Open-access smart blood pump platform for controlling extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Open-Source Technology

Background:

• Clinical blood pump consoles for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are expensive and lack research accessibility due to high security.
• These limitations impede researchers from customizing devices for investigational needs, hindering innovation in blood pump automation and pulsatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a programmable Smart Blood Pump console as an affordable and accessible alternative for ECMO research.
• To enable researchers to customize blood pump consoles for specific investigational requirements.

Main Methods:

• Assembly of a programmable Smart Blood Pump console using open-source tools, including Arduino, with a total cost under $200.
• Operation of centrifugal blood pump heads at clinically relevant flow (>4 L/min) and pressure (>250 mmHg) levels.

Main Results:

• The Smart Blood Pump console successfully operates at clinically relevant flow and pressure parameters.
• The programmable console supports advanced functionalities such as pulsatility and servo control, extending beyond standard clinical applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed Smart Blood Pump console provides an affordable, open-access platform for researchers.
• This innovation is expected to foster advancements in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation technology by facilitating customization and development.