An integrated artificial heart-lung device

An integrated artificial heart-lung device (IAHLD) is being developed as a novel system for simultaneous long-term support of heart and lung. The IAHLD consists of an artificial lung component (LC) and two blood pumps. The LC is made with a special composite hollow fiber membrane that prevents serum leakage. The fibers are arranged as piled-up lattices and potted in a cylindrical housing made of polyurethane. The blood pump with a single port is of a pneumatic pusher-plate type, and a Björk-Shiley valve is mounted in the port. The LC is sandwiched between the inlet and outlet pumps, and all components are integrated. This special structure provides high gas exchange efficiency, prevention of flow channeling and stagnation, and reduction of blood contacting surfaces. The prototype IAHLD had exchange rates of up to 170 ml/min of O2 and CO2 and up to 5.5 L/min of pump output. A flow visualization analysis with cineroentgenography revealed that the flow distribution within the IAHLD was uniform, without any stasis. It was concluded that the IAHLD is a promising system for long-term heart and lung support, and can be used without systemic heparinization given thromboresistant surface treatment as the next step of development.