Abstract
A hyperbaric oxygenator made of ethylene and vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVA) hollow fiber (capillary) was developed for ECMO. Gas carrier solution oxygenated with hyperbaric (up to 3 ATA) oxygen gas (O2) was perfused or hyperbaric O2 itself was ventilated extracapillarily and saline or bovine blood was perfused intracapillarily in in vitro experiments. Oxygen transfer was increased as trans-EVA membrane pressure (TEMP) was elevated. The membrane resistance was decreased down to zero as the TEMP increased up to 1060 mmHg because oxygenated carrier solution shift into the capillary increased. This oxygenator can alternatively work as oxygenator and dialyzer in liquid-liquid mode or as an oxygenator in gasliquid mode.
