Oxygenator Gas-Phase Sensing for Quantifying Blood Oxygen Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack the ability to quantitatively determine the oxygen feed into blood during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mechanical ventilation, making it difficult to ensure sufficient oxygen supply to patients.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a gas flow sensor and a gas sensor unit measures the oxygen content of gas mixtures before and after an oxygenator, calculating the oxygen feed into the blood by determining the discrepancy between these measurements, allowing for accurate quantification without physical contact with the blood.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used to support patients with insufficient lung gas exchange, then oxygen supply to the patient is improved, but the ability to quantitatively determine oxygen feed into blood deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary measurement approach by measuring oxygen content in the gas mixture flowing through the oxygenator rather than directly measuring oxygen transfer to blood. The gas flow sensor and gas sensor unit measure oxygen parameters in the gas phase, which serves as an intermediary to indirectly determine the oxygen feed into blood, resolving the contradiction between providing reliable oxygen supply and enabling precise measurement.
2Reliability
If mechanical ventilation is used to support lung gas exchange, then ventilation function is improved, but the ability to coordinate with extracorporeal life support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously measuring oxygen content in the gas mixture before and after the oxygenator, calculating the oxygen feed into blood in real-time, and using this information to coordinate and adjust the operation of both the extracorporeal life support device and mechanical ventilation device. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adaptation and optimal coordination between the two ventilation systems.
3Measurement precision
If oxygen content measurement is performed in gas mixture flowing through oxygenator, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using a single gas sensor unit to measure oxygen content in gas mixtures at different positions (before and after the oxygenator) and potentially for different gas types. This universal sensor design enables precise oxygen feed measurement without requiring multiple specialized sensors, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling device complexity.
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
Enables precise determination of oxygen feed into the blood, enhancing the accuracy and safety of extracorporeal life support systems by optimizing oxygen supply and reducing measurement errors.
Implementation Method 1
The flow of the gas mixture flowing through the oxygenator can be measured by means of a flow sensor, for example by means of a mass flow sensor as mass flow
Implementation Method 2
The flow of the gas mixture flowing through the oxygenator can be measured by means of a flow sensor, for example by means of a volume flow sensor as volume flow
Implementation Method 3
a gas sensor unit which is designed to measure the oxygen content of the oxygen-containing gas mixture flowing into the oxygenator and the oxygen content of a gas mixture flowing out of the oxygenator
Implementation Method 4
oxygen is introduced into the patient's blood using an extracorporeal blood gas exchange device... oxygen is introduced into the patient's blood using an extracorporeal blood gas exchange device, which will be referred to as oxygenator in the following
Data Source
AI summary
A device for determining a feed (V′O2) of oxygen into blood in an oxygenator comprises a gas flow sensor adapted to detect a flow (flowSTPin, flowSTPout) of an oxygen-containing gas mixture flowing through the oxygenator; and a gas sensor unit adapted to measure an oxygen content (pO2in) of the oxygen-containing gas mixture flowing into the oxygenator and an oxygen content (pO2out) of a gas mixture flowing out of the oxygenator. The device is designed to determine a discrepancy, in particular a difference, between the oxygen content (pO2in) of the oxygen-containing gas mixture flowing into the oxygenator and the oxygen content (pO2out) of the gas mixture flowing out of the oxygenator, and to determine the feed (V′O2) of oxygen into blood flowing through the oxygenator from the difference thus determined and the flow (flowSTPin, flowSTPout) measured by the gas flow sensor.