Development of a pumping artificial lung

Current mass exchange technology is not suitable for chronic applications - particularly in adult patients. One clinically important example is the absence of an extended pulmonary support system for use in bridge-to-transplant applications. Such a system presents unique and challenging functionality and biocompatibility requirements. A development effort is ongoing at the Universities of Pittsburgh and Maryland to develop a novel, active-mixing, pump-oxygenator as an adult bridge-to-transplant system. The rotating porous impeller simultaneously affects gas exchange and blood pumping. Our goal is a pump-oxygenator containing less than 0.5 m² of total fiber surface area capable of sustaining basal gas exchange rates of 250 ml O₂/min and 200 ml CO₂/min at a blood flow rate of 5 lpm and a device life of 21 days. Prototype devices have demonstrated exceptionally efficient oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange and acceptable blood pumping and biocompatibility characteristics both in vitro and ex vivo in studies up to 5 days in duration.