Basic Performance Tests of the MILL Intravascular CO2 Removal Catheter

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Current treatments for acute lung failure have significant complication rates, necessitating alternative solutions.
• A minimally invasive catheter device for intracorporeal gas exchange has been developed as a potential alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the flow behavior of a novel intracorporeal gas exchange catheter prototype within a vena cava model.
• To evaluate the performance of the device's main components, including the drive unit and membrane module.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigations were conducted using a vena cava model with the inserted catheter prototype.
• Basic computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were employed to analyze flow behavior.
• High-resolution 3D printing was utilized for manufacturing prototype components.

Main Results:

• The miniature blood pump demonstrated suitable characteristics, generating adequate power to overcome the membrane module's pressure drop.
• The design of the membrane outlet was identified as a critical factor for preventing additional pressure losses.
• High-resolution 3D printed parts were found to be effective for the prototyping process.

Conclusions:

• The developed intracorporeal gas exchange device shows promise as a less invasive treatment for acute lung failure.
• Further optimization of the membrane outlet design is recommended to enhance device efficiency.
• 3D printing is a viable method for rapid prototyping of such medical devices.