Pneumatic driven pulsatile ECMO in vitro evaluation with oxygen tanks

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Technology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Current venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems have limitations, including low patient survival rates.
• Left ventricular dilation is a significant cause of mortality in patients undergoing ECMO.
• There is a critical need for innovative ECMO treatments to improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel mobile pulsatile ECMO system.
• To evaluate the system's ability to provide pulsatile blood flow and oxygenation using an oxygen tank as a power source.
• To assess the system's efficacy under simulated patient conditions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mobile pulsatile ECMO device with a unique pump structure powered by an oxygen tank.
• In vitro experiments utilizing a mock circulation system simulating patient physiological conditions.
• Evaluation of blood flow rate, duration, and pulsatile characteristics using an energy equivalent pressure index.

Main Results:

• The mobile pulsatile ECMO successfully sustained 1 L/min pulsatile blood flow for extended periods (53 min with a 2.8 L tank, 85 min with a 4.6 L tank).
• The system demonstrated sufficient pulsatile blood flow delivery compared to existing ECMO devices.
• In vitro testing confirmed the system's capability to provide adequate oxygen and pulsatile flow using oxygen tank pressure.

Conclusions:

• The proposed mobile pulsatile ECMO system offers a viable solution for patients with impaired cardiopulmonary function.
• The oxygen tank-powered design enhances portability and functionality, particularly during patient transport.
• This innovative ECMO device has the potential to improve survival rates by mitigating risks like left ventricular dilation.