摘要 |
An inflatable percutaneous oxygenator has an inflatable balloon suitable for insertion into a blood vessel. Oxygen is circulated through a number of gas-permeable passageways (such as hollow gas-permeable fibers) adjacent to the balloon surface to permit diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood vessel and the passageways. Pulsatile flow can be used to increase the rate of cross-diffusion of gases. A pump is used to alternately expand and contract the balloon. This causes movement of the passageways within the blood vessel to minimize streaming or channeling of the blood flow around the oxygenator, maximizes turbulence in the bloodstream, and therefore maximizes diffusion of gases. In one alternative embodiment, the balloon is made of a gas-permeable material and is inflated with oxygen to supplement cross-diffusion of gases with the bloodstream. An external connector with lumens supplies a flow of oxygen to the passageways, exhausts gas from the passageways, and allows inflation and deflation of the balloon by the pump. In one alternative embodiment the balloon has a number of chambers separated by constrictions that restrict the flow of gases between the chambers. This results in a relative phase shift in the inflation and deflation of the balloon chambers to provide peristaltic motion to the balloon.
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