Oxygenator

A method of oxygenating blood and removing gaseous micro emboli within an extracorporeal blood circuit, the method comprising:

• delivering blood from a patient to an oxygenator apparatus, the oxygenator apparatus comprising:
• a housing including a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the housing defining a central axis and a series of zones fluidly open to one another and concentrically disposed around the central axis;
• and
• a membrane assembly disposed within the housing, the membrane assembly including a plurality of gas exchange elements forming a first zone arranged around the central axis and a second zone arranged around the first zone, each of the plurality of gas exchange elements including an exterior surface and an interior lumen formed by an interior surface,
• wherein the interior lumens of the plurality of gas exchange elements in the first zone are fluidly coupled to an oxygenation source, and
• wherein the interior lumens of the plurality of gas exchange elements in the second zone are fluidly coupled to a negative pressure source;
• directing blood from the blood inlet to the blood outlet along a blood flow path;
• oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide from the blood as the blood flows radially through and around the plurality of gas exchange elements in the first zone;
• applying a negative pressure to an interior lumen of the plurality of gas exchange elements in the second zone;
• filtering gaseous micro emboli from the blood into the interior of at least one of the second plurality of elements;
• and
• removing the blood from the apparatus via the blood outlet.

A system for treating blood in an extracorporeal circuit, the system comprising:

• an oxygenator apparatus, comprising:
• a housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the housing defining a central axis and a series of zones fluidly open to one another and concentrically disposed around the central axis;
• a core disposed along the central axis of the housing, the core configured to receive blood from a patient through the blood inlet;
• a first zone including a first plurality of gas exchange elements arranged around the core;
• and
• a second zone including a second plurality of filter elements arranged around the first plurality of gas exchange elements;
• an oxygen source fluidly coupled to the first plurality of filter elements at the first zone to provide oxygen to interior lumens of the first plurality of filter elements;
• and
• a negative pressure source fluidly coupled to the second plurality of filter elements at the second zone, the negative pressure source to provide suction to interior lumens of the second plurality of filter elements,
• wherein the oxygenator apparatus establishes a blood flow path from the blood inlet to the blood outlet, including generally radial flow to add oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood at the first plurality of gas exchange elements and separate gaseous micro emboli from the blood at the second plurality of filter elements.