Portable ECMO System with Integrated Oxygen Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current extracorporeal life support systems for lung assist are not portable and lack integrated passive or minimally invasive ventilation, relying on separate oxygen sources, which can be problematic during patient transport or in situations where oxygen supply is limited.
Innovation Solution
A transportable extracorporeal system with a self-contained oxygen generating device, using a pressure swing adsorption module to recycle oxygen and remove CO2, argon, and nitrogen, integrated with a blood oxygenator and ventilation module for portable lung assist, allowing for ambulatory blood oxygenation and CO2 removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a prior art ECMO system is used, then oxygenation and CO2 removal can be achieved, but the system is not portable and requires external oxygen sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate components into a single integrated portable system: the oxygen generator, CO2 remover, blood pump, and ventilation module are merged into one unified device that can be transported and operated outside the hospital setting
Solution Approach 2:
The portable system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it generates concentrated oxygen from ambient air, removes CO2 from blood, pumps blood through the oxygenator, and provides ventilation support, making it a universal life support device that replaces multiple separate hospital-based systems
2Reliability
If external oxygen sources are used, then oxygen supply is available, but the system becomes dependent on external infrastructure and less safe during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates its own concentrated oxygen from ambient air using a portable oxygen concentrator, eliminating dependence on external oxygen tanks or hospital oxygen infrastructure. The device serves itself by continuously producing the oxygen it needs for operation
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen concentrator changes the concentration parameter of oxygen from ambient levels (21%) to concentrated levels (90% or higher) using pressure swing adsorption technology, allowing the system to generate high-purity oxygen from ordinary air without external oxygen sources
3Volume of moving object
If separate ventilation and oxygenation systems are used, then each function can be optimized, but the overall system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ventilation module with the oxygenation system, allowing the same device to both oxygenate blood through the membrane oxygenator and provide respiratory ventilation through the integrated ventilation module, reducing overall system size while maintaining functional optimization
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 system provides a portable, self-sufficient means of oxygenation and CO2 removal, reducing the need for external oxygen sources and enabling continuous ventilation support, enhancing patient mobility and safety during transport.
Implementation Method 1
The oxygen generating device is capable of recycling the waste oxygen from the gas transfer membrane to increase its throughput and is capable of selectively removing, by an adsorption/desorption process, unwanted gasses such as CO 2 , argon, water vapor, and nitrogen
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of gas between blood and an interior of the hollow gas permeable fibers
Data Source
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AI summary
A transportable extracorporeal system includes a housing, a blood flow inlet, a blood flow outlet, a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, a gas inlet in fluid connection with inlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, a gas outlet in fluid connection with outlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, a first moving element, a concentrated oxygen generating device, a second moving element, a hollow transport conduit having a proximal opening and a distal opening and a power source configured to provide power to the first and second moving elements. The plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers comprising a gas transfer membrane. The concentrated oxygen generating device is configured to recycle waste oxygen from the gas transfer membrane to increase throughput and remove, by an adsorption/desorption process, unwanted gasses.