Gas exchange unit, method for producing a gas exchange unit and kit with a gas exchange unit and a humidifying and heating device
Inventors
Marseille, Oliver • Schmitz, Bernhard
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12427236-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a gas exchange unit for use in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or extracorporeal live support (ECLS) according to a method for producing such a gas exchange unit as well as a kit with a gas exchange unit and a humidifying and heating device.
Core Innovation
A hollow-fibre gas exchange unit for ECMO/ECLS is described in which the gas-exchange characteristics of the hollow-fibre module are adaptable. The adaptability is achieved by changing the gas-flow characteristic of the hollow-fibre module, including by controlling effective surface area/fibre length and/or by controlling gas-side pressure-gradient-controlled gas flow.
An overflow device is provided on the hollow-fibre module so that different charging of fibre regions is allowed by means of differing pressure gradients. The overflow device provides a plurality of gas-chambers connected together by gas-overflow-channels, and additional fibre-region charging is further influenced by an overlay applied directly on a side surface of a fibre bundle.
The overlay is applied in addition to the overflow device and is different from the overflow device, and the overlay has a continuous pneumatic resistance gradient to increase the pneumatic resistance. The document also describes adding an independently inventive gas-side humidifying and heating device upstream to heat and saturate the gas and to enable condensation energy transfer to blood, and optional features such as heating elements to prevent condensation.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers inventive features that adapt the gas flow characteristic of a hollow-fibre module by an overflow device that produces different charging across fibre regions using differing pressure gradients, and add a distinct overlay with a continuous pneumatic resistance gradient to increase pneumatic resistance.
Overflow device for different charging by differing pressure gradients
An overflow device is provided on the hollow-fibre module to allow different charging of fibre regions by means of differing pressure gradients, wherein the overflow device provides a plurality of gas-chambers connected together by gas-overflow-channels.
Overlay with continuous pneumatic resistance gradient
An overlay is applied directly on a fibre bundle of a side surface of the hollow-fibre module in addition to the overflow device, wherein the overlay is different from the overflow device and has a continuous pneumatic resistance gradient to increase the pneumatic resistance.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on adapting gas-flow behavior across fibre regions using a pressure-gradient-controlled overflow device, while further shaping the gas-side flow by applying a distinct overlay having a continuous pneumatic resistance gradient.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?