Fabrication of Medical Cannula for advanced extracorporeal life support devices.

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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), also known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), is a technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to sustain life. ECMO systems oxygenate the blood, taking over operation of the lungs and heart, allowing the organs to rest and recuperate, or while waiting for organ transplant. Current ECMO systems are bulky and complex for use in the field and are situated in hospitals ICUs (Intensive Care Units). Due to their proven lifesaving abilities, there is a strong move toward having ECMO units in ambulances. Canadian company Elsius Biomedical Corp. is developing a portable ECMO system to address this need. A crucial component of ECMO systems are the cannula, or tubes, that connect the system to the patient, enabling removal of the blood and reintroducing it back into the patient after reoxygenation. These cannulae have specific requirements to enable the ECMO process to work, such as pliability after insertion, kink resistance, long term biocompatibility, placement markers, dual lumen and flow control, to name a few, and are difficult to manufacture. Elsius is continuing a partnership with the Dalton Group to investigate, design, evaluate and develop a reliable and automated process for cannulae microfabrication which will allow Elsius to finalize their ECMO production cycle. This project will address technical challenges in the complex microfabrication process to create cannulae, by identifying and controlling key process variables such as cannulae geometry, coating temperature and dipping time, to ensure uniform layering. Once optimized, the process will be automated to create a repeatable and reliable manufacturing process. There are currently no cannulae manufacturers in Canada. As cannulae can be used in other medical situations, like cardiac surgery and neurosurgery, this engineering solution will result in many benefits to the Canadian Healthcare system.