Systems, methods, and devices for artificial placentas and amniotic bed incubators

A clinical method for maintaining fetal blood circulation, providing a normal partial pressure of oxygen in lungs of an infant patient, and avoiding potentially harmful mechanical ventilation to the lungs, the clinical method comprising:

• connecting a fluid injection system to the infant patient, the fluid injection system connected to an amniotic fluid source, the fluid injection system configured to fill lungs of the infant patient with simulated amniotic fluid from the amniotic fluid source;
• connecting, to the infant patient, a membrane oxygenation system configured to oxygenate the blood of the infant patient, the system comprising:
• one or more arterial lines connected to the umbilical cord of the infant patient and configured to receive low-oxygen blood from the infant patient;
• a gas exchange unit comprising:
• an inflow capillary tree comprising a first branching structure, wherein the inflow capillary tree is configured to deliver the low-oxygen blood to a hollow fiber unit comprising one or more semipermeable hollow fibers capable of oxygenating the low-oxygen blood passing through the hollow fiber unit, wherein each of the one or more semipermeable hollow fibers is oriented substantially parallel to each other semipermeable hollow fiber;
• and
• an outflow capillary tree comprising a second branching structure, wherein the outflow capillary tree is configured to deliver oxygenated blood from the hollow fiber unit;
• and
• one or more venous lines adapted to connect to the umbilical cord of the infant patient and configured to receive the oxygenated blood from the outflow capillary tree and deliver the oxygenated blood to the infant patient;
• receiving low-oxygen blood from the infant patient through the one or more arterial lines;
• oxygenating the low-oxygen blood within the membrane oxygenation system;
• and
• delivering the oxygenated blood to the infant patient.