Abstract
In this study, we evaluated relationship between artificial lung(AL)design and gas exchange performance(GEP)for long-term use. Velocity and pressure distribution was calculated by Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)analysis. Standard deviation of flow rate in fiber bundle(SDhfb)was calculated from velocity distribution as the evaluation index uniformity of flow velocity. Three AL designs were used in order to evaluate design. Design1was characterized by arc extrusion shape and inlet and outlet port set up the fiber bundle in parallel. Design2had taper shape by changing Design1.Design 3 imitated a CUBE6000(Dainippon Ink&Chemicals CO.). In Design2, SDhfb showed minimum value1.57× 10-4and GEP was increased by 52.3%when compared with Design3that showed maximum value of SDhfb7.19× 10-4. In the results of CFD, flow velocity attenuated with the taper wall in the inflow part. High pressure was caused in the taper wall and the pressure was decreased by almost constant value. In conclusion, it was important for L design that the fluid kinetic energy was converted into the pressure by the taper wall in neighborhood of inlet port, and the fluid was uniformly diffused to the fiber bundle at low flow velocity by the uniform pressure.
