Estimate of Gas Transfer Rates of an Intravascular Membrane Oxygenator

Abstract

An asymmetric hollow fiber membrane was prepared from a newly synthesized fluorinated aromatic polyimide (6FDA-6FAP) by using a dry/wet phase inversion process. The membrane was used in a membrane oxygenator over a long period of time. In this study, the potential of the membrane for intravascular membrane oxygenation (IVOX) was studied in respect to oxygen transfer. The gas permeance of the membrane and three commercially available hollow fiber membranes for membrane oxygenators was measured in a gas-gas system and a gas-liquid system and discussed relative to the membrane structures. The oxygen transfer rates of the IVOX devices using these four membranes were estimated by a mathematical kinetic model, with the oxygen permeance measured in the gas-liquid system. The results showed that the device using the 6FDA-6FAP hollow fiber membrane has the highest oxygen transfer rate and is believed to be applicable to IVOX. The methods to determine oxygen transfer rate of a hollow fiber membrane and the mathematical kinetic model, are useful for developing a hollow fiber membrane and a device for oxygenation.

A biohybrid artificial lung prototype with active mixing of endothelialized microporous hollow fibers

“…We anticipated that gas transfer across an endothelialized MHF might be slightly decreased due to the additional thickness of the EC layer. Although BAECs are quite permeable (Dumas et al, 1999;Randall et al, 1997), they share a similar thickness (0.2-0.4 mm) to synthetic coatings, such as siloxane, which have demonstrated decreased mass transfer (Eash et al, 2004;Kanamori et al, 2000;Niimi et al, 1997). In order to improve mass transfer in the biohybrid artificial lung, the fiber bundles were rotated to provide more efficient mixing.…”

Intravascular Gas Exchange: Physiology, Literature Review, and Current Efforts

“…Mathematical modeling showed this material to be superior to the microporous polypropylene used by others with possible O 2 transfer rates 2-3 times higher. 38 This group reported they had implanted these polyimide hollow fibers in a large-animal model without evidence of thrombus formation or fibrin deposition, though the gas exchange data were not reported. 39 Over time it appears their efforts focused on using this material for extracorporeal membrane oxygenators.…”