RIGID SHELL EXPANSIBLE BLOOD RESERVOIR, HEATER AND HOLLOW FIBRE MEMBRANE OXYGENATOR ASSEMBLY

摘要

An assembly (10) of a rigid shell expansible blood reservoir (20), heater (40), and hollow fibre membrane oxygenator (60) is integrated into a self-supporting unit. A visible concavity (22) closed by a flexible membrane (24) forms a variable volume liquid and air-tight blood reservoir (20) attached to a blood heater (40) which in turn is attached to a hollow fibre membrane oxygenator (60). The assembly stores, heats, oxygenates and purifies blood by passing oxygen through the lumens of a mat (70) of small diameter gas-permeable hollow fibres supported on a cylindrical core (68) as blood flows over the outside surfaces of the fibres in a small, easy to use, safe, integrated oxygenator (60) which avoids blood contact with ambient air as blood circulates through the assembly.