Integrated Blood Pump–ECMO Assembly for Lower Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extracorporeal circulatory support systems experience significant pressure drops and turbulent blood flow due to separate blood pump and ECMO units, leading to hemolysis and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An integrated blood pump and ECMO design with a continuous, straight flow path and modular components, eliminating bends and tubing, and allowing interchangeable ECMO modules for adult and pediatric use, along with an integrated heat exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate blood pump and ECMO units are used, then device versatility and modularity are improved, but pressure drop and blood flow efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the blood pump and ECMO into a single integrated assembly where the pump housing and membrane housing are directly connected, eliminating the need for separate tubing connections. This merging of previously separate units reduces the number of connection points and flow path bends, thereby reducing pressure drop while maintaining the functional versatility of both components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate blood pump and ECMO units are used, then device versatility is improved, but blood flow efficiency and hemolysis risk deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the blood pump and ECMO into a single integrated assembly with direct housing-to-housing connection, the patent creates a streamlined blood flow path that eliminates turbulence associated with separate unit connections. This improves blood flow efficiency and reduces hemolysis risk while preserving the ability to provide both pumping and oxygenation functions.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-size ECMO is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different patient sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ECMO into a modular cartridge that can be removed and replaced, allowing different sized ECMO cartridges to be used with the same pump housing. This segmentation enables the system to adapt to different patient sizes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity for the pump housing itself, as only the ECMO cartridge needs to be manufactured in multiple sizes rather than the entire assembly.
4Loss of energy
If integrated blood pump and ECMO design is used, then pressure drop is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated assembly is segmented into distinct functional modules: the blood pump housing with rotor, the membrane housing with oxygenator membrane, and interchangeable ECMO cartridges. This segmentation allows the system to achieve low pressure drop through integrated design while managing complexity through modular organization, where each module can be independently manufactured, assembled, and maintained.
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
Reduces pressure drops, minimizes priming volume, and enhances blood flow efficiency while enabling reuse of the blood pump and modularity for different patient sizes, thus improving clinical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The oxygenator membrane is configured to increase the oxygen concentration and/or decrease the carbon dioxide concentration of blood pumped through the blood pump assembly
Implementation Method 2
The blood pump assembly may include an integrated heat exchanger
Data Source
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AI summary
An extracorporeal blood pump assembly includes a blood pump and an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO). The blood pump includes a pump housing, a rotor, and a flow converter positioned downstream from the rotor to convert non-axial flow from the rotor to axial flow. The pump housing defines an inlet and an outlet. The ECMO includes a membrane housing and an oxygenator membrane disposed within the membrane housing. The membrane housing is removably connected to the pump housing at one of the pump housing inlet and the pump housing outlet.