Blood oxygenation process
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorNorman N. Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for oxygenating blood which comprises, contacting an emulsion, the exterior phase of which comprises an oxygen saturated fluorinated organic compound surrounding aqueous droplets containing a carbon dioxide absorbent or reactant, with mammalian blood. The oxygen permeates rapidly from the fluorocarbon into the blood, while the CO.sub.2 within the blood permeates through the fluorocarbon into the aqueous interior phase wherein it is absorbed or converted by a reactant to a nonpermeable form. In this manner the blood is oxygenated and CO.sub.2 is simultaneously removed.
Claims8
A process for oxygenating human blood and simultaneously removing CO.sub.2 which comprises separating venous blood from a human body by shunting said venous blood prior to its return to the heart, contacting said shunted blood in a contacting zone, with an emulsion, the exterior phase which is liquid at a temperature of from 4.degree. to 35.degree.C and which comprises a C.sub.1 to C.sub.40 fluorinated organic compound, said exterior phase further comprising dissolved oxygen, surrounding aqueous droplets, whereby said oxygen permeates into said blood and the CO.sub.2 in said blood permeates into said aqueous droplets, and returning said blood having increased oxygen content and decreased CO.sub.2 content to said human body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.