Management of condensed water in ecmo oxygenator

A method for managing accumulation of condensed water in a sweep gas flow path of an oxygenator in an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator [ECMO] device, comprising the steps of:

• determining a purge condition as a condition for a monitored sweep gas flow path resistance;
• monitoring a sweep gas flow rate and a sweep gas pressure within the sweep gas flow path;
• determining the monitored sweep gas flow path resistance based on the monitored sweep gas flow rate and sweep gas pressure;
• determining when the purge condition is met based on the monitored sweep gas flow path resistance, and
• performing a water purge manoeuvre when the purge condition is met,
• wherein the water purge manoeuvre comprises:
• activating an automatic purge function of the ECMO device configured to automatically purge the sweep gas flow path through generation of a purge flow of sweep gas through the sweep gas flow path, or
• causing a recommendation to activate the automated purge function of the ECMO device to be presented to an operator of the ECMO device, or
• causing a recommendation to manually purge the sweep gas flow path to be presented to the operator of the ECMO device, or
• generating an alarm indicative of accumulation of water in the sweep gas flow path.

A system for managing accumulation of condensed water in a sweep gas flow path of an oxygenator, comprising:

• an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator [ECMO] device configured for extracorporeal blood gas exchange, comprising:
• an oxygenator including a membrane acting as a gas-liquid barrier enabling gas exchange between a bloodstream and a sweep gas flow through the oxygenator,
• a sweep gas flow path comprising at least a sweep gas inlet line configured to convey sweep gas towards the membrane, and a sweep gas outlet line configured to convey sweep gas away from the membrane, and
• at least one flow rate sensor configured to measure a sweep gas flow rate within the sweep gas flow path and at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a sweep gas pressure within the sweep gas flow path;
• and
• at least one control computer comprised in or coupled to the ECMO device,
• wherein the control computer is configured to:
• determine a purge condition as a condition for a monitored sweep gas flow path resistance;
• monitor the sweep gas flow rate measured by the at least one flow rate sensor, and the sweep gas pressure measured by the at least one pressure sensor;
• determine the monitored sweep gas flow path resistance based on the monitored sweep gas flow rate and sweep gas pressure;
• determine when the purge condition is met based on the monitored sweep gas flow path resistance;
• and
• perform a water purge manoeuvre when the purge condition is met,
• wherein the water purge manoeuvre comprises:
• activating an automatic purge function of the ECMO device configured to automatically purge the sweep gas flow path through generation of a purge flow of sweep gas through the sweep gas flow path, or
• causing a recommendation to activate the automated purge function of the ECMO device to be presented to an operator of the ECMO device, or
• causing a recommendation to manually purge the sweep gas flow path to be presented to the operator of the ECMO device, or
• generating an alarm indicative of accumulation of water in the sweep gas flow path.