SYSTEM FOR EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION WITH A BLOOD PUMP AND AN OXYGENATOR

Abstract

In a system for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation including a blood pump and an oxygenator, the oxygenator includes fibrous mats stacked in a housing and arranged parallel to one another, and the blood pump includes a control unit that provides for a continuous variation of the volume of flow over time.

Claims

1. A system for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (1) with a blood pump (3, 13) and an oxygenator (2, 10), wherein the blood pump (3, 13) comprises a control (18) which makes continuous variation of the flow volume over time possible, wherein the oxygenator (2, 10) comprises mats (7) with fibers stacked in a housing (6) which are arranged in parallel to each other.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control (18) is in connection with an ECG (19).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (3, 13) comprises a rotor (26), the outer diameter (27) of which is smaller than 4 cm, preferably smaller than 3.5 cm.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (3, 13) comprises a rotor (26) the moment of inertia of which is less than 5000 g/mm.sup.2 and is preferably smaller than 1000 g/mm.sup.2.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (3, 13) comprises a rotor (26) which by way of magnets (31 to 34) is in connection with an actuator which rotates the rotor (26) about an axis (29), wherein the magnets (31 to 34) are arranged at a means radial distance (28, 30) of 5 to 10 mm from the axis (29).

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (3, 13) comprises a rotor (26) which brings about an axial flow portion.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a pressure relief device is arranged between the blood pump (3, 13) and oxygenator (2, 10).

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the pressure relief device comprises an equalization vessel (41) with a gas cushion.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein pressure relief device comprises a line with at least one flexible wall area.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection line (22, 23) between the blood pump (3, 13) and the oxygenator (2, 10) is less than 20 cm, preferably less than 15 cm and particularly preferably less than 5 cm in length.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the blood inlet (39) before the mat to which the flow is directed is enlarged in order to reduce the flow speed of the blood.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mats of the oxygenator are held in movable manner in a frame.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the frame is held in a movable manner relative to the housing.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mats arranged at an angle of 90 from one to the next plane.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mats are rectangular and preferably quadratic in design.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the oxygenator (2, 10) has a cylindrical housing in which the mats are arranged in parallel to a sectional circular area.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the oxygenator (10) has a decentral inlet (12) and preferably also a decentral outlet (11).

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the oxygenator (2) has a central inlet (9) and preferably also a central outlet (8).

19. The system according claim 1, wherein oxygenator (25) has an air bubble sensor (38).

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the oxygenator (3, 13) is downstream of the blood pump (3, 13).

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump is downstream of the oxygenator.

Description

[0031] Advantageous forms of embodiment are shown in the drawing and will be explained in more detail below. Here

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a round oxygenator with a central connection for the inlet and outlet,

[0033] FIG. 2 schematically shows a round oxygenator with a decentral inlet and outlet,

[0034] FIG. 3 schematically shows an angular oxygenator with a decentral inlet and outlet,

[0035] FIG. 4 schematically shows a round oxygenator with a central connection and a control,

[0036] FIG. 5 schematically shows a round oxygenator with a decentral connection,

[0037] FIG. 6 schematically shows an angular oxygenator with a central connection,

[0038] FIG. 7 schematically shows a section in sectional plane orthogonal to the rotor axis of the pump under the rotor of the pump without magnets,

[0039] FIG. 8 schematically shows the section shown in FIG. 7 with magnets and

[0040] FIG. 9 schematically shows a round oxygenator with a central connection with a blood inlet increasing in cross-section and equalisation vessel.

[0041] The system 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a round oxygenator 2 and a pump 3. The direction of flow, indicated by the arrows 4 and 5, shows that the flow initially passes through the pump 3 and then the oxygenator 2. The oxygenator 2 has a housing 6 in which schematically indicated mats 7 which have hollow fibres are stacked.

[0042] As a first connection the oxygenator 2 has a central inlet 9 and as a second connection a central outlet 8.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a similar configuration in which the oxygenator 10 has a decentral inlet 12 which is directly connected to the pump 13, and a decentral outlet 11.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a further oxygenator 14 which comprises a central inlet 16 and a decentral outlet 15 and the housing 17 of which is quadratic in design.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a view from above of the round oxygenator 2 shown in FIG. 1 with the covered central connection 8 and the blood pump 3 which is in connection with a control 18 which makes continuous variation of the flow volume over time possible. The control 18 is in connection with the schematically indicated ECG 19.

[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively shows a view of the systems according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in a schematically similar configurationbut with a blood pump 20 and 21 respectively which is connected by means of 22 and 23 respectively to the cylindrical oxygenator 24 and the quadratic oxygenator 25 respectively.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows the underside of a rotor 26 which has an external diameter 27 of around 2.5 or 3 cm. The smaller mean radial distance of the magnets from the axis 29 of 5 mm is indicated with the arrow 28 and the larger mean radial distance of 10 mm is indicated with the arrow 30.

[0048] Several magnets 31, 32, 33 and 34 are arranged as small round pieces of magnet in the ring 35. Either 4 to 8 small magnet pieces or a ring magnet can be used as magnets. These are arranged concentrically about the axis 29 within a housing 36 and form a magnet system 37 with which the force of an actuator (not shown) is transferred to the rotor 26.

[0049] In FIG. 6 an oxygenator 25 with an air bubble sensor 38 is schematically indicated.

[0050] FIG. 9 shows an outlet 39 from the oxygenator 40 which widens in a funnel-shaped manner shortly after the oxygenator so that the blood flows to the mats in the oxygenator at a slower rate than in the line after the oxygenator. Accordingly, in the direction of flow an inlet can be provided before the oxygenator which widens in a funnel-like manner in order to protect the plates to which the flow is directed. Such a funnel-like inlet or outlet is suitable for any type of oxygenator in order to reduce the flow speed in the oxygenator and thereby protect the plates to which the flow is directed.

[0051] FIG. 9 also shows an equalisation vessel 41 in which a gas cushion, is provided in order to cushion a fluctuating pressure in the system. Such an equalisation vessel 41 can be arranged at any point of the system and preferably in the vicinity of the oxygenator.

[0052] The figures show a flow through the system in which the blood first flows through the blood pump and then the oxygenator. However, the flow can also pass through the system in the opposite direction so that the blood first flows through the oxygenator and thereafter the blood pump.