Method and apparatus for extracorporeal support of premature fetus

A method of using an extracorporeal system to support a human premature fetus in an extrauterine environment and maintain the human premature fetus during maturation, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the human premature fetus in a fetal chamber including a first portion having a rigid first frame having a first perimeter lip defining a first opening for the first portion, a second portion having a rigid second frame having a second perimeter lip defining a second opening for the second portion, wherein before said positioning step first moving the first and second portions of the fetal chamber relative to each other to separate the first and second perimeter lips to accommodate the positioning of the human premature fetus into the fetal chamber;
• connecting the premature human fetus to an oxygenation circuit including connecting a drain line configured to transport blood from the human premature fetus to an oxygenator and connecting an infusion line configured to transport blood from the oxygenator to the human premature fetus;
• oxygenating blood from the premature human fetus via the oxygenation circuit by flowing the blood through the drain line into the oxygenator and from the oxygenator into the premature human fetus through the infusion line whereby the oxygenator provides oxygen to and removes carbon dioxide from the blood and wherein the blood flow from the premature human fetus through the drain line, into the oxygenator, and through the infusion line back into the premature human fetus is propelled by the premature human fetus thus forming a pumpless circuit;
• closing the fetal chamber after the premature human fetus is positioned within the fetal chamber by moving the first and second perimeter lips together and latching a plurality of latches located proximate to the first and second perimeter lips to create a liquid-tight seal between the first and second perimeter lips in a closed position for the fetal chamber;
• injecting synthetic amniotic liquid through an inlet line into the closed fetal chamber to fill the fetal chamber with the synthetic amniotic liquid and immersing the premature human fetus in the synthetic amniotic liquid within the fetal chamber whereby the synthetic amniotic liquid in the fetal chamber is prevented from passing between the first and second perimeter lips;
• periodically discharging a used synthetic amniotic liquid from the fetal chamber and injecting fresh synthetic amniotic liquid into the fetal chamber;
• wherein the fetal chamber is positioned upon a cart wherein the cart has a hood;
• and
• positioning the hood such that the hood in conjunction with the cart encloses the fetal chamber.