Blood Processing Unit with Spiral Flow Heat Exchanger

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current blood perfusion systems for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery lack efficient mechanisms to enhance blood flow and gas exchange, particularly in creating turbulence to improve oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal.

Innovation Solution

A blood processing apparatus incorporating a heat exchanger core with radially disposed core apertures and ribs to impart turbulence, combined with a gas exchanger, where blood flows radially and longitudinally through hollow fibers to enhance heat and gas transfer, promoting efficient oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If blood flows through conventional oxygenators with straight flow paths, then the device structure is simple, but blood flow turbulence is insufficient reducing gas exchange efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas exchange efficiencyVSAvoidflow path structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved and spiral flow paths within the oxygenator housing instead of straight linear paths. The blood flow is directed through curved channels that create centrifugal forces and turbulence, enhancing gas-liquid contact and mass transfer efficiency while maintaining a relatively compact device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces radial flow components by directing blood flow from the center toward the periphery and then back through hollow fibers. This multi-dimensional flow pattern (combining radial, axial, and tangential components) creates turbulence and improves gas exchange without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If heat exchanger and gas exchanger are separate components, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall device size and fluid path complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat and gas transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the heat exchanger and gas exchanger functions into a single unified oxygenator device. The hollow fiber bundle serves dual purposes: facilitating both heat transfer (through thermal conduction across fiber walls) and gas exchange (through diffusion across semipermeable membranes). This consolidation improves overall efficiency while reducing device complexity compared to separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow fibers are designed with multi-functionality, serving simultaneously as heat transfer conduits and gas exchange membranes. The fiber structure enables both thermal conduction for heat exchanger function and selective permeability for oxygenator function, allowing one component to perform multiple critical roles in the blood processing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If blood flow velocity is increased to enhance turbulence, then gas exchange improves, but pressure drop and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygenation efficiencyVSAvoidpump energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic flow path design where blood flow direction and velocity distribution change continuously through the device. The flow transitions from axial entry to radial distribution, then to tangential movement across hollow fibers, creating variable turbulence intensity throughout the flow path. This dynamic approach enhances gas exchange efficiency while distributing energy consumption more effectively than constant high-velocity flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 apparatus achieves improved blood flow turbulence and gas exchange, leading to more effective oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal, enhancing the efficiency of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger core (140, 240, 340) arranged within the housing and configured to impart turbulence to blood passing from the blood inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

Heat exchanger hollow fibers are disposed about the heat exchanger core such that a heat exchanger fluid may flow through the heat exchanger hollow fibers and blood passing from the core aperture may flow across the heat exchanger hollow fibers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

Gas exchanger hollow fibers are disposed about the cylindrical shell such that gases may flow through the gas exchange hollow fibers and blood passing from the annular shell aperture may flow across the gas exchanger hollow fibers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUSRE49759E1Blood processing unit with heat exchanger core for providing modified flow path

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 LIVANOVA PLC

AI summary

A blood processing apparatus may include a heat exchanger and a gas exchanger. At least one of the heat exchanger and the gas exchanger may be configured to impart a radial component to blow flow through the heat exchanger and/or gas exchanger. The heat exchanger may be configured to cause blood flow to follow a spiral flow path.