Patent ID: 11918727
Assignee: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 18:
19. A method of extracorporeal lung assist to a patient, comprising:
providing a system comprising a housing, the housing comprising a blood flow inlet in fluid connection with a pressurizing stator compartment, a fiber bundle compartment in fluid connection with the pressurizing stator compartment via a flow channel formed within the housing and extending from the pressurizing stator compartment to an inlet manifold of the fiber bundle compartment, and a blood flow outlet in fluid connection with an outlet manifold of the fiber bundle compartment, an impeller rotatably positioned within the pressurizing stator compartment for pressurizing blood entering the pressurizing stator compartment from the blood flow inlet, a fiber bundle positioned within the fiber bundle compartment, the fiber bundle comprising a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers being adapted to permit diffusion of gas between blood and an interior of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers being positioned such that blood flows around the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers when flowing through the fiber bundle compartment, the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers extending generally perpendicular to a direction of bulk flow of blood through the fiber bundle compartment from the flow channel to the blood flow outlet, a gas inlet in fluid connection with the housing and in fluid connection with inlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, and a gas outlet in fluid connection with the housing and in fluid connection with outlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, wherein an axis of the fiber bundle is oriented generally parallel to a plane of rotation of the impeller and the at least one generally cylindrical fiber bundle being positioned such that an axis of rotation of the impeller extends to intersect a volume of the generally cylindrical fiber bundle, the flow channel extends upward from the pressurizing stator compartment to end at the inlet manifold so the blood is introduced into the inlet manifold from the flow channel perpendicular to the axis of the fiber bundle and flow from the inlet manifold enters an end of the at least one generally cylindrical fiber bundle;
connecting the blood flow inlet to the patient's vasculature;
connecting the blood flow outlet to the patient's vasculature; and
passing a sweep gas within lumens of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers via the gas inlet and the gas outlet.