OPTIMIZED FIBERS FOR THE INTRAVENOUS MEMBRANE OXYGENATOR

该项目的目标是开发中空纤维膜和纤维织物，用于匹兹堡大学正在开发的静脉膜氧合器(IMO)。国际海事组织正在开发一种方法，以加强患有急性呼吸衰竭的成年人的不完全呼吸。尽管当前版本的IMO表现良好，但IMO的气体交换率并不是最优的。具体地说，在IMO中使用的商用中空纤维膜和纤维织物不会在设备中产生最大的膜面积，从而限制了气体交换。该项目的目标是开发专门为优化国际海事组织气体交换而设计的中空纤维膜和织物。在第一阶段，我们建议开发具有最佳尺寸、强度和渗透性的中空纤维膜。我们将与匹兹堡大学的研究人员合作，在IMO原型中评估这些纤维。第一阶段的成功将导致第二阶段的计划，重点是优化中空纤维膜和由这些膜制成的纤维织物。第二阶段将在匹兹堡大学对原型设备进行长期动物测试，以证明该技术的有效性。建议的商业应用：改进的中空纤维膜的开发将使IMO的实际应用成为可能。这种膜还有望用于其他商业产品，包括体外氧合器。

The goal of this program is to develop hollow-fiber membranes and fiber fabrics that are customized for use in the Intravenous Membrane Oxygenator (IMO) under development at the University of Pittsburgh. The IMO is being developed as a method of augmenting incomplete respiration in adults with acute respiratory failure. Although the current versions of the IMO perform adequately, the gas-exchange rate of the IMO is not optimal. Specifically, the commercially available hollow-fiber membranes and fiber fabrics used in the IMO do not result in maximum membrane area in the device, limiting gas exchange. The goal of this program is to develop hollow-fiber membranes and fabrics specifically designed to optimize gas exchange in the IMO. In Phase I, we propose to develop hollow-fiber membranes with the optimum dimensions, strength, and permeability. We will work with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh to evaluate these fibers in a prototype IMO. Success in Phase I would lead to a Phase II program focused on optimization of the hollow-fiber membranes and fiber fabrics made from these membranes. Phase II would culminate with long-term tests of the prototype devices in animals at the University of Pittsburgh, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Development of the improved hollow-fiber membranes should make possible the practical application of the IMO. The membranes also promise to be useful for other commercial products, including extracorporeal oxygenators.