Method of gas-heat exchange
AssigneeBoard of Regents of the University of Nebraska
InventorAnthony F. Kirkpatrick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To supply oxygen to blood and control its carbon dioxide content, the blood is pumped through a silicone rubber tube wound as a helix around an aluminum cylinder. In a typical use, water at 37.degree. C. is pumped through the cylinder to maintain the temperature constant and a gas containing 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide is passed over the silicone rubber tube so that: (1) oxygen passes through the rubber silicone tube to enrich the blood in oxygen; and (2) carbon dioxide is exchanged through the silicone rubber tube between the blood and the outside gas.
Claims21
A method of gas-heat exchange with a perfusate comprising the steps of:
- causing the perfusate to flow along an elongated curved path around a heat exchanger, said path being at least partly defined by a membrane which is capable of passing gas to the perfusate and from the perfusate;
- controlling the temperature of the perfusate as it flows along the path and in contact with the membrane;
- transferring gas through the membrane while the temperature of the perfusate is being controlled and as it flows along the elongated curved path, the direction of the path of flow of the perfusate is changed while gas is being exchanged to cause mixing of the perfusate.
A method of gas-heat exchange with a perfusate comprising the steps of:
- forcing blood through an elongated silicone rubber tube wound helically around a tube of good heat conducting material;
- forcing oxygen through a compartment formed between the tube of good heat conducting material and a wall slightly above the helically-wound silicone rubber tube, whereby oxygen transfer is provided over a large portion of the surface area of the silicone tube;
- and
- forcing a cooling fluid through the tube of good heat conducting material, whereby heat is transferred from the blood in the silicone tube as it is forced through the silicone tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.