Oxygenator with built-in hemoconcentrator: a new concept

A hemoconcentrator is an instrument essential for open heart surgery without blood transfusion. In order to simplify the extracorporeal blood circuit and to facilitate handling of cardiopulmonary bypass, we have combined a hollow fiber unit for gas exchange and that for hemofiltration into one component and developed a new membrane oxygenator with the function of a hemoconcentrator. The cylindrical device consists of a hollow fiber for hemofiltration with another fiber for gas exchange provided outside. Both of them adopt the blood outside perfusion system. Blood enters and flows through the central hole for hemofiltration and then flows into the oxygenator. By applying the flow mode to the device, blood is allowed to flow from the center of the core toward the hollow fiber around it. Therefore, even distribution of blood flow to the entire fiber is realized, and the performance of the device is improved. The oxygen transfer rate was 317 ml/min at a flow rate of 6 L/min, and the ultrafiltration rate was 7 L/h at a flow rate of 4 L/min with a hematocrit of 25%. The combined structure of the two units has not caused any adverse effects. In conclusion, by combining an oxygenator and a hemoconcentrator, excellent and simplified hemoconcentration is made available as the blood outside flow mode is adopted, which is one of the unique aspects of this device.