2D HOLLOW ARRAY SOLID MEMBRANE FOR BLOOD OXYGENATORS

微孔膜中空纤维(MMHF)已成为血液中的标准成分 用于短期心肺支持的氧合装置 程序。这些设备之所以流行，主要是因为增强了 血液流动引起的对流混合引起的气体交换 数以千计的微小中空纤维的外部。此属性允许 设计相对紧凑的高效气体交换装置 音量。然而，当MMHF被用于 延长时间，并从气体栓塞时的气体侧 血压超过血侧压。因此，紧凑性、一致性、 MMHF的有效性和抵御血浆的能力 固体硅胶膜的渗漏和气体栓塞是可取的 膜中的特性设计了血液充氧。我们已经设计了一种 一种可用于制造固体硅薄膜的技术 配置成均匀的中空二维阵列，使得气体可以 在这个中空阵列的内部流动和外部的血液。这 设计允许均匀对流混合，并在 设计参数。在第一阶段，我们建议发展制造 技术和评价气体交换和血流动力学的膜 性能。 建议的商业应用： 建议的膜将显著提高安全和性能 用于体外循环手术的血液氧合器。确实有 美国每年使用的一次性氧合器超过30万个。

Microporous membrane hollow fibers (MMHF) have become standard in blood oxygenating devices used for short term cardiorespiratory support procedures. These devices have become popular mainly because of enhanced gas exchange due to the convective mixing induced by the blood flowing on the outside of thousands of tiny hollow fibers. This property allows for designing highly efficient gas exchange devices in relatively compact volumes. Yet MMHF suffer from plasma leakage when they are used for extended periods of time, and from gas embolization when the gas side pressure exceed the blood side pressure. Thus the compactness, uniformity, and effectiveness of the MMHF and the ability of withstanding plasma leakage and gas embolization of solid silicone membranes are desirable properties in a membrane designed blood oxygenation. We have devised a technique that will allow for the fabrication of a solid silicone membrane configured in a uniform hollow two-dimensional array, such that gas can flow in the inside and blood on the outside of this hollow array. This design allows for uniform convective mixing, and unlimited flexibility in design parameters. In Phase I we propose to develop the fabrication technique and to evaluate the membrane for gas exchange and hemodynamic performance. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The proposed membrane will significantly enhance safety and performance of blood oxygenators used for cardiopulmonary bypass operations. There are over 300,000 disposable oxygenators used in the US every year.