Artificial Placenta Oxygenation via Extracorporeal Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Premature birth leads to significant mortality and long-term neurological disabilities due to organ immaturity and complications arising from current neonatal care methods, such as mechanical ventilation and high oxygen concentration, which are not effectively addressed by existing treatments.
Innovation Solution
An extracorporeal artificial placenta and amniotic bed system that provides oxygenated blood to preterm infants through an umbilical cord, mimicking the natural placental function by using a thermo-regulated fluid environment, extra-uterine membrane oxygenation, and simulated amniotic fluid, thereby reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and minimizing lung damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If mechanical ventilation is used to treat preterm infants, then oxygenation is improved, but lung damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an artificial placenta as an intermediary device that performs gas exchange extracorporeally. Blood is withdrawn from the infant, oxygenated through the artificial placenta's membrane interface, and returned to the infant. This mediates the oxygenation function without requiring direct mechanical ventilation of the lungs, thereby avoiding lung damage while maintaining adequate oxygen supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas exchange function from the lungs by implementing an extracorporeal life support system. The artificial placenta takes over the respiratory function externally, removing the need for mechanical ventilation and its associated harmful effects on immature preterm lungs.
2Temperature
If high oxygen concentration is administered to preterm infants, then oxygenation is improved, but retinopathy of prematurity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial placenta system incorporates continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation levels with automatic adjustment of oxygen delivery. This feedback mechanism ensures that oxygenation is maintained within safe ranges, preventing both hypoxia and the oxygen toxicity that leads to retinopathy of prematurity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts oxygen concentration and flow parameters based on real-time physiological monitoring. By changing these parameters in response to actual needs rather than administering fixed high concentrations, the system achieves adequate oxygenation while avoiding the harmful effects of excessive oxygen exposure.
3Reliability
If current neonatal care methods are used, then immediate life threats are treated, but long-term neurological disabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial placenta provides gentle, continuous support that allows preterm infants to mature further before facing the stresses of conventional intensive care. By maintaining stable physiological conditions extracorporeally, the system prepares infants for eventual successful transition to conventional care with reduced risk of neurological injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the vulnerability of preterm infants into a benefit by using their underdeveloped lungs as an opportunity to provide support through the artificial placenta. This approach transforms what would normally be a high-risk situation into a protected environment that promotes healthy development while avoiding the harmful effects of aggressive intervention.
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 system helps maintain fetal circulation, reduces the risk of lung damage, and decreases mortality and morbidity in preterm infants by providing a uterine-like environment, improving oxygenation, and minimizing the use of harmful mechanical ventilation.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow fiber unit comprising one or more semipermeable hollow fibers capable of oxygenating the low-oxygen blood passing through the hollow fiber unit
Implementation Method 2
an inflow capillary tree comprising a first branching structure, wherein the inflow capillary tree is configured to deliver the low-oxygen blood to a hollow fiber unit
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for an extracorporeal, artificial, placenta. In some embodiments, an artificial placenta and amniotic bed system may comprise a control unit, a gas delivery unit, a gas exchange unit or membrane oxygenator, a fluids delivery unit, an amniotic fluid bed, and a human machine interface. In some embodiments, the artificial placenta and amniotic bed systems, devices, and methods described herein may improve survival rates and minimize long-term disabilities in preterm, gestational-age, newborns. In some embodiments, the extracorporeal systems, devices, and methods comprise an artificial network through which oxygen and nutrient-rich blood may flow into a fetus (residing in an amniotic fluid bed), while carbon dioxide and wastes may be removed, thus re-establishing a form of intrauterine placental circulation.