Membrane Gas Exchanger Segmented Gas Outlet Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane gas exchangers used in extracorporeal decarboxylation and membrane oxygenation have high manufacturing costs due to expensive membrane materials and low automation, limiting their production quantities.
Innovation Solution
Adapting dialyzer housings with standardized inlets and outlets for use in membrane gas exchangers, incorporating adapters to ensure the gas outlet remains open and prevent pressure buildup, thereby reducing the risk of gas transfer to the blood side and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard dialyzer housings are used for membrane gas exchangers, then production costs are reduced by leveraging existing manufacturing resources, but the gas outlet may become blocked leading to pressure buildup and gas transfer to the blood side
Solution Approach 1:
The gas outlet is divided into multiple outlets (first gas outlet and second gas outlet) to segment the single exit path into multiple paths, reducing the risk that blockage of one outlet will compromise the entire gas exchange function
Solution Approach 2:
Different outlets are given different local qualities - the first gas outlet has a larger diameter for primary gas flow, while the second gas outlet serves as a backup path, with each outlet optimized for its specific function
2Device complexity
If a single gas outlet is used in standard dialyzer housing, then the structure remains simple, but blockage of this outlet can lead to pressure increase and unwanted gas transfer to the blood side
Solution Approach 1:
The single gas outlet is segmented into multiple outlets (first gas outlet and second gas outlet), ensuring that if one outlet becomes blocked, gas can still escape through the other outlet, preventing pressure buildup and gas transfer to the blood side
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides beforehand cushioning by designing redundant gas outlets in advance, so that if blockage occurs, the system already has an alternative path ready, preventing harmful effects before they can occur
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 approach reduces production costs by leveraging existing dialyzer production resources and infrastructure, ensuring safe operation by preventing gas outlet closure, thus maintaining effective CO2 elimination and oxygen supply while minimizing patient risk.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (1) which is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable and separates the first chamber and the second chamber from one another
Implementation Method 2
a membrane (1) which is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable
Implementation Method 3
a hollow fiber bundle (2) arranged in the housing (G), the interior of which is in fluid communication with the first chamber and which is surrounded by a space which, in turn, is in fluid communication with the second chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a membrane gas exchanger having a housing in which a first chamber and a second chamber and also a membrane are arranged, wherein the membrane is permeable to gas and impermeable to liquid, and the first chamber and the second chamber are separated from each other, wherein the first chamber forms the blood side and the second chamber forms the gas side of the membrane gas exchanger, and wherein the first chamber has a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and wherein the second chamber has a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and wherein the blood inlet, the blood outlet and the gas outlet are located on the housing, wherein the housing is a dialyser housing, and wherein a first adapter is provided which has an inlet and at least two outlets, the inlet being connected to the gas outlet of the housing.