Abstract
In order to develop an artificial lung(AL) for prolonged use, versatile approaches are under way in our institute. We established a method for evaluating a long-term performance of an AL by interposing it in the outlet conduit of a right ventricular assist device system implanted in chronic experimental animals. Two types of specially designed microporous gas-exchange membranes with thin dense layer and one novel membrane made of silicone-polyurethane block copolymer were newly developed. Prototype artificial lungs using these membranes were evaluated and all proved to be potential candidates for long-term use. We are also developing two unique devices for long-term gas-exchange, a blood-liquid oxygenator (BLO) and an artificial heart-lung device (ARID). The BLO, in which blood layer was placed between upper silicone oil layer and lower fluorocarbon layer, showed a sufficient gas-exchange ability and an excellent antithrombogenicity. The AHLD, an AL with thrombo-resistant hollow fibers between two pusher-plate type artificial hearts, is promising in preventing blood stagnation, improving gas-exchange efficiency and minimizing the size of total system. We suppose that all of these various approaches, relating one another, are necessary for developing an AL for prolonged use.
