Artificial Lung Bubble Trapping Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial lungs with hollow fiber membrane bundles are ineffective in removing bubbles from blood, allowing them to flow out through the blood outflow port, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a bubble trapping filter member at the outer peripheral or intermediate portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle, which is hydrophilic and mesh-like, with openings not exceeding 50 μm, to effectively trap bubbles and prevent their flow through the blood outflow port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bubbles are removed by the hollow fiber membrane bundle, then gas exchange function is improved, but bubbles are not sufficiently removed and may flow out to the blood outflow port
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the blood flow path into distinct regions: an inner peripheral portion where blood enters the hollow fiber membrane bundle, and an outer peripheral portion where blood exits. The filter member is positioned at the outer peripheral portion to specifically trap bubbles without interfering with the gas exchange function of the hollow fiber membranes in the inner region.
Solution Approach 2:
A filter member is introduced as an intermediary component between the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the blood outflow port. This filter member specifically targets and traps bubbles while allowing blood to pass through, thereby preventing bubbles from reaching the blood outflow port without affecting the gas exchange function.
2Reliability
If a filter member is added to trap bubbles, then bubble removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter member is merged with the hollow fiber membrane bundle structure, where the filter member is positioned to contact the outer peripheral portion of the bundle. This integration allows the filter function to be added without requiring a completely separate, complex filtering system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter member is constructed using porous material with appropriate pore size to trap bubbles while allowing blood to pass through. This use of porous materials provides effective bubble filtration with a relatively simple structural configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial lung includes a housing, a tubular hollow fiber membrane bundle contained in the housing and providing a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes having a gas exchange function, a gas inflow port and a gas outflow port communicating with each other through hollow portions of the hollow fiber membranes, and a blood inflow port and a blood outflow port through which blood is distributed. The tubular hollow fiber membrane bundle has a cylindrical overall shape, and a filter member having a bubble-trapping function is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the tubular hollow fiber membrane bundle.