US3827860A

US3827860A - Blood oxygenation device

Info

Publication number: US3827860A
Application number: US00263049A
Authority: US
Inventors: N Burlis
Original assignee: Sherwood Medical Industries Inc
Current assignee: Sherwood Medical Co
Priority date: 1972-06-15
Filing date: 1972-06-15
Publication date: 1974-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-06
Also published as: BE800123A; JPS4956496A; FR2189078A1; DE2318229A1; FR2189078B3; GB1397695A

Abstract

A BUBBLE OXYGENATION DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES A CYLINDRICAL OXYGENATORR CHAMBER CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH A DEFOAMING CHAMBER AD A SETTLING CHAMBER, AND AN OXYGEN DISPERSER MEMBER FOR DELIVERING OXYGEN AND VENOUS BLOOD TO THE OXYGENATOR CHAMBER, THE DISPERSER MEMBER BEING SLIDABLE IN THE OXYGENATOR TO CONTROL THE OXYGENATION CAPACITY THEREOF.

Description

Aug. 6 1974 w, BURUS v 3,827,860

BLOOD OXYGENATION DEVICE I Filed June 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 6 1974 N. w. BURLIS BLOOD OXYGENATION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet m Filed June 15, 1972 3,827,860 BLOOD OXYGENATION DEVICE Norbert W. Burlis, University City, Mo., assignor to Sherwood Medical Industries Inc., St. Louis, Mo. Filed June 15, 1972, Ser. No. 263,049 Int. Cl. A61m 1/03 US. Cl. z3-2ss.s 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to blood oxygenation devices, and more particularly to blood oxygenators used to perform the function of the lungs during surgery, such as cardiac surgery.

Reference is hereby made to US. Patents, Nos. 2,854,- 002 and 3,112,746, which disclose blood oxygenation devices of the bubble type and a book by P. M. Galletti and G. A. Bocher, entitled Heart-Lung Bypass published by Grune & Stratton of New York, NY, which describes bubble-type as well as various other types of oxygenating devices.

Oxygenation devices of the bubble-type for use in extracorporeal circulation generally include an oxygenator chamber into which venous blood and gas bubles are introduced, a defoaming chamber for removing bubbles and filtering the blood, and a settling chamber for removing any remaining bubbles and serving as a reservoir for the oxygenated blood. Blood is pumped through the system at a flow rate determined primarily by the size of the human or other animal through which the blood is circulating.

There has been certain disadvantages or undesirable features associated with blood oxygenation devices in the past. For example, because of various design requirements, such as oxygenation capacity or adequate oxygenation at an adequate blood flow rate, avoidance or minimization of the destruction of blood elements due to the mechanics of the oxygenation device, gas pressures, bubble size, etc., it has been necessary to make oxygenation devices in different sizes, that-is, with different xygenation capacities. The cost of such devices is relatively high because it is, of course, relatively expensive to manufacture a variety of different sizes. Also, during surgery, ,blood monitoring devices may indicate that a change in oxygen content is required. Accordingly, the oxygenation or bubbling chamber of plastic bag type oxygenators is sometimes reduced in size, such as by pinching the chamber with external clamps. This is not a very precise manner of changing the oxygen content of the blood, and is not repeatable with accuracy. On the other hand, when the monitoring devices indicate that an increase in oxygenation level is desired, it is generally necessary to change the gas mixture since increasing the gas pressure might cause damage to the blood elements while not materially increasing the oxygen content due to the increased flow rate in the bubbling chamber. Changing the gas mixture, for example, to increase the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide, also of course has the effect of changing the carbon dioxide retention and elimination. In general, each oxygenator had certain design characteristics for providing optimumservice that necessarily limit the degree of nitcd States Patent 0 ice variation in operating conditions or parameters, such as the blood flow rate. 1

SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved blood oxygenation device wherein the above mentioned disadvantages are substantially obviated.

Another object is to provide an improved blood oxygenation device which is capable of efiicient operation through a wide range of blood rtlow rates.

Another object is to provide an efficient blood oxygenation device which is especially simple, economical, highly efiicient in operation, and which can be readily adjusted so that a single size can be used for humans or other animals of various sizes.

Still another object is to provide a novel oxygenator chamber and oxygenating gas disperser for use in an extracorporeal circulation system which readily permits stepless or minute, as well as relatively large, adjustments before and/or during use so as to provide eflicient oxygenation of the blood for a wide range of blood flow rates.

Yet another object is to provide an economical oxygenator for use in an extracorporeal system wherein the oxygen content of the blood can be readily changed through a wide range of levels without undesirably affecting other characteristics of the oxygenation system.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, an oxygenation device is provided which includes a chamher for receiving blood to be oxygenated and an oxygenating gas, and a member for varying the location at which the gas is introduced into the chamber to control the time that the blood is in contact with the gas.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oxygenation device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken from line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the oxygenator chamber and gas disperser of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a blood oxygenation device 10 of the bubble-type which can be used in an extracorporeal circulation system for simulating the function of the lungs during surgery, such as cardiac surgery. The oxygenation device 10 includes a pair of

flat sheets

12 and 14 of a plastic material, for example, a thermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, united to form a series of compartments or chambers 16 through the sheet. An external oxygenator 18 is connected to the chambers.

The

sheets

12 and 14 are united preferably by heat sealing along lines outlining or defining the chamberslfi illustrated in the drawing. Chamber 16 defines a deforming compartment or chamber 20 and a settling or reservoir compartment or chamber 22 between the sheets. The defoaming chamber 20 has an inlet 24 connected to the upper end of the oxygenator 18, and amain defoaming portion 26 connected in fluid flow communication with the settling chamber 22. The main defoaming portion 26 contains a defoaming member 28 disposed within a filter member 30. The defoaming member 28 may be a suitable antifoaming material such as plastic fibers, metal fibers, etc., which is coated with any well known suitable antifoam agent, such as conventional silicon fluids. Filter 30 is in the form of a sleeve which may be made of a porous material such as nylon. The defoaming member 28 is shown disposed within the filter sleeve 30 and positioned in the main defoaming portion 26 and held therein by uniting the sheets such as indicated at 32. The device is provided with a gas outlet or vent 34 for venting gas, including excess oxygen and carbon dioxide, from the blood. The vent 34 is above and in fluid communication with the defoaming chamber and settling chamber 22 so that any bubbles or gas eminating from these chambers are vented to the atmosphere.

The settling chamber 22 is provided with an outlet indicated at 36 which has connected thereto an outlet tube indicated at 38 which may be connected thereto by cutting one layer, such as layer 12, and heat sealing the plastic tube entirely around its periphery at the outlet so that tube 38 is sealed to

sheets

12 and 14 and in fluid communication with chamber 22.

The

sheets

12 and 14 are shown provided with a plurality of holes 39 for the purpose of supporting the oxygenation device 10, as well as attaching other apparatus thereto during use. The oxygenation device is positioned such that the outlet 36 of the settling chamber is at the bottom and the defoaming chamber 20 is at the top, for example, as seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The oxygenator 18 includes a hollow member 44, shown cylindrical, which provides an oxygenator chamber or column 46, and a movable oxygenation gas disperser or diffusion member 48. The device 18 is shown also including a releasable holding member 50, illustrated as a releasable clamp, disposed externally of the chamber 46 which may be used where desired or required for holding or clamping the movable disperser 48 in a desired position within chamber 46.

The oxygenator member 44 is shown formed of a plastic material, for example, from plastic tubing, which is preferably flexible but may be rigid if desired. Preferably the member 44 is formed of a suitable flexible plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride, or polyurethane, and such that it is circular in cross-section when not collapsed or stretched and is, furthermore, preferably formed as a separate member distinct from the

plastic sheets

12 and 14, as seen in the drawing. The member 44 is also preferably formed seamless, such as by producing it by extrusion, to provide a smooth surface to readily obtain a fluid tight seal with member 48. The upper end or outlet of oxygenator chamber 46, indicated at 52, is connected, as seen in FIG. 3, to the inlet 24 of the defoaming chamber 20 by cutting the layer 12, inserting the end 52 into the opening formed thereby and securing such as by cementing or heat sealing entirely around the tubular member 44 to form a fluid tight connection between the oxygenator chamber 46 and the defoaming chamber 20. In the drawing, the oxygenator chamber 46 is shown extending vertically and the defoaming chamber 20 connected thereto is shown extending angularly downwardly therefrom.

The oxygenation gas disperser 48 is slidable in oxygenator chamber 46 and is in fluid tight sealing engagement with the walls of the chamber. As seen in greater detail in FIG. 4, the disperser 48 is in the form of a hollow piston-type member formed of suitable plastic material such as acrylic. The disperser is shown including a lower circular housing member 56 connected, such as by cement or by heat fusing, to an upper circular gas dispersing plate 58. Housing 56 has a cylindrical side wall 60 defining with the plate 58 an internal gas chamber 62. The outer surfaces of

members

56 and 58, which are indicated respectively at 64 and 66, are in sealing slidable engagement with the walls of the oxygenator chamber 46 to seal and prevent blood above the disperser member 48 from flowing downwardly past the disperser member.

The upper disperser plate 58 includes a plurality of holes 70 which are of small diameter, for example, .006 of an inch, for efficiently distributing gas introduced into the disperser chamber 62 into the oxygenator chamber 46. Gas is introduced into chamber 62 by means of a plastic tube 72 connected such as by cement in an opening 76 in the housing 56.

The disperser member 48 is also provided with a pair of

openings

80 and 81 disposed respectively in the housing 56 and upper plate 58 in aligned relation with each other to receive a conduit or tube, such as a plastic tube 83 adapted to be connected so as to supply venous blood through the disperser member 48 to the oxygenator chamber 46. The upper end of tube 83 may be connected to

members

56 and 58 such as by a suitable plastic cement. The opposite end of tube 83, which is not shown, is connected to a body source of venous blood. Disperser member 48 is also shown provided with another conduit or tube 85 which is similarly connected in fluid communication with chamber 46 through the member 48. Tube 85 may be of plastic and is shown connected through aligned openings 86 and 87 in the disperser member. Tube 85 may also be used to deliver blood to the oxygenator chamber 46 for certain operative procedures.

The releasable holding device 50 is shown surrounding the tubular member 44 and the disperser 48 for releasably securing the member 48 within the chamber 46. Holding device 50 is shown as including a clamping band 90 and an adjustable screw-type ratchet or take-up 88 for tightening the band around the

members

44 and 48. The holding device 50 may be of any suitable type for holding member 48 in a desired location, for example, it may include an elastic member or a conventional hose clamp, or the like. In some cases, the member 48 may be made of a size such that the clamping device is necessary to eflect sealing engagement between the inner chamber 46 and the member 48. The member 48 and chamber 46 may be sized to effect a sliding, fluid tight friction fit therebetween so that a clamping or holding device such as device 50 is not required.

In operation, after the oxygenation device 10 has been primed by the introduction of a suitable amount of priming blood into the system, one or both of the

plastic tubes

83 and 85 may be connected with a body source of venous blood to by oxygenated. Also, the plastic tube 72 is connected with a source of oxygenating gas which may be pure oxygen or oxygen with a relatively small percentage of carbon dioxide; preferably the gas is about 97% oxygen and 3% carbon dioxide. The plastic tube 83 is connected to the patients arterial system. The extracorporeal circulation system, of course, includes a suitable blood pump for maintaining a flow of blood through the system.

Depending upon the size of the patient, the disperser member 48 will be moved to a predetermined position within the oxygenator chamber 46 to set the oxygenator for eflicient oxygenation at a desired blood flow rate. As seen in FIG. 4, the outer surface of the tubular member 44 may be calibrated, for example, in litres per minute. In this regard, it should be noted that the oxygenation device may be shipped from the manufacturer with the disperser member 48 in its uppermost position within the oxygenator chamber 46, for example, in its pediatric position, so that the disperser member may be withdrawn to a desired position within chamber 46 by loosening clamp 50 where used, and pulling the disperser downwardly by

tubes

72, 83 and 85. If desired, however, a rigid plunger rod (not shown) may be provided to assist in locating or repositioning disperser 48 within chamber 46. Also, the member 48 may be moved in some cases, in either direction by hand manipulating the exterior of member 44 adjacent the member 48. After the disperser member 48 is positioned for the desired flow rate or oxygenation capacity required by the particular patient, the clamp 50, where used, is adjusted to tighten the clamp around the outer periphery of member 44 and member 48 to secure the member 48 in the desired position, and, where required, to effect sealing engagement between the slida-ble disperser member 48 and the chamber 46.

' The oxygenation; gas flowing into the chamber 62 (FIG. 4) through the tube 72 flows through the small passages 70 in the dispersing plate 58 and produces bubbles in the venous blood which is flowing into chamber 46 by Way of tubes 83 and/or 85. The venous blood flows over the top of disperser plate 58 and the bubbles flow through the blood and cause the blood and gas mixture to rise and flow upwardly in the chamber 46 and then into the defoaming chamber 20. The blood and gas bubbles produce a foam which flows into the anti-foaming material 28 and through the filter 30 and the excess gas and carbon dioxide are vented to atmosphere by vent 34. As seen in FIG. 2, the filtering and anti-foam members extend slightly below the operating level of the settling chamber which is indicated by a line '89 in FIG. 2. Thus, the blood will not fall or splash into the settling chamber 22 to cause bubbling and this aids in removing and preventing the trapping of gas bubbles. The oxygenated or arterial blood in the settling chamber, after any further bubbles are removed, flows into tube 38 and back into the arterial system of the patient.

During continued operation, should it be desired to change the oxygen content of the blood, the releasable holding means 50 is loosened and the disperser 46 is moved in the desired direction to effect the desired change in oxygen content. For example, if body monitoring devices indicate that an increase in oxygen content of the blood is desired, then the disperser member 48 is moved downwardly in the oxygenator chamber 46 to increase the effective length of chamber 46 so that blood flowing in the chamber 46 is subjected to the oxygenating gas for a longer time, that is, the blood will be travelling a longer distance in the oxygenator chamber 46 and therefore be subjected to the gas bubbles over a longer period of time. On the other hand, if it is desired to decrease the oxygen content of the blood, for example, to avoid oxygen poisoning or for any other reason, the disperser member 48 is moved upwardly in the chamber 46 to thereby decrease the dicetive length of the oxygenator chamber and decrease the length of time that venous blood remains in the oxygenator chamber.

The oxygenator 18 is preferably of suflicient capacity to handle the greatest flow rate of blood expected to be required for a human being or for an animal. In this way, when the disperser member 48 is, for example, near the lower end of the tube 44 it will provide a sufficient oxygenation capacity for the largest person or animal with which it is to be used. As the disperser member 48 is moved to the upper end of the sleeve 46, it, of course, provides effective oxygenation for very small blood flow rates, for example, for pediatric patients.

The oxygenator 18 when made for use on humans, is preferably made to provide efficient oxygenation for blood flow rates from about M4 litre per minute to 6 litres per minute so that it is useful for both adults and children. This is accomplished in one design by forming the oxygenator chamber with an inner diameter of 2 inches and having a length of 6-18 inches and with the conventional gas flow rate of about 2-3 times blood flow rate.

Movement of the disperser member 48 longitudinally in the oxygenator chamber 46, as previously mentioned herein, varies the effective length of the chamber, that is, the distance between the member 48 and upper end portion of the chamber 46. In this way, the time that the blood is in contact with the oxygenating gas and, hence, the oxygen content in the blood is thereby controlled or varied. Thus, the oxygenation capacity or rate of blood flow during which elfective oxygenation is accomplished can be readily varied or controlled. Not only does the oxygenator permit a single size to be used on patients or animals of highly diiferent sizes to obtain the economies thereof, but it provides means for readily varying the oxygen content of blood during surgery. The disperser member 48 provides for adjustment in the oxygen content, in a stepless manner by merely sliding member 48 in the oxygenator chamber, and such adjustment can be relatively large or very small, as desired or required. By having the capability of varying the oxygen content of the blood in this manner during surgery, the physician is provided with a very precise manner of changing the oxygen content which can be repeated easily since the tube 44 is preferably provided with graduations or other calibration indicia. Use of a single size oxygenator avoids the chance of error in choosing a properly sized device of the prior art type after surgery has begun. Also, varying the effective length of the oxygenator chamber 46 by varying the position of the member 48 to vary the oxygenation capacity does not generally require a change in the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide used or in other mechanical features of the apparatus. In addition, reducing the effective length of the oxygenation chamber when it is desired to employ it for use with a smaller person or child, also reduces the volumn of priming fluid required.

The design of the defoaming and settling chambers vary greatly and may include various types of filters, bubble traps, vents, and so forth, as is Well known to those skilled in the art. The oxygenator 18 may of course be used With various types of defoaming and settling chambers.

It should be understood that, although this invention has been described with reference to the illustrated preferred embodiment, modifications thereto may be made without departing from the true spirt and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A blood oxygenation device comprising an oxygenator chamber adapted to receive blood to be oxygenated and an oxygenating gas, said oxygenator chamber including a seamless plastic elongate tubular member normally circular in cross-section, and means for introducing oxygenation gas and blood into said oxygenator chamber to produce a mixture of rising blood and gas bubbles and for selectively varying the location at which said oxygenating gas is introduced into said chamber to control the length of time that blood introduced into said chamber is subjected to said gas to adjust the effective oxygenation capacity of the device in accordance with the oxygenation requirements of the patient, said means including a member selectively slidably connected in said oxygenator chamber and having passage means therein for transmitting said gas from a supply to said chamber to produce said gas bubbles.

2. A blood oxygenation device for use in an extracor- -poreal blood circulating system comprising a pair of flexible plastic sheets, said sheets being preselectively united to provide a blood defoaming chamber and a blood reservoir connected in fluid communication with said defoaming chamber for receiving oxygenated blood, anti-foam means in said defoaming chamber for removing excess gas from the blood, and an oxygenator comprising a plastic tubular member defining an oxygenator chamber having an upper end portion connected in fluid communication with said defoaming chamber, and means for introducing oxygenation gas and venous blood into said oxygenator chamber to produce a mixture of rising blood and gas bubbles including a gas disperser member selectively slidably connected in said oxygenator chamber to selectively vary the distance between said disperser member and said upper end portion for varying the effective length of said oxygenator chamber to adjust the effective oxygenation capacity of the device in accordance with the oxygenation requirements of the patient, said disperser member including upper and lower members defining a gas chamber adapted for connection with a supply of oxygenation gas, said upper member having a plurality of relatively small openings therein for dispersing said gas and producing relatively small gas bubbles in the blood in said oxygenator chamber, and means extending through said disperser member for connection with a source of venous blood to supply said venous blood to said oxygenator chamber.

3. A blood oxygenation device for use in an extracorporeal blood circulating system comprising a pair of flexible plastic sheets, said sheets being preselectively united to provide a blood defoaming chamber and a blood reservoir connected in fluid communication with said defoaming chamber for receiving oxygenated blood, anti-foam means in said defoaming chamber for removing excess gas from the blood, and an oxygenator comprising a plastic tubular member defining an oxygenator chamber having an upper end portion connected in fluid communication with said defoaming chamber, and means for introducing oxygenation gas and venous blood into said oxygenator chamber to produce a mixture of rising blood and gas bubbles including a gas disperser member selectively slidably connected in said oxygenator chamber to vary the distance between said disperser member and said upper end portion for varying the effective oxygenation capacity of the device in accordance with the oxygenation requirements of the patient, said oxygenator chamber being transparent and having indicia thereon to indicate the relative position of said disperser member therein.

4. A blood oxygenation device for use in an extracorporeal blood circulating system comprising a tubular oxygenator chamber having upper and lower portions, means for introducing venous blood and an oxygenating gas into said oxygenator chamber to produce a rising mixture of blood and gas bubbles therein including a gas disperser member disposed within said oxygenator chamber in sealing slidable engagement with the interior walls of said oxygenator chamber and slidable between said upper and lower portions in a stepless manner by the user for varying the oxygenation capacity of the oxygenation device in accordance with the oxygenation requirements of the patient, said disperser member including a gas dispersing wall having a plurality of gas dispersing passages therethrough disposed within said oxygenator chamber, and means for connecting said gas dispersing passages with a source of oxygenating gas, a defoaming chamber connected to said upper portion of said oxygenator chamber to receive said mixture and release gas therefrom, and a reservoir chamber connected to said defoaming chamber to receive oxygenated blood from said defoaming chamber and having outlet means for discharging oxygenated blood therefrom.

5. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 4 wherein said oxygenator chamber is of transparent material and said disperser member can be viewed therethrough.

6. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 4 further comprising means including indicia on the device to indicate the position of said disperser member along the length of said oxygenator chamber for indicating the setting of the effective oxygenation capacity of the device.

7. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 4 wherein said oxygenator chamber is sized so that said movement of said disperser member between said upper and lower portions changes the effective oxy-genation capacity of the device through a range of between about litre of blood per minute to about 6 litres of blood per minute.

8. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 4 wherein said gas disperser member has a bottom wall and a gas chamber between said gas dispersing Wall and said bottom wall, said means for connecting said gas dispersing passages with a source of oxygenating gas including tube means connected with said bottom wall and communicating with said gas chamber.

9. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 8 wherein said means for introducing venous blood and an oxygenating gas into said oxygenator chamber further includes an opening in said gas dispersing wall, an opening in said bottom wall, and second tube means connectable to a source of venous blood and passing through said bottom wall opening and said gas chamber, and into said gas dispersing wall opening to communicate with said oxygenator chamber.

10. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 9 wherein said second tube means terminates at the upper end thereof substantially in the upper plane of said disperser wall so that venous blood enters said oxygenator chamber at the upper surface of said disperser wall.

11. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 4 wherein said gas disperser member is slidable along a longitudinal straight line over at least a major portion of the length of said oxygenator chamber.

12. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 11 wherein said oxygenator chamber is of transparent material, and the device has indicia thereon for indicating the position of said disperser member in said oxygenator chamber and thereby the effective oxygenation capacity of the device.

13. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 12 wherein said indicia are disposed on said oxygenation chamber.

14. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 11 wherein said means for introducing venous blood into said oxygenator chamber includes tube means connected to said disperser member for movement therewith, said disperser member being slidable in said oxygenator chamber along a longitudinal straight line in either direction to increase or decrease the oxygenation capacity of the device.

15. The blood oxygenation device according to claim 14 further including releasable clamping means exteriorly of said oxygenation chamber clamping the interior walls of said oxygenator chamber against said disperser member to releasably secure the same in a selected location.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,405,494 8/1946 Dupuy 55-255X 2,854,002 9/1958 DeWall et al. 23-2585 3,488,158 1/1970 Bentley et al. 23-2585 3,545,937 12/1970 Rozhold et al. 23-2585 3,729,377 4/1973 Leonard 23-258.5 Re. 27,100 3/1971 DeWall 23-2585 OTHER REFERENCES Lopez-Belio et al.: High Output Bubble Oxygenator Bypass; Surgery; Vol. 47; No. 5; 5/60; pp. 772- 783.

Rygg et al.: A Disposable Polyethylene Oxygenator System; Acta Chirugicia Scandinavia; Vol. 112; No. 6, 5/67; pp. 434-436.

BARRY S. RICHMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

55-255, 256; 128-DIG. 3; -1.8; 261-122, DIG. 28