Apparatus and method for blood oxygenation

#The present invention relates generally to a system and method for oxygenating blood, and more particularly, to a system and method for providing oxygenated blood, e.g., hyperoxemic or hyperbaric blood, to a patient.

#Oxygen is a crucial nutrient for human cells. Cell damage may result from oxygen deprivation for even brief periods of time, which may lead to organ dysfunction or failure. For example, heart attack and stroke victims experience blood flow obstructions or diversions that prevent oxygen from being delivered to the cells of vital tissues. Without oxygen, the heart and brain progressively deteriorate. In severe cases death results from complete organ failure. Less severe cases typically involve costly hospitalization, specialized treatments and lengthy rehabilitation.

#Blood oxygen levels may be described in terms of the concentration of oxygen that would be achieved in a saturated solution at a given partial pressure of oxygen (pO2). Typically, for arterial blood, normal blood oxygen levels (i.e., normoxia or normoxemia) range from 90-110 mm Hg. Hypoxemic blood (i.e., hypoxemia) is arterial blood with a pO2 less than 90 mm Hg. Hyperoxic blood (i.e., hyperoxemia or hyperoxia) is arterial blood with a pO2 greater than 400 mm Hg (see Cason et. al (1992) Effects of High Arterial Oxygen Tension on Function, Blood Flow Distribution, and Metabolism in Ischemic Myocardium, Circulation, 85(2):828-38, but less than 760 mm Hg (see Shandling et al. (1997) Hyperbaric Oxygen and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction: The “HOT MI” Pilot Study, American Heart Journal 134(3):544-50). Hyperbaric blood is arterial blood with a pO2 greater than 760 mm Hg. Venous blood typically has a pO2 level less than 90 mm Hg. In the average adult, for example, normal venous blood oxygen levels range generally from 40 mm Hg to 70 mm Hg.

#Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system for oxygenating blood in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a blood oxygenation assembly including a high pressure membrane oxygenator in accordance with the present invention.

#The present invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. Specific embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example in the drawings and are described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description set forth herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the present invention to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims are intended to be covered.

#The description below illustrates embodiments of the present invention. For the sake of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation of the present invention are described in this specification. It should be appreciated that in connection with developing any actual embodiment of the present invention many application-specific decisions must be made to achieve specific goals, which may vary from one application to another. Further, it should be appreciated that any such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would still be routine for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

#For the sake of clarity and convenience, the various embodiments are described herein in the context of interventional cardiovascular applications generally involving acute or transient ischemia or post-ischemic tissues. However, the present invention may also be useful in other medical applications, such as cancer therapy (e.g., the delivery of oxygen-enriched fluids directly into poorly vascularized tumors during radiation or chemotherapy treatments), neurovascular applications (e.g., the treatment of stroke and cerebral trauma patients), lung support in trauma and lung disease patients, and wound care management.