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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
An Open-Source Normothermic Perfusion System Designed for Research Scientists
Published on: July 18, 2025
The Jena universal perfusion system: a universal cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for cardiac surgery
Alexander Lauten1, Kai Liebing, Ulrich Franke
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747 Jena, Germany. alexlauten@gmx.de
Insights
The Jena Universal Perfusion System (JUPS) offers a flexible cardiopulmonary bypass solution. This novel system minimizes risks associated with traditional circuits, enhancing patient safety in complex cardiac surgeries.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Perfusion Technology
Background:
- Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is essential in cardiac surgery but linked to postoperative complications like neurologic sequelae.
- Existing CPB systems, including minimized and reservoir-based designs, have limitations in volume management and flexibility.
- Patient demographics are shifting towards older individuals with complex comorbidities, necessitating advanced perfusion techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a versatile perfusion system for cardiopulmonary bypass.
- To address limitations of current systems, particularly concerning volume management and adaptability.
- To reduce adverse effects of CPB in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.
Main Methods:
- Development of a compound reservoir system with self-expanding capabilities for active volume increase.
- Adaptation of the system for use as both a closed and open circuit.
- Implementation as a minimized circuit by crossclamping inflow, with the reservoir managing volume fluctuations.
- Pilot experiments to assess the system's performance.
Main Results:
- The developed system, the Jena Universal Perfusion System (JUPS), functions as an all-purpose perfusion system.
- It allows flexible configuration as a closed or open circuit, adaptable during procedures.
- The compound reservoir effectively manages volume, preventing negative pressure and microbubble formation in minimized configurations.
- Pilot studies indicate successful application.
Conclusions:
- The JUPS offers a flexible and adaptable cardiopulmonary bypass solution.
- It addresses critical volume management challenges in minimized circuits, potentially reducing air embolism risks.
- This system may benefit elderly patients with complex comorbidities undergoing cardiac surgery by reducing CPB-related adverse effects.
Abstract:
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a standard technique in cardiac surgery, which itself contributes to postoperative morbidity. Neurologic sequelae after CPB is caused by air embolism or systemic inflammatory response due to artificial surface and is closely related to the characteristics of the extracorporeal circuit. Minimized systems without a venous reservoir take these factors into account. They require a differentiated volume management to avoid excessive negative pressure in the venous line, which may lead to spontaneous formation of microbubbles and are said to cause air embolism. Perfusion technology also offers systems with closed soft-bag and open hard-shell reservoirs, that require individual setups with little flexibility. We developed an all-purpose perfusion system for application as cardiopulmonary bypass. The central part is a compound reservoir, consisting of a lower hard shell and an upper self-expanding shell, which is capable of actively increasing volume. It allows application of the circuit as closed or open system. Crossclamping the inflow turns the system into a minimized circuit, in which the reservoir compensates volume when backflow is low and safeguards against excessive subzero pressure. The system has been applied in pilot experiments. In cardiac surgery today patients present at higher ages and with complex comorbidities. Not all of them are suitable candidates for off-pump procedures and might profit from perfusion technology with reduced adverse effects. The Jena Universal Perfusion System (JUPS) may be applied as a minimized system with the option to compensate low venous backflow and allows flexible extension to a closed or open circuit anytime during the procedure.
