Device for removing gas from aqueous liquids

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for removing gases from aqueous liquids, in particular blood, comprising: a first compartment which is permeated by the aqueous liquid during operation of the device; a second compartment which is permeated by a purge gas during operation of the device, the first compartment and the second compartment being separated from each other by a semipermeable membrane; and a third compartment which is permeated by a liquid proton donor during operation of the device, the liquid proton donor being an organic or inorganic acid, the first compartment and the third compartment being separated from each other by an ion-permeable membrane, and the ion-permeable membrane comprising at least one cationic conductor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for removing gas from an aqueous liquid, preferably blood. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising a liquid proton donor and the use of the composition for treating hypercapnia. Background Art

[0002] Hypercapnia refers to an increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood. The presence of carbon dioxide in the blood is normal as a waste product of cellular metabolism. Carbon dioxide is transported from the cells to the lungs via the blood circulation and exhaled there. When the lungs are not adequately ventilated, such as in cases of lung disease or lung failure, carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood. This leads to respiratory acidosis of the blood, which can result in death if the pH drops below 7.0.

[0003] In this case, carbon dioxide must be removed from the blood as quickly as possible. Because the affected patients cannot perform this task by themselves, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is usually used, in which the blood interacts with a purge gas (purge gas) through a membrane. Carbon dioxide is removed from the blood through a membrane in an oxygenator, with added oxygen. For membrane oxygenation, large blood vessels (such as the femoral vein or internal jugular vein) are used to remove and return the blood. Therefore, when implementing this method, the amount of blood removed from the patient's body that circulates in the ECMO machine is not insignificant. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to improve the removal of carbon dioxide from aqueous liquids, in particular in the case of blood, so that the removal of carbon dioxide can be carried out through a relatively small access to the patient and at the same time is more effective, so that less blood can be taken from the patient and the method can remove a sufficient proportion of the carbon dioxide present in the blood in a short (less) time.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a device for removing gas from an aqueous liquid, comprising: a first compartment permeated by the aqueous liquid during operation of the device, a second compartment permeated by a purge gas during operation of the device, the first compartment and the second compartment being separated from each other by a semipermeable membrane, and a third compartment permeated by a liquid proton donor during operation of the device, the first compartment and the third compartment being separated from each other by an ion permeable membrane.

[0006] The device according to the present invention is used to at least partially remove gas from an aqueous liquid, in particular to at least partially remove carbon dioxide from blood. Each compartment is part of a separate cycle and is permeated by the corresponding substance during operation. A pump can be provided in each cycle to achieve the corresponding flow. The device according to the present invention is implemented so that the substance in the first compartment interacts with the substance in the second compartment through a semipermeable membrane during operation, and the substance in the first compartment interacts with the substance in the third compartment through an ion permeable membrane during operation. On the contrary, the substances flowing through the second and third compartments do not interact. The realization of the feature is that the second compartment and the third compartment are separated from each other in space so that the substance in the second compartment does not directly contact the ion permeable membrane of the third compartment, and relatively, the substance in the third compartment does not directly contact the semipermeable membrane of the second compartment. Interaction refers to the exchange of substances between two substances such as a separation layer of a membrane. Due to the appropriate interaction of the substance in the first compartment with the substance in the second compartment and with the substance in the third compartment, the gas is at least partially removed from the substance in the first compartment, i.e., from the aqueous liquid. By providing a concentration gradient between the first and second compartments and between the first and third compartments with respect to the gas to be removed and the associated ions, a suitable or desired interaction can be achieved. The liquid proton donor can be an organic or inorganic acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl). The liquid proton donor is preferably non-toxic. Buffer solutions can also be used, which contain an equal amount of ions (e.g., hydrogen cations) but have a milder pH value (e.g., 6.9) than hydrochloric acid.

[0007] According to a further embodiment of the device, the aqueous liquid may be a blood liquid, preferably blood. Then, by means of the device, in particular carbon dioxide may be at least partially removed from the blood. In this case, the purge gas may be pure oxygen, as is typical in ECMO applications. In the case of blood as the aqueous liquid, the device may be viewed as an extended ECMO machine, wherein a third chamber permeated by a liquid proton donor is additionally arranged in a membrane oxygenator, in which carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and has oxygen added thereto.

[0008] Due to the interaction between blood and purge gas through the semipermeable membrane, carbon dioxide physically dissolved in the blood is transferred to the purge gas and is removed from the blood. Physically dissolved (physically bound) carbon dioxide refers to carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood as a gas. At the same time, the blood is enriched with oxygen from the purge gas. The process described corresponds to conventional oxygenation of the blood through an ECMO or ECCO2R membrane (ECCO2R: Extracorporeal CO2 Removal). Due to the interaction between blood and a liquid proton donor through an ion-permeable membrane, carbon dioxide chemically dissolved in the blood is combined with hydrogen ions (H + ) reaction, hydrogen ion (H +) diffuses from the liquid proton donor through the membrane into the blood. Chemically dissolved (chemically bonded) carbon dioxide is understood to be carbon dioxide "trapped" in a bicarbonate compound, such as potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate or magnesium bicarbonate. Proton exchange thus takes place between a liquid proton donor such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the bicarbonate compound present in the blood, whereby carbonic acid (H2CO3) is formed. However, the acid is very unstable and decomposes into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The carbon dioxide is now freed from its original bicarbonate compound and is available for transport away by the purge gas. Proton exchange, in which cations are transferred from the blood on the side of the liquid proton donor, is exchanged with the hydrogen cations (H2CO3) thus provided. + ) exchange, ensuring that no electrical potential is generated between the substances within the device of the present invention, so that the substances and the device remain electrically neutral.

[0009] The liquid proton donor may comprise, for example, potassium and / or calcium and / or magnesium, so that a concentration gradient towards the blood relative to the substance can be avoided, by which the physiologically important minerals can be removed from the blood. In other words, a balance is sought between the liquid proton donor and the blood relative to the electrochemical potential of a particular substance (e.g., potassium and calcium) so that the substance is not removed from the blood and is not converted into a liquid proton donor. Sodium is preferably removed from the blood during the induction of ion exchange, and can be converted into a liquid proton donor by an ion permeable membrane as an exchange cation. The diffusion of sodium as an exchange ion can be regulated by a corresponding concentration gradient relative to the substance between blood and the liquid proton donor. In particular, for this purpose, the liquid proton donor may not contain sodium.

[0010] By providing a third compartment permeated by a liquid proton donor, an additional mechanism is thus provided by which additional carbon dioxide can be removed from the blood compared to a typical ECMO therapy. In other words, an additional source of carbon dioxide in the blood can be "vented", thereby eliminating carbon dioxide more effectively and quickly. Therefore, a smaller amount of blood can be used to operate the device according to the present invention than a typical ECMO therapy, so that a smaller entry point is sufficient and there is no need to use large blood vessels to remove blood. Therefore, the device according to the present invention can provide sufficient removal of carbon dioxide from the blood liquid at a blood entry point where approximately 400 ml of blood is collected per minute. It is further advantageous that the use of the device according to the present invention can set the breathing more protectively, for example at a lower breathing pressure, thereby causing less damage to the lungs.

[0011] The device according to the invention can be implemented in such a way that the second and third compartments each comprise a plurality of elongated structures, for example a plurality of hollow channels, for example hollow channels in the form of hollow fibers. Long compartment lengths (and correspondingly adjusted osmotic speeds) can make the enrichment of the protons of the liquid proton donor in the blood occur slowly, thereby being able to avoid pH shock. The contact time between the substances in the first and third compartments is decisive here.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the device, the second compartment can be defined by or comprise multiple pipelines, preferably hollow fibers, which are made of semipermeable materials. The pipeline can be substantially made of, for example, polyolefins, and can include, for example, polymethylpentene (PMP). The pipelines forming the second compartment can all have a common inlet and outlet separated from the inlets and outlets of other compartments.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the device, the third compartment may be defined by or comprise a plurality of pipelines, preferably hollow fibers, which are made of a material permeable to ions. The pipelines may be made of plastics permeable to ions, especially hydrogen cations. The pipelines forming the third compartment may all have a common inlet and outlet separated from the inlets and outlets of the other compartments.

[0014] According to other embodiments of the device, the ion permeable membrane may comprise a cation conductor, such as Nafion, or a cation and anion conductor. The cation conductor may be selective. In the case of a non-selective cation conductor, since cations (such as H) that participate in ion exchange are generated between the aqueous liquid and the liquid proton donor, + and Na + ) concentration gradient, thus achieving selectivity in its permeability. In contrast, for cations that do not participate in ion exchange (e.g., physiologically relevant K in the case of blood), + , Ca 2+ Mg 2+ ), since at least the same concentration of said ions as in the blood is present in the proton donor, diffusion from the blood into the liquid proton donor is prevented. The ion permeable membrane may also be a plastic that is permeable to both anions and cations, i.e. an ion conductor.

[0015] Ion permeable membranes are understood to be membranes that are permeable only to ions and impermeable to neutral atoms and molecules. Ion permeable membranes can also be permeable only to specific ions, for example, ions up to a specific ionic radius. Ion exchange membranes can also be ion permeable membranes, i.e., ion exchangers processed into thin films. Ion exchange membranes can be used to allow selectively determined ions to pass. Therefore, ion exchange membranes can be permeable only to cations (cation conductors) or to both cations and anions (cation and anion conductors).

[0016] A preferred cationic conductor is Nafion. Nafion (2-[1-[difluoro-[(trifluorovinyl)oxy]methyl]-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy]-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethanesulfonic acid; CAS No.: 31175-20-9) is a porous copolymer containing sulfonic acid groups as ionic groups. The substructure of Nafion is perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octene-1-sulfonic acid and tetrafluoroethylene. The acidic sulfonic acid groups in Nafion give the perfluorinated polymer ionic properties. Nafion is selectively conductive for protons and other cations. Therefore, Nafion has a blocking effect on anions.

[0017] In addition to the target cations such as Na + In addition to removing blood, it is also possible to remove - The anions of the liquid proton donor are removed from the liquid proton donor (in the case of hydrochloric acid as the liquid proton donor), and the cations of the liquid proton donor (e.g. H + ) are removed from the proton donor. However, care should also be taken to avoid the unwanted transfer of anions from the blood to the liquid proton donor in return.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the device, the pipeline of the second compartment and the pipeline of the third compartment can be present in the first compartment, except for its inlet and outlet. Therefore, the surface area of ​​the interaction between the substances of the first and second compartments and between the substances of the first and third compartments can be maximized. By separating the inlet and outlet of the compartments, the flow rate and flow direction of the corresponding substances can be set individually in each compartment.

[0019] According to other embodiments of the device of the present invention, the pipeline of the second compartment and the pipeline of the third compartment can always be separated from each other by the partial volume of the first compartment. In other words, the pipeline of the second compartment and the pipeline of the third compartment are arranged at intervals from each other so that the material present in the first compartment can flow between the pipelines. The design is advantageous because the material in the first compartment is a target material for interacting with the material in the second and third compartments.

[0020] According to further embodiments of the device, the first compartment may include an inlet and an outlet to guide blood through the first compartment, wherein the inlet and the outlet are arranged so that the flow of the aqueous liquid through the first compartment can be regulated during operation of the device. The inlet and the outlet may advantageously be arranged on opposite sides of the compartment so that the aqueous liquid flows substantially through the entire first compartment (vertically, horizontally or diagonally relative to the direction of gravity) so as to reach its outlet from its inlet.

[0021] The device according to the invention may include additional fluid elements, such as flow restrictors, heaters, etc. For example, a pH sensor may be present in a loop circulating through the third compartment. A closed-loop control circuit may thus be provided in which the pH value of the liquid proton donor can be automatically adjusted to the pH value of the blood. If the pH value of the liquid proton donor is too low, for example, its flow rate through the third compartment may be slowed down. Alternatively, a pH sensor may also be provided in the first compartment in order to directly measure the pH value of the aqueous liquid.

[0022] In various embodiments, there is further provided a composition comprising a liquid proton donor permeating the third compartment of a device according to the present invention for use in a method of treating or treating hypercapnia.

[0023] In various embodiments, a composition comprising a liquid proton donor is provided for use in permeating a third compartment of a device according to the invention to treat hypercapnia. The use of the composition may also include permeating a first compartment of a device according to the invention with blood and permeating a second compartment of a device according to the invention with a purge gas.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the composition or the use of the composition according to the invention, the liquid proton donor may comprise a preferably non-toxic acid, such as hydrochloric acid, or an acidic buffer solution. The acidic buffer solution may be slightly more acidic relative to the physiological pH of the blood, which for humans is between 7.35 and 7.45, and may have, for example, a pH value in the range between 6.5 and 7, in a further embodiment example, the acidic buffer solution may have a pH value in the range between 4 and 6.5, preferably between 4 and 6, further preferably between 4 and 5.5, further preferably between 4 and 5, further preferably between 4 and 4.5.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the composition or use of the composition according to the invention, at least one physiologically relevant type of metal cation may be present in the liquid proton donor at least in physiological concentrations. + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+) may preferably be present in the liquid proton donor at least in its corresponding physiological concentration. In other words, in each case, the physiologically relevant metal cations may be present in the liquid proton donor in the same or higher concentration than in the plasma. It is thereby possible to prevent the physiologically relevant metal cations from being removed from the blood and diffusing into the third compartment due to the concentration gradient. However, preferably, no sodium is present in the liquid proton donor. Therefore, during operation of the device according to the invention, a concentration gradient with respect to sodium is generated between the first compartment and the third compartment, as described above, whereby the exchange cations are selected to diffuse from the first compartment into the third compartment as an exchange for the hydrogen cations provided by the liquid proton donor.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the composition according to the invention or the use of the composition according to the invention, the hypercapnia may be caused by COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), asthma, pneumonia or sleep apnea.

[0027] According to further embodiments of the composition or use of the composition according to the invention, the composition may further comprise a purge gas that permeates through the second compartment of the device described herein. The purge gas may be a purge gas commonly used for ECMO treatment.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the composition or use of the composition according to the invention, the treatment may comprise the steps of: providing a flow of aqueous liquid through the first compartment; providing a flow of the purge gas through the second compartment; and providing a flow of liquid proton donor through the third compartment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Preferred embodiment examples of the present invention are described below in more detail using the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic structure of an apparatus for removing gas from an aqueous liquid according to various exemplary embodiments is shown.

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the three compartments and the chemical reactions taking place during operation of the device according to the invention.

[0032] Figures 3A to 3C Possible positions of the three compartments of the device according to the invention relative to each other are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Figure 1A side view of a schematic structure of an apparatus 1 for removing gas from an aqueous liquid according to the present invention is shown. The description focuses on the interaction space of the device 1, i.e., the area in which the substances in the corresponding compartments can interact; other fluid components (pipelines, pumps, sensors, etc.) are not shown. The device 1 includes a first compartment 2, a second compartment 3, and a third compartment 4. Each compartment 2, 3, 4 includes two connections: the first compartment 2 includes a first connection 21 and a second connection 22, the second compartment 3 includes a third connection 31 and a fourth connection 32, and the third compartment 4 includes a fifth connection 41 and a sixth connection 42. According to the direction in which the corresponding substance penetrates the corresponding compartment, one connection of each compartment 2, 3, 4 is used as an inlet during operation of the device according to the present invention, and the corresponding other connection is used as an outlet. For example, a pump can be arranged between each pair of connections of the compartments 2, 3, 4 to maintain the circulation of the substance.

[0034] The first compartment 2 may have any arbitrary shape, for example Figure 1 The cylindrical shape shown, each connection part can be arranged near the bottom plate and near the lid of the compartment. The second compartment 3 comprises a plurality of first pipelines 33, preferably hollow fibers, providing a fluid connection between the third connection part 31 and the fourth connection part 32. The third connection part 31 and the fourth connection part 32 each lead to a reservoir in the top and bottom areas of the interaction space of the device 1, wherein the reservoir is not an essential feature, wherein in the embodiment shown each reservoir extends over the entire base surface of the interaction space. The first pipeline 33 connects the two reservoirs to each other. In a similar manner, the third compartment 4 comprises a plurality of second pipelines 43, preferably hollow fibers, which are arranged between the fifth connection part 41 and the sixth connection part 42. The fifth connection part 41 and the sixth connection part 42 each lead to a reservoir in the top and bottom areas of the interaction space of the device 1, wherein in the embodiment shown each reservoir extends over the entire base surface of the interaction space 1. Since the reservoir of the second compartment 3 surrounds the reservoir of the third compartment 4 or is arranged above and below the reservoir of the third compartment when viewed from the outside, the first line 33 passes through the reservoir of the third compartment 4, for which reason the second line 43 of the third compartment 4 is advantageously longer in design than the first line 33 of the second compartment 3, since the first line also passes through the reservoir of the third compartment 4. A plan view of a cross section Q in the central region of the interaction space is shown on the right side of the side view of the interaction space of the device 1, and the cross section Q shows that the first line 33 of the second compartment 3 and the second line 43 of the third compartment 4 each pass through the first compartment 2, spaced apart from each other. The first line 33 and the second line 43 are also arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the volume of the first compartment 2.

[0035] It should be noted that Figure 1As shown, the arrangement and position of the second compartment 3 and the third compartment 4 embody one of many possible arrangements. In another embodiment example, as Figure 1 As shown, the positions of the second compartment 3 and the third compartment 4 can be interchanged with each other. In addition, the flow direction of the substance flowing in each compartment 2, 3, 4 (in Figure 1 The number and cross-section of the first line 33 and the second line 43 can be selected as required.

[0036] Figure 2 The chemical processes that occur during operation of the device 1 according to the invention between the first compartment 2 and the second compartment 3, and between the first compartment 2 and the third compartment 4, the first compartment 2 being permeated by an aqueous liquid (preferably blood) from which the gas (preferably carbon dioxide) is to be removed. Physically dissolved carbon dioxide is present in the blood. In addition, physiologically relevant metal cations are present in the blood in respective corresponding physiological concentrations. The metal cations are bound in bicarbonate compounds. At the same time, carbon dioxide is chemically bound in the bicarbonate compounds.

[0037] A purge gas, which typically contains pure oxygen (O2), flows through the second compartment 3. A semipermeable membrane 5 is provided between the first compartment 2 and the third compartment 3. Due to the concentration gradient between the first compartment 2 and the second compartment 3 with respect to carbon dioxide (CO2), the carbon dioxide physically bound in the blood 7 is released and diffuses through the semipermeable membrane 5 into the second compartment 3. In return, oxygen diffuses out of the purge gas, passes through the semipermeable membrane 5 into the blood, and is received by the red blood cells 7 therein. The process is well known from typical ECMO applications and is depicted in the first marked area 8.

[0038] Carbon dioxide chemically bound to the bicarbonate compounds is released from the bicarbonate compounds by the liquid proton donor permeating the third compartment 4. Cation exchange is carried out via the ion-permeable membrane 6 located between the first compartment 2 and the third compartment 4 and is further depicted in the second labeled area 9. The process is also caused by a concentration gradient of the exchange ions. In the embodiment example shown for blood oxygenation, the exchange ion is sodium (Na + ), which is the target exchange ion in the example shown. Sodium diffuses through the ion permeable membrane 6 into the (low sodium) third compartment 4, and in turn, hydrogen cations present in the liquid proton donor diffuse out of the third compartment 4 into the first compartment 2, where they react with bicarbonate (HCO -3) is combined, thereby forming carbonic acid (H2CO3), but it is unstable and eventually decomposes relatively quickly into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide molecules thus released pass through the semipermeable membrane 5 into the second compartment 3 in a manner similar to physically dissolved carbon dioxide molecules. The liquid proton donor in the third compartment 4 is thus used to release the chemically bound carbon dioxide, and as previously described, the carbon dioxide thus released is removed from the blood by the purge gas that permeates into the second compartment 3.

[0039] In general, there are many different possibilities for the design of the interaction space between the three substances, in particular for the spatial arrangement of the first line 33 of the second compartment 3 and the second line 43 of the third compartment 4 relative to each other and the spatial arrangement in the first compartment 2. The bars in each figure represent the compartments in the interaction area of ​​the device 1 and are marked with the reference numerals of the corresponding compartments accordingly. The longitudinal extent of each bar also defines the axis along which the relevant substances permeate the corresponding compartments. Therefore, for each compartment 2, 3, 4, two basic permeate flow directions occur.

[0040] Figure 3A The embodiment shown in corresponds essentially to Figure 1 An embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention shown in , in which the lines of the second compartment 3 and the third compartment 4 are aligned parallel to each other, and the flow directions of the substances through all three compartments 2, 3, 4 are aligned parallel to each other. The actual flow direction of the substances through each compartment can occur from top to bottom or from bottom to top, independently of the flow direction in the other two compartments. Figure 3A The positions of the compartments 2, 3, 4 in the interaction region 1 depicted in FIG. 1 are only used to depict the relative arrangement of the flow direction through the compartments relative to each other, so that the number of bars specifically shown does not correspond to the number of lines associated with the compartments. The number and arrangement of the hollow channels forming the second compartment 3 and the third compartment 4 relative to each other can be realized in various ways. An example of this is in FIG. Figure 1 , where it is apparent that the first pipelines 33 form a hexagonal grid, with the second pipelines 43 being arranged in the center of the hexagon (except for the second pipelines 43 arranged on the edge). The pipelines of the second compartment 3 and the third compartment 4 may further be arranged in alternating rows, one behind the other, or adjacent to each other, or in other geometric patterns.

[0041] according to Figure 3B The arrangement of the compartments 2, 3, 4 relative to each other shown, the flow direction of the aqueous liquid through the first compartment 2 is perpendicular to the flow direction of the substance through the second compartment 3 and the third compartment 4, and the arrangement of the pipelines of the second compartment 3 and the fourth compartment 4 relative to each other can basically correspond to Figure 3A One of the arrangements described.

[0042] at last, Figure 3C Another possible embodiment of the interaction space of the device is shown, in which the flow direction through the second compartment 3 and through the third compartment 4 is perpendicular to the flow direction through the first compartment 2. However, in Figure 3B In the modification of the embodiment shown, the hollow channel of the second compartment 3 is additionally arranged at an angle α to the hollow channel of the first compartment 2, so that the flow direction is also arranged at an angle α relative to each other. Angle α can be preferably 90 °, for example. The pipeline of the second compartment 3 and the second pipeline of the third compartment 4 can therefore basically realize a rectangular or square grid structure (from the perspective of the first compartment 2 infiltrating the aqueous liquid), wherein the intermediate space is infiltrated by the aqueous liquid. The grid structure can be implemented so that the pipeline of the second compartment 3 and the pipeline of the third compartment 4 contact each other, and thus realize the intersection of the grid-like structure. Alternatively, the pipeline of the second component 3 and the pipeline of the third compartment 4 can be arranged in rows vertically to each other, and these rows are spaced apart from each other.

Claims

1. A device for removing gas from a blood liquid, the device comprising: a first compartment that is penetrated by blood fluid during operation of the device; a second compartment, the second compartment being permeated by a purge gas during operation of the device, the first compartment and the second compartment being separated from each other by a semipermeable membrane; and a third compartment which is permeated by a liquid proton donor during operation of the device, the liquid proton donor being a non-toxic acid or comprising an acidic buffer, the first compartment and the third compartment being separated from each other by an ion exchange membrane permeable only to cations, the ion exchange membrane comprising at least one cation conductor, the at least one cation conductor being a cation conductor comprising sulfonic acid groups.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood reacts with the hydrogen ions of the proton donor and forms carbonic acid through the ion exchange membrane due to the interaction between the blood and the liquid proton donor, and the hydrogen ions diffuse from the liquid proton donor into the blood through the ion exchange membrane.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the generated carbonic acid is decomposed into water and carbon dioxide so as to be transported away by the purge gas of the second compartment.

4. The device according to claim 1, the second compartment comprising a plurality of lines made of a semi-permeable material, and / or the third compartment comprising a plurality of lines made of the ion-permeable material.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lines are hollow fibers.

6. The device according to claim 4, the lines of the second compartment and the lines of the third compartment being present in the first compartment except for the inlet and outlet thereof.

7. The device according to claim 4, the line of the second compartment and the line of the third compartment being always separated from each other by a partial volume of the first compartment.

8. The device according to claim 4, the first compartment comprising an inlet and an outlet for directing the blood liquid through the first compartment, the inlet and the outlet being arranged so as to enable regulation of the flow of blood through the first compartment during operation of the device.

9. A composition comprising a liquid proton donor and permeating the third compartment of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The composition according to claim 9, at least one physiologically relevant type of metal cation present in the liquid proton donor at at least a physiological concentration; and No sodium is present in the liquid proton donor.

11. The composition of claim 9, further comprising a purge gas that permeates the second compartment of the device of any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. Use of a composition comprising a liquid proton donor and permeating the third compartment of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for the treatment of hypercapnia.

13. Use of the composition according to claim 12, at least one physiologically relevant type of metal cation present in the liquid proton donor at at least a physiological concentration; and No sodium is present in the liquid proton donor.

14. Use of a composition according to claim 12, further comprising a purge gas that permeates the second compartment of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

15. The use of the composition according to claim 12, wherein the treatment comprises the following steps: providing a fluid flow of blood through the first compartment; providing a flow of said purge gas through said second compartment; A flow of the liquid proton donor is provided through the third compartment.

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