Gated-Concentric Artificial Lung Baffles for Blood Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial lungs and oxygenators face limitations in efficiency and thrombogenicity, leading to reduced effectiveness and lifespan, particularly in patients with end-stage COPD, due to inadequate mixing of blood and increased clot formation, which restricts their use to short durations in heart-lung machines and ECMO.
Innovation Solution
A pumpless, concentric artificial oxygenator with a compact design and low priming volume, featuring a series of precisely placed single-gated baffles that generate secondary flows and recirculation, enhancing blood mixing and reducing thrombogenicity, while maintaining a short gas path to improve carbon dioxide clearance and oxygenation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional oxygenator designs are used, then gas exchange function is provided, but blood mixing is inadequate and thrombogenicity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygenator is divided into multiple concentric compartments separated by baffles with gates. Each compartment functions as an independent mixing zone, creating segmented flow paths that enhance blood mixing while maintaining gas exchange functionality. The segmentation into zones allows controlled circulation patterns that reduce thrombogenicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygenator employs concentric circular baffles and spiral flow paths instead of linear configurations. The curved, concentric geometry naturally generates secondary flows and vortex patterns that enhance mixing efficiency. The circular gate openings and concentric arrangement create rotational flow components that improve blood distribution across the gas exchange surface.
2Productivity
If longer gas path is used to improve gas exchange, then oxygenation efficiency increases, but carbon dioxide buildup occurs and gradient decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The design transitions from a linear one-dimensional gas path to a three-dimensional concentric radial flow pattern. Gas flows radially across multiple concentric zones simultaneously, effectively increasing the gas exchange surface area utilization. This dimensional change allows shorter axial length while maintaining high exchange efficiency through parallel radial flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentric baffle configuration with strategically placed gates creates self-regulating flow distribution. The geometry naturally directs blood flow through all compartments, ensuring uniform utilization of the gas exchange surface without requiring external control mechanisms. The flow pattern automatically optimizes the balance between oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal.
3Speed
If pump-driven flow is used to ensure blood circulation, then flow rate is maintained, but device complexity and priming volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygenator is designed to function as a passive flow distributor that works with the patient's native cardiac output. The concentric baffles and gates automatically direct and mix blood flow without requiring external pumping within the device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional pumps, reducing priming volume and device complexity while maintaining adequate flow rates through the patient's own circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves multiple functions simultaneously: gas exchange, blood mixing, and flow distribution, all through the passive concentric baffle structure. The same geometric features that create mixing zones also distribute flow and utilize the patient's native circulation, eliminating the need for separate pumping components and reducing overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If multiple gated baffles are added to enhance mixing, then thrombogenicity reduces, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple mixing compartments are nested concentrically within each other, with each baffle and gate system contained within the previous larger compartment. This nested arrangement creates an organized hierarchy of mixing zones that systematically enhance blood distribution throughout the device. The concentric nesting pattern maintains structural order and simplifies manufacturing compared to random or irregular baffle placements.
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 solution significantly reduces thrombogenicity, extends the duration of artificial lung use, and improves gas exchange efficiency, making it suitable for both implantable and wearable applications, including as a bridge for lung transplant candidates and for acute heart and lung failure support.
Implementation Method 1
The present teachings provide a pumpless concentric artificial oxygenator driven by external perfusion having a compact size, low priming volume, and ability to adequately remove carbon dioxide from and oxygenate blood using a short gas path and a plurality of single-gated baffles with specific placements that passively generate orderly secondary flows and recirculation, enhancing the mixing of blood
Implementation Method 2
a fiber bundle being disposed within the housing and between the plurality of baffles within the flow path such that the blood flows along the flow path through the fiber bundle and gate openings from the blood inlet port to the blood outlet port
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial lung including a housing having a circular outer wall being enclosed by a first surface and a second surface to define an interior volume, a blood inlet port to permit inlet flow of blood to the housing, a blood outlet port to permit outlet flow of the blood from the housing, a gas inlet port to permit inlet flow of a gas to the housing, a gas outlet port to permit outlet flow of the gas from the housing, and a plurality of baffles concentrically disposed within the housing. The baffles are positioned to define a flow path between the blood inlet port and the blood outlet port. Each of the baffles includes a gate opening to permit flow of the blood along the flow path. A fiber bundle is disposed between the baffles within the flow create mixing and improve gas exchange efficiency.