Development of an intravascular pumping oxygenator using a new silicone membrane

A new intravascular pumping oxygenator (IVPO) was developed for intravascular gas exchange and circulatory assistance in critically ill patients with respiratory and circulatory failure. The IVPO utilizes new silicone hollow fibers (diameter, 1 mm; membrane width, 50 microns) and consists of two driving tubes for the oxygenation and pumping of circulating blood. The performance characteristics of the IVPO were studied using an experiment ex vivo model. With a mean hemoglobin concentration of 10.5 +/- 2.3 g/dl, total oxygen transfer was 5.6 +/- 1.5 ml/min at a blood flow of 200 ml/min and 6.3 +/- 2.2 ml/min at a blood flow of 250 ml/min. Total CO2 transfer was 3.8 +/- 1.4 ml/min at a blood flow of 200 ml/min and 4.2 +/- 1.6 ml/min at a blood flow of 250 ml/min. Blood flow increased to a maximum of 250 ml/min during IVPO pumping. This preliminary experiment demonstrated that the IVPO has the capacity to function both as circulatory assist pump and as an intravascular hollow fiber oxygenator.