APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BLOOD OXYGENATION

摘要

An apparatus and method for blood oxygenation is provided, comprising an extracorporeal circuit for the preparation and delivery of hyperoxic or hyperbaric blood. In one embodiment, an apparatus for gas-supersaturating fluids, e.g., physiologic saline, includes a chamber having a first inlet to receive the fluid; a second inlet to receive a gas, e.g., oxygen, from a gas supply that maintains pressure within the chamber at a predetermined level, and an outlet coupled to a capillary assembly. An atomizer nozzle coupled to the first inlet creates within the chamber fine droplets of fluid into which gas diffuses to create the gas-supersaturated fluid, which collects within the chamber below the atomizer nozzle for removal via the outlet. The removed gas-supersaturated fluid mixes with blood provided by a blood pump, the mixing occurring within a liquid-to-liquid oxygenation assembly including a pressurizable chamber having inlets for the gas-supersaturated fluid and blood, the inlets advantageously arranged to create a vertical or cyclonic fluid flow within the chamber to promote mixing. The mixed fluid exits the chamber via an outlet for delivery to a patient a catheter, or other interventional fluid delivery device. Alternatively, the blood may be provided by the pump to a high pressure hollow fiber or other type membrane oxygenator.