Preliminary study of membrane oxygenator modified for clinical use

-Especially on a new parallel plate type membrane oxygenator-

Abstract

Although the membrane oxygenator has been recognized as the ideal artificial lung, the use of it is not popular as should be, because of insufficient oxygen transfer rate, difficult assembly, high experase and leakage.
In this point of view, we have attempted to make many changes for improvement for over the last 10 years.
Our most recent model is a parallel plate type membrane oxygenator, which is small in size, simple in design, casy to handle and capable to mass production. The in vitro and vivo evaluation proved that this oxygenator had excellent gas transfer characteristics.