Infusion Jet Flow Control in Neonatal Double Lumen Cannulae

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics
• Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) success relies on effective venous cannulation.
• Venovenous (VV) ECMO utilizes a double lumen cannula (VVDLC) for improved patient mobility.
• Complex flow dynamics in the right atrium can reduce ECMO efficiency due to blood mixing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the fluid dynamics of infusion outflow jets from neonatal VVDLCs.
• To propose and compare novel VVDLC designs for improved performance.
• To address the lack of research on neonatal and pediatric ECMO flow dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to study fluid dynamics.
• Analyzed flow parameters including flow turning angle (FTA) and velocity decay.
• Investigated six new VVDLC designs against two commercial models.

Main Results:

• Commercial cannula performance (FTA) is highly dependent on operating Reynolds number.
• Off-design flow conditions can significantly reduce cannula efficiency.
• Infusion outlet tip structure and internal guiding pathway critically influence outflow features.

Conclusions:

• VVDLC design, particularly the outlet tip and internal pathways, significantly impacts ECMO performance.
• Optimized designs can mitigate efficiency reduction at off-design conditions.
• Findings are crucial for improving neonatal and pediatric ECMO cannulation strategies.