Development of a Method for Visualizing and Quantifying Thrombus Formation in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenators

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Critical Care Medicine
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is vital for critical care but carries high risks of device-associated thrombosis.
• Understanding thrombus formation within ECMO devices is crucial for patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a comprehensive method for collecting and analyzing thrombus formation in used ECMO membrane oxygenators.
• Quantitatively assess the distribution and patterns of thrombosis within the membrane lung.

Main Methods:

• Collected explanted membrane oxygenators from ECMO patients.
• Utilized microcomputed tomography (microCT) for imaging and 3D reconstruction.
• Applied image segmentation and density mapping to quantify thrombus volume and distribution.

Main Results:

• Achieved 2D and 3D visualization and quantification of thrombus deposition in ECMO devices.
• Detailed analysis of spatial distribution of platelets, red blood cells, and fibrin.
• Identified structural patterns of oxygenator thrombosis.

Conclusions:

• The developed method enables precise quantification of oxygenator thrombosis.
• Facilitates evaluation of novel biomaterials and pharmacological interventions to mitigate ECMO-related thrombosis.