APPARATUS FOR BLOOD OXYGENATION

摘要

The invention relates to a device and a method for oxygenating blood and delivering the oxygenated blood to a patient, the device comprising a blood pump assembly coupled to a supply of blood; a blood oxygenation assembly coupled to the blood pump assembly, the blood oxygenation assembly receiving the blood from the blood pump assembly and oxygenating the blood; a delivery system coupled to the blood oxygenation assembly, the delivery system being adapted to deliver the oxygenated blood to a patient, the delivery system comprising a generally tubular elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion being adapted to be inserted into the patient and the distal end portion being coupled to the blood oxygenation assembly, the member further having a first lumen for carrying the oxygenated blood generally extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, and the member having a transition portion located between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, the transitional portion being relatively flexible compared to the proximal end portion and being relatively stiff compared to the distal end portion.