Hemolysis in a Novel Centrifugal Blood Pump With Low Priming Volume: In Vitro Comparative Study Using Human Blood and...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are vital for critically ill patients.
• Complications like hemolysis and thromboembolism are significant concerns in ECC/ECMO.
• Centrifugal pumps are commonly used in ECC/ECMO, necessitating hemocompatibility evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the hemocompatibility of the novel CBM LifeMotion centrifugal ECMO pump.
• To compare the CBM pump's performance against established commercial ECMO pumps (Maquet, Sorin, Novalung).
• To assess hemolysis and white blood cell damage under simulated ECC conditions.

Main Methods:

• Human blood was used in a simulated ECC model.
• Standard American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) protocols were followed.
• Hemolysis and white blood cell damage were quantified; numerical analysis assessed shear stress and exposure time.

Main Results:

• The CBM LifeMotion pump exhibited hemolysis levels comparable to Maquet and Sorin pumps, both showing low hemolysis.
• The Novalung pump demonstrated significantly higher hemolysis compared to the other pumps.
• Numerical analysis indicated reduced shear stress but increased exposure time in the CBM pump at low flow, with comparable overall hemolytic potential.

Conclusions:

• The CBM LifeMotion centrifugal ECMO pump demonstrates favorable hemocompatibility, comparable to currently used devices.
• Its design, featuring low priming volume and shrouded impeller, shows potential for safe ECMO applications.
• Further clinical studies are necessary to confirm the real-world efficacy and safety of the CBM LifeMotion pump.