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Publication Number
US-8529834-B2
Publication Date
2013-09-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided a mass exchange apparatus (114) for use in blood/air mass exchange comprising plural blood flow conduits for defining a blood flow from a blood flow inlet provided thereto; and plural air flow conduits for defining an air flow from an air flow inlet provided thereto. The plural air flow conduits and plural blood flow conduits at least partially comprise gas-permeable membrane material, and the conduits are arranged relative to each other such as to enable transfer of oxygen from the air flow to the blood flow and transfer of carbon dioxide from the blood flow to the air flow through the membrane material.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a mass exchange apparatus for use in blood/air mass exchange that includes plural blood flow conduits defining a blood flow from a blood flow inlet and plural air flow conduits defining an air flow from an air flow inlet. The apparatus includes plural fluid flow feeds comprising a carbon dioxide feed and either an air feed or an oxygen feed and an inert gas feed. Gas-permeable membrane material is arranged so that carbon dioxide is transferred and oxygen is transferred through the membrane material between blood and air flows without direct blood/air contact.
A sensor senses patient respiratory demand, and a controller controls the rate of blood/air mass exchange by separate control of the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the air flow responsive to the sensed patient respiratory demand. The controller is configured to maintain the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the air flow above a level of 4 kPa. Independent control is required because the membrane carbon dioxide mass-transfer coefficient is much higher than the membrane oxygen mass-transfer coefficient.
The invention further defines a compact blood/air mass exchange arrangement with blood flow conduits and air flow conduits having conduit dimensions below 0.5 mm. The apparatus includes an adjuster configured for independent adjustment of the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood flow, including mixed-flow implementations in which the conduit arrangement enables transfer of carbon dioxide from blood to air and transfer of oxygen from air to blood through the gas-permeable membrane material.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identified in the provided partial content are clm-00001, clm-00040, and clm-00058. Across these independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on a mass exchange apparatus with plural blood and air flow conduits using gas-permeable membrane material, separate control or independent adjustment of carbon dioxide and oxygen levels/concentrations, and a controller responsive to patient respiratory demand with a carbon dioxide partial pressure target above 4 kPa.
Responsive separate CO2 and O2 air-flow control with CO2 partial pressure above 4 kPa
Plural blood flow conduits and plural air flow conduits defining respective blood and air flows; plural fluid flow feeds comprising a carbon dioxide feed and either an air feed or an oxygen feed and an inert gas feed; a sensor sensing patient respiratory demand; and a controller controlling the rate of blood/air mass exchange by separate control of carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the air flow responsive to the sensed patient respiratory demand, wherein the controller is configured to maintain the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the air flow above 4 kPa.
Mixed-flow membrane apparatus with independent adjustment of CO2 and O2 concentrations under CO2 partial pressure above 4 kPa
A mixed-flow mass exchange apparatus with plural blood flow conduits and plural air flow conduits at least partially comprising gas-permeable membrane material arranged to enable transfer of carbon dioxide from blood to air and transfer of oxygen from air to blood through the membrane material; and an adjuster enabling independent adjustment of the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood flow, wherein the adjuster is configured to maintain the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the air flow above a level of 4 kPa.
Mixed-flow membrane apparatus with flow-selector-based independent CO2 and O2 adjustment using a multi-way valve
A mixed-flow mass exchange apparatus with plural blood flow conduits and plural air flow conduits at least partially comprising gas-permeable membrane material arranged to enable transfer of carbon dioxide from blood to air and transfer of oxygen from air to blood; an adjuster enabling independent adjustment of the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood flow; the adjuster comprises a flow selector configured to select the relative flow pattern of the blood flow and the air flow; the flow selector comprises a multi-way valve; and an airflow inlet multi-way valve enables separation of the air flow into plural separate airflows for directing to plural separate air flow inlets of the plural airflow conduits.
The independent claims collectively cover mixed-flow blood/air mass exchange using gas-permeable membrane material arranged for carbon dioxide transfer from blood to air and oxygen transfer from air to blood, combined with independent or separate control of carbon dioxide and oxygen levels or concentrations. The claims also require a controller or adjuster responsive to patient respiratory demand in the clm-00001 framework and a carbon dioxide partial pressure above 4 kPa in each independent claim family described.
Stated Advantages
Maintains the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the air flow above 4 kPa while controlling respiration using separate control of carbon dioxide and oxygen levels responsive to patient respiratory demand.
Provides independent adjustment of the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood flow in a mixed-flow mass exchange apparatus.
Enables transfer of carbon dioxide from blood to air and transfer of oxygen from air to blood through gas-permeable membrane material with plural conduits arranged relative to each other.
Documented Applications
External respiratory aid implementation described in the provided summary, including using the apparatus with air and blood pumps/fan, recycle loop, HEPA filter, humidification, and heat exchange.
Intermediate respiratory aid implementation described in the provided summary, including an in-body mass exchanger with external air supply and air recycle.
Mixed-flow mass exchange apparatus use cases described in the provided summary, including adjustable relative flow patterns to separately adjust oxygen and carbon dioxide mass transfer rates and outlet concentrations.
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