Artificial Lung Hollow Fiber Membrane Design for Gas Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial lungs face challenges in achieving high gas exchange and heat exchange performance while minimizing blood filling amount and blood side pressure loss, with previous improvements made to individual elements independently rather than in conjunction.
Innovation Solution
The design and evaluation method for artificial lungs involves measuring gas exchange performance, heat exchange performance coefficient, and blood side pressure loss, and calculating performance factors such as Fp, Fp3, and Fp4 to unify the evaluation of different types and structures, ensuring optimal performance by balancing these factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the surface area of the gas exchanging hollow fiber membrane or the heat exchanging element is reduced to minimize blood filling amount, then the blood filling amount is reduced, but the gas exchange performance and heat exchange performance are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the inner diameter, outer diameter, and length of the hollow fiber membrane to achieve high gas exchange performance with reduced surface area. Specifically, the membrane has an inner diameter of 0.15-0.25mm, outer diameter of 0.20-0.30mm, and length of 100-200mm, which allows efficient gas exchange with minimal blood filling amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating uneven thickness distribution in the hollow fiber membrane, with the thickness being 10-20μm at the inner circumference and 5-15μm at the outer circumference. This non-uniform thickness optimization enhances gas exchange performance while maintaining reduced surface area and blood filling amount.
2Productivity
If the gas exchanging hollow fiber membrane is densely installed to acquire high performance through small surface area, then the gas exchange performance is improved, but the blood side pressure loss increases and damage to blood cells occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the membrane parameters (inner diameter 0.15-0.25mm, outer diameter 0.20-0.30mm, length 100-200mm) to achieve high gas exchange performance without requiring dense installation. The optimized parameters allow sufficient gas exchange area while maintaining low blood side pressure loss and preventing blood cell damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The uneven thickness distribution (10-20μm inner, 5-15μm outer) creates optimal local flow characteristics that reduce turbulence and pressure loss while maintaining high gas exchange efficiency, allowing the membrane to be installed without excessive density.
3Quantity of substance
If the surface area of the heat exchanging element is reduced to minimize blood filling amount, then the blood filling amount is reduced, but the heat exchange performance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the heat exchanging element parameters (outer diameter 2-5mm, length 50-150mm) to achieve high heat exchange performance with reduced surface area and minimal blood filling amount. The optimized dimensions allow efficient heat transfer without requiring large surface area.
4Productivity
If various elements of the artificial lung are improved independently rather than in conjunction, then individual element performance is enhanced, but the overall system performance cannot be uniformly evaluated and compared
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a universal evaluation system that can assess different types and structures of artificial lungs using standardized performance factors. The system measures gas exchange performance, heat exchange performance coefficient, blood filling amount, and blood side pressure loss, then calculates comprehensive performance factors (Fp, Fp3, Fp4) that enable uniform comparison across diverse artificial lung designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for the general evaluation and comparison of artificial lungs, achieving high performance across various types and structures, with Fp values ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 and Fp3/Fp4 values indicating excellent performance, thus optimizing the design and operation of artificial lungs.
Implementation Method 1
an external circulation-type gas exchanging hollow fiber membrane bundle
Implementation Method 2
a wound heat exchanger portion that is provided with a heat exchanging element comprised of a resin tube
Implementation Method 3
heat exchange performance coefficient of the artificial lung
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention is an invention that aims to provide a technology of designing and evaluating an artificial lung in which performance of each of elements of the artificial lung can be uniformly examined and a generally excellent performance can be exhibited. The present invention provides an artificial lung including a gas exchanger portion that is provided with an external circulation-type gas exchanging hollow fiber membrane bundle and a heat exchanger portion that is provided with a heat exchanging element. A heat exchange performance coefficient of the artificial lung, a blood filling amount of the artificial lung, and a blood side pressure loss of the artificial lung are measured, and when Fp3=heat exchange performance coefficient of artificial lung/(blood filling amount of artificial lungxblood side pressure loss of artificial lung) is calculated, a value of Fp3 is equal to or greater than 0.15.