抄録
We recently developed a new membrane oxygenator using silicone hollow fibers in order to get steady gas exchange capacity and improve mechancal hemolysis.
Experimental evaluation of its performance showed better results in terms of gas exchange capacity and hemolysis compairing to other types of membrane oxygenators.
1) Structures of our oxygenator : It consists of silicone hollow fibers of 20 cm in length (16 cm in effective length), with 400μ of outer-and 200μ, of inner diameter. The fibers, the both ends of which were fixed with urethane, were packed into a housing forming 1.2m2 of effective membrane area
2) Performance test in vitro: Heparinized bovine blood was passed through our apparatus and oxygen /blood flow (V/Q) ratio was maintained 3: 1.
A oxygenenation capacity test showed that our apparatus was capable of oxygenating 50%-60% saturated blood up to more than 95% saturated blood until its flow reached to 1.0 L/min/m2. A carbondioxyde removal capacity test showed that it was capable of keeping a inflow-outflow CO2 difference higher than 10mmHg while using blood with Pcoz of over 50mmHg until its flow reached to 1.0L/min/m2.
3) Dog experiment: V-A bypass was performed with five mongrel dogs weighing 7 to 12kg in order to evaluate gas exchange capacity, morphological chage of blood cells and mechanical hemolysis.
Both oxygenation capacity and carbondioxyde removal capacity were stable and only minimal hemolysis was observed during 24 hours of experiments.
