory assistance in critically ill pati ents with respiratory and circulatory failure. The IVPO utilizes new s ilicone hollow fibers (diameter, 1 mm; membrane width, 50 mu m) and co nsists of two driving tubes for the oxygenation and pumping of circula ting blood. The performance characteristics of the IVPO were studied u sing an experimental ex vivo model. With a mean hemoglobin concentrati on of 10.5 +/- 2.3 g/dl, total oxygen transfer was 5.6 +/- 1.5 ml/min at a blood flow of 200 ml/min and 6.3 +/- 2.2 ml/min at a blood flow o f 250 ml/min. Total CO2 transfer was 3.8 +/- 1.4 ml/min at a blood flo w of 200 ml/min and 4.2 +/- 1.6 ml/min at a blood flow of 250 ml/min. Blood flow increased to a maximum of 250 ml/min during IVPO pumping. T his preliminary experiment demonstrated that the IVPO has the capacity to function both as a circulatory assist pump and as an intravascular hollow fiber oxygenator.