Arrangement with a blood pump and a gas exchanger for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11173238-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to an arrangement having a blood pump and a gas exchanger for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. According to the invention, the blood pump is designed as a pulsatile blood pump and is arranged with the gas exchanger in the same housing. The pulsatile blood pump and the gas exchanger are preferably connected to the same gas source so that the blood pump can be pneumatically driven. The novel ECMO system has a simple design, is flexible, and in particular can be used directly on the patient.
Core Innovation
The document describes an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation arrangement in which a pulsatile blood pump within a housing is pneumatically driven by gas from a gas inlet. The blood pump comprises an expandable member connected to receive gas from a first gas inlet, and the expandable member is arranged to deliver blood from a blood inlet to a gas exchanger within the housing. The gas exchanger is separate from the blood pump.
The document further describes that a gas exchanger for extracorporeal gas exchange is connected to a second gas inlet and receives gas from the blood pump via that second gas inlet. An external gas source is provided outside the housing with at least one gas outlet connected to both the first and second gas inlets of the housing, such that gas provides pumping power to the expandable member and then a portion of the gas is delivered from the expandable member to the gas exchanger to perform the gas exchange function.
The document emphasizes compact, flexible, transportable bedside use in which the pump and the gas exchanger are integrated in the same housing and can share a single external respiration-gas source for both pump actuation and gas exchange. It also describes multiple internal layouts for balloon and pre-tensioned diaphragm implementations of the pulsatile pump and different membrane-fiber oxygenator configurations, with optional valve and pressure relief strategies and pump actuation alternatives, while omitting certain reservoirs/filters to reduce size and using short patient-facing inlet and outlet lines with blood line length limits.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines one integrated ECMO arrangement with separate gas exchanger in the same housing, gas-driven expandable-member pulsatile blood pump, and a single external gas source providing pumping power and gas exchange gas via first and second gas inlets; dependent claims specify additional inventive features such as expandable member type and gas/valve/line constraints.
Pulsatile blood pump with expandable member receiving first gas inlet
A blood pump within the housing and comprising an expandable member connected to receive gas from the first gas inlet to deliver blood from the blood inlet to the gas exchanger.
Separate gas exchanger connected to second gas inlet
A gas exchanger for extracorporeal gas exchange within the housing and connected to the second gas inlet, the gas exchanger being separate from the blood pump.
External gas source supplies first and second gas inlets for pumping power and gas exchange
A gas source external to the housing having at least one gas outlet connected to the first and second gas inlets, wherein the first gas inlet provides pumping power to the expandable member and a portion of gas is delivered from the expandable member to the gas exchanger via the second gas inlet to provide a gas exchange function.
Valve-mediated pressure-relief style gas provision
A pressure valve that provides gas to the gas exchanger when the gas outlet pressure exceeds a preset value.
Balloon expandable member implementation
The expandable member of the blood pump is a balloon.
Pre-tensioned diaphragm with passive position tied to maximum filling
The expandable member comprises a pre-tensioned diaphragm whose passive position corresponds to maximum filling of the pump.
Valve-mediated connection between gas exchanger and external gas outlet
The gas exchanger is connected, through a valve, to the at least one gas outlet of the gas source.
Short blood inlet and outlet line lengths
Each of a blood inlet line and a blood outlet line has a length of 80 cm or less.
Across the independent claim and its dependents, the core coverage is directed to an integrated housing arrangement in which gas from an external gas source drives a pulsatile expandable-member blood pump via a first gas inlet and then routes a portion of that gas through a second gas inlet to a separate gas exchanger for extracorporeal gas exchange, with dependent features specifying balloon or pre-tensioned diaphragm implementations, valve/pressure-controlled gas delivery, and short blood line length constraints.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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