Integrated Axial Pump Oxygenator to Cut Tubing and Hemolysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extracorporeal life support systems face issues with long tubing lines that limit patient mobility, require complex de-bubbling processes, and result in high priming blood volume leading to hemodilution, due to separate components like centrifugal pumps and oxygenators connected via long tubing, which also cause excessive mechanical stress on blood cells.

Innovation Solution

A blood conditioning assembly with an integrated axial pump and oxygenator, where the axial pump is fixedly attached to the oxygenator housing, eliminating external tubing and reducing the extracorporeal blood volume, and using a magnetically suspended helical impeller to minimize mechanical stress on blood cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate components (centrifugal pump and oxygenator) are used with long tubing lines, then system flexibility and component accessibility are improved, but patient mobility is limited, de-bubbling becomes complex and time-consuming, and priming blood volume increases causing hemodilution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem flexibilityVSAvoidtubing line length

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the centrifugal pump and oxygenator into a single integrated blood conditioning assembly, eliminating the need for long external tubing lines. The pump is positioned within the oxygenator housing, with the pump outlet directly connected to the oxygenator inlet through a short internal channel, thereby reducing the overall circuit length while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If long tubing lines are used to connect separate components, then component accessibility is improved, but mechanical stress on blood cells increases due to elevated pressure gradient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoidmechanical stress on blood cells

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the pump and oxygenator into a single assembly with direct internal connectivity, the patent eliminates the long external tubing that causes elevated pressure gradients. The short internal channel between pump outlet and oxygenator inlet minimizes pressure drop, thereby reducing mechanical stress on blood cells while maintaining ease of operation through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If integrated axial pump with helical impeller is used, then mechanical stress on blood cells is minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stress on blood cellsVSAvoidpump structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a magnetically suspended helical impeller that rotates within the pump chamber without direct mechanical contact. The helical geometry of the impeller, combined with magnetic suspension, eliminates mechanical seals and bearings that would otherwise increase complexity and mechanical stress. This substitution of traditional mechanical pump elements with a magnetically suspended helical design reduces blood cell damage while managing device complexity through integrated construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The integrated design reduces extracorporeal blood volume, enhances patient mobility, simplifies de-bubbling, and minimizes hemolysis, while maintaining efficient gas exchange, thus improving the overall efficiency and safety of the extracorporeal life support system.

Implementation Method 1

The axial pump includes a helical impeller having a central axis that is coaxial with the inlet flow axis and the outlet flow axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHelical impeller rotation: Impeller

Implementation Method 2

The helical impeller is magnetically suspended within a pump body of the axial pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic suspension: Maglev

Implementation Method 3

hollow fiber blood oxygenators that are used to exchange oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in extracorporeal circulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas exchange: Diffusion

Implementation Method 4

Blood flows outside the hollow fiber lumens and oxygenating gases flow inside the hollow fiber lumens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 5

the resulting pre-oxygenator to post-oxygenator pressure gradient may be elevated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12582813B2Blood conditioning assembly for use with an extracorporeal life support system

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 LIVANOVA PLC

AI summary

A blood conditioning assembly for use with an extracorporeal life support system may include an oxygenator including a housing and a gas exchanger disposed within the housing, and an axial pump extending from the housing and configured to drive fluid flow through the oxygenator. The axial pump may be integrally formed with the housing of the oxygenator. The blood conditioning assembly may be devoid of external tubing between the axial pump and the oxygenator.