Improvement of a Mathematical Model to Predict CO₂ Removal in Hollow Fiber Membrane Oxygenators

The use of extracorporeal oxygenation and CO₂ removal has gained clinical validity and popularity in recent years. These systems are composed of a pump to drive blood flow through the circuit and a hollow fiber membrane bundle through which gas exchange is achieved. Mathematical modeling of device design is utilized by researchers to improve device hemocompatibility and efficiency. A previously published mathematical model to predict CO₂ removal in hollow fiber membrane bundles was modified to include an empirical representation of the Haldane effect. The predictive capabilities of both models were compared to experimental data gathered from a fiber bundle of 7.9 cm in length and 4.4 cm in diameter. The CO₂ removal rate predictions of the model including the Haldane effect reduced the percent error between experimental data and mathematical predictions by up to 16%. Improving the predictive capabilities of computational fluid dynamics for the design of hollow fiber membrane bundles reduces the monetary and manpower expenses involved in designing and testing such devices.