WO2023285687A1

WO2023285687A1 - Device and method for detecting gas quantities at an oxygenator, mobile hand-held unit for an oxygenator, oxygenator, fiber for a fiber mat for an oxygenator, fiber mat of an oxygenator, fiber membrane of an oxygenator, method for producing fibers or fiber mats for an oxygenator, use of a fiber mat for an oxygenator, use of a fiber for a fiber mat

Info

Publication number: WO2023285687A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/069935
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Marseille
Original assignee: Hemovent Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-07-15
Filing date: 2022-07-15
Publication date: 2023-01-19
Also published as: DE112022003564A5; LU500436B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for detecting gas quantities, in particular critical gas quantities, such as air or the like, for an oxygenator, with the device having electrically conductive conductor elements which are arrangeable within a blood guiding region of the oxygenator.

Description

Device and method for detecting gas quantities at an oxygenator, mobile

handpiece for an oxygenator, oxyqenator, fiber for a fiber mat for an oxygenator,

Fiber mat of an oxygenator, fiber membrane of an oxygenator, method of manufacturing

Fibers or batt for an oxygenator, Use of a batt for a

Oxygenator, using a fiber for a fiber mat

The invention relates to a device for detecting amounts of gas in a blood-carrying area, in particular critical amounts of gas, such as Lut† or the like, for an oxygenator.

The invention also relates to a mobile hand-held device for reading out and/or evaluating and displaying data determined on an oxygenator.

The invention also relates to an oxygenator with a housing, with a blood-carrying area, with blood supply and discharge connections and with at least one fiber mat made of fibers, in particular with at least one hollow fiber mat made of hollow fibers, within the housing for a Gas exchange versus blood flowing through the fiber mats.

The invention also relates to a fiber, in particular a hollow fiber, for a fiber mat, in particular for a hollow fiber mat, of an oxygenator.

The invention also relates to a fiber mat, in particular a hollow fiber mat, of an oxygenator, the fiber mat consisting of a large number of fibers.

The invention also relates to a fiber membrane, in particular a hollow-fiber membrane, of an oxygenator with fiber mats, in particular with hollow-fiber mats.

The invention also relates to a method for detecting quantities of gas, in particular critical quantities of gas, such as Lut†, on an oxygenator, in order in this way to determine in particular a venting status of the oxygenator.

The invention also relates to a method for producing fibers, in particular hollow fibers, for an oxygenator.

The invention also relates to a method for producing fiber mats from fibers, in particular hollow fiber mats from hollow fibers, for an oxygenator.

The invention also relates to the use of a fiber mat for an oxygenator as well as a fiber of such a fiber mat.

Generic oxygenators, also often referred to as blood gas exchangers†, as well as Fibers, fiber mats or fiber membranes for oxygenafora are already known from the prior art.

Oxygenaforen can, for example, be used in the short term on heart-lung machines or in the long term on ECMO systems. In particular, the oxygenafores assume the function of a native lung and, on the one hand, enrich the blood with oxygen and, on the other hand, remove carbon dioxide from the blood. A corresponding gas transfer often takes place by means of fibers or hollow fibers, around which blood flows from the outside. It has proven to be advantageous to arrange the fibers or hollow fibers to form more or less complex fiber structures such as fiber bundles or preferably fiber mats, etc. A wide variety of configurations can be provided in an oxygenator in this respect.

When such an oxygenator is put into operation, an extracorporeal circuit attached to a patient and thus also the oxygenator integrated therein are first filled with a physiologically compatible solution (e.g. 0.9% NaCL) and vented to remove the air that is harmful to the patient this extracorporeal circuit on the one hand and specifically within the associated oxygenator on the other hand. In other words, the oxygenator in particular will also vent†.

In general, it is extremely important and relevant to safety† that the entire extracorporeal circuit including the oxygenator is freed† of gases or air†, especially of critical amounts of gas or air†.

Even the smallest amounts of air bubbles can be harmful to the patient and, for example, occlude their vessels, which can lead to infarctions or embolisms in the patient's organs.

Typically, the oxygenator is the last system component in the blood flow direction before the blood flows back to the patient through a tubing connector†. In this respect, the Lut† located within the extracorporeal circuit can collect specifically in the oxygenator, in particular because there often very complex fiber structures, such as fiber mats or hollow fiber mats, form numerous cavities, incisions or the like, which also are usually not or only partially visible from the outside.

For example, WO 2019/ 057 858 A1 discloses an oxygenator with a housing and fiber mats or hollow fiber mats arranged therein, the oxygenator being characterized by a blood supply connection, which is arranged outside of the housing in an acentrically inclined manner in order to ensure blood flow distributed as homogeneously as possible by the oxygenator. A venting device is also provided on the oxygenator, by means of which harmful air can be removed from the oxygenator. The object of the invention is to further develop oxygenaphores according to the invention. In particular, it is the object of the invention to be able to operate oxygenaforen according to the invention in a more reliable manner for the patient. A special task is to be able to carry out a venting of the stated oxygenaforen in a more operationally reliable manner. Devices that are particularly suitable for this purpose are to be prepared.

According to a first aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a device for detecting gas quantities, in particular critical gas quantities such as air or the like, for an oxygenator, the device having electrically conductive conductor elements which can be arranged within a blood-carrying area of the oxygenator .

Using the device, it is possible in a structurally very simple manner to detect harmful amounts of gas within the oxygenator, particularly in a blood-carrying area, and thereby significantly reduce the risk of embolisms, infarcts or the like for patients due to an oxygenator that is not properly evacuated of air. In this respect, the oxygenator can be used more reliably.

In particular, a detection of critical, undesired amounts of gas can take place in advance of a patient treatment and thus the usability of the oxygenator can be tested without endangering the patient. In other words: the device can also be used without a patient.

According to the invention, electrically conductive conductor elements can be designed in a wide variety of ways, for example as endless linear structures or products, as will be described below. At this point it should already be mentioned that such electrically conductive conductor elements can advantageously be provided as fibers which are at least partially designed to be electrically conductive in a manner suitable for the invention.

It is particularly advantageous if such an electrically conductive conductor element is or has hollow fibers.

At first glance, it seems absurd to introduce electrically conductive elements and/or substances into a hollow fiber, since this appears to be more complex than using electrically conductive fibers directly.

However, it has been shown that through the use of hollow fibers, on the one hand, the good properties of hollow fibers can continue to be used in connection with oxygenators, and on the other hand, these conventional hollow fibers, in particular, can be given suitable electrical conductivity within the meaning of the invention. By deliberately introducing electrically conductive elements and/or substances into the hollow fiber, the hollow fiber can also be given electrically conductive properties in the sense of the invention, for example only partially or in certain areas.

In such a hollow fiber, electrically conductive elements can advantageously be introduced, as a result of which at least partially electrically conductive hollow fibers, hollow fiber bundles and/or hollow fiber mats or the like for an oxygenator can be produced particularly easily.

In particular, fiber bundles or fiber mats can be advantageously provided by the present hollow fibers, since there is no need to replace hollow fibers with electrically conductive wire elements on fiber bundles or fiber mats if the desired hollow fibers are replaced by electrically conductive inlays, such as electrically conductive elements or substances , are equipped.

Of course, individual fibers or hollow fibers in fiber bundles or fiber mats can be replaced by electrically conductive wires or the like, for example directly during routine production.

Within the meaning of the invention, the term "hollow fiber" also includes products manufactured as a result, such as hollow fiber bundles, hollow fiber mats and the like manufactured from this, even if these products are not explicitly named.

Electrically conductive in a suitable manner means here in particular that the hollow fibers or products made from them are particularly suitable for impedance spectroscopy.

In this respect, the invention is also solved independently of the other features of the invention by a device for detecting gas ends, in particular critical gas quantities, such as air or the like, for an oxygenator, the device being characterized by at least partially electrically conductive hollow fibers†, which are inside a blood-carrying area of the oxygenator can be arranged.

A suitable voltage can be applied to the electrically conductive conductor elements, it being possible to draw conclusions about improper amounts of gas inside the oxygenator based on the measured voltage behavior on the electrically conductive conductor elements.

In particular, due to the electrically conductive conductor elements, the ventilation status with regard to the oxygenator is possible by means of impedance measurement.

By introducing electrically conductive conductor elements, such as corresponding fibers or preferably† hollow fibers, in particular also in textile surfaces or bundles, such as knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, Knitted or non-crimp fabrics, an advantageous network of sensor elements can be created.

It was recognized that a characteristic dielectric behavior can be measured by means of the nature or concentration of materials located between individual electrically conductive conductor elements, including in particular fibers or hollow fibers, blood, lut† or the like, whereby anomalies within the oxygenator can be detected and can even be localized†, such as unwanted air pockets or the like.

In this respect, the oxygenator is also set up in particular to carry out an impedance spectroscopy in order to clarify the operational capability† specifically in the run-up to the use of the oxygenator.

Furthermore, by means of the oxygenator equipped with such an impedance spectroscopy, the formation of thrombi can be detected in real time.

For example, thrombi between electrically conductive conductor elements, such as the correspondingly designed fibers or preferably the existing hollow fibers, change the relative permittivity and thus also the impedance between the sensor elements, fibers or hollow fibers. This means that, for example, the development of a thrombus can also be observed in real time†. In this respect, it is possible to counteract the development of a critical thrombus with medication at an early stage or to replace components in good time before a critical system failure occurs.

The targeted use of certain frequencies also makes it possible to monitor and evaluate (e.g. size, position, composition or the like) the presence or occurrence of other disturbance variables, processes and particles (e.g. air bubbles, inflammation factors or foreign bodies, or similar).

Corresponding effects are more pronounced at lower frequencies between 100 Hz and 10 MHz than at higher frequencies greater than 1 GHz.

In any case, depending on the connection, a qualitative and/or spatially resolved monitoring of a clo††ing state within the oxygenator is used.

In addition, monitoring other blood parameters and ensuring successful priming is conceivable.

The fiber-based impedance spectroscopy approach described here can also be transferred to other filter and membrane applications (e.g. dialyzers, in various approaches for artificial livers or in the pharmaceutical sector or the like. According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is also achieved by a device for determining a ventilation status of an oxygenator, the device having electrically conductive conductor elements which can be arranged within a blood-carrying area of the oxygenator.

In this respect, the venting status of an oxygenator can be checked particularly reliably by means of the device and its voltage behavior measured at the electrically conductive conductor elements, even in areas of the oxygenator that are difficult to access or cannot be seen from.

In this context, the invention is also solved independently of the other features of the invention by a device for determining a ventilation status of an oxygenator, this device also being characterized by at least partially electrically conductive hollow fibers† which can be arranged within a blood-carrying area of the oxygenator.

In this way, the same or similar effects and advantages can be achieved as already described above.

In particular due to the electrically conductive conductor elements, the ventilation status with regard to the oxygenator is possible by means of impedance measurement.

In any case, impedance values can be used to check whether there are impermissible amounts of gas or air in the oxygenator, or whether the oxygenator has been properly vented, as a result of which the operational safety with regard to the use of the oxygenator can be guaranteed in an extremely simple and reliable manner. This ensures that the oxygenator is completely vented before it is put into operation on a patient.

Especially for such an impedance measurement, it is favorable if the electrically conductive conductor elements are arranged at a distance depending on a selected current application. For example, electrically conductive conductor elements arranged directly next to one another are arranged at a distance from one another of more than 1 mm, preferably more than 3 mm, but less than 10 mm, preferably less than 8 mm.

An advantageous variant provides that electrically conductive conductor elements are arranged at a distance of more than 20% or more than 30%, preferably 50% or more, of a fiber mat thickness from one another. Inadmissible quantities of gas or air within the oxygenator can thereby be detected particularly well.

The distance is in each case between two directly to each other or next to each other adjacent electrically conductive conductor elements measured.

Electrically conductive conductor elements spaced apart in this way are preferably arranged with their longitudinal extent aligned in the direction of blood flow.

Corresponding detectability can be further improved in this context if electrically conductive conductor elements are arranged at a distance of less than 80% or less than 60%, preferably 50% or less, of a fiber mat thickness from one another.

It goes without saying that electrically conductive conductor elements lying one on top of the other and crossing one another can enclose different angles to one another, such as 60° or the like, in order to be able to advantageously implement the device claimed in the sense of the invention.

However, the detection accuracy of the device for undesired gas or air residues can be further improved if crossing electrically conductive conductor elements are arranged at right angles to each other. In this way, an advantageous detector tank with detector elements (electrically conductive conductor elements) running orthogonally to one another can be provided on the oxygenator.

The required electrically conductive conductor elements of the device can be implemented in a particularly simple manner when fibers or hollow fibers, fiber bundles or hollow fiber bundles, or fiber mats or hollow fiber mats of the oxygenator are equipped with such electrical conductor elements.

So far, fibers or hollow fibers, fiber bundles or hollow fiber bundles, or fiber mats or hollow fiber mats used for an oxygenator are not electrically conductive or only insufficiently and thus negligibly electrically conductive.

In this respect, the present device can be realized in a structurally simpler manner if electrically conductive conductor elements have fibers or hollow fibers, in particular fiber bundles or hollow fiber bundles or fiber mats or hollow fiber mats, of a membrane of the oxygenator.

Such a membrane is a blood-gas membrane, by means of which a gas exchange with blood is carried out within the oxygenator.

Such a membrane usually has fibers in the form of hollow fibers in order to advantageously transfer oxygen to the blood and carbon dioxide away from the blood. In connection with an oxygenator, these fibers are usually arranged in fiber mats or the like, such as fiber bundles, in order to form a corresponding membrane for the oxygenator.

Since such membranes, fiber sleeves, fiber bundles or fibers for an oxygenator are well known from the prior art, their usual construction and mode of operation will not be discussed further here.

With an appropriate embodiment of the invention, the fibers can also be constructed as alternative structures which are different from a mat shape, as is customary in the case of a conventional fiber mat. In this respect, it should be mentioned at this point that the fibers can also be realized as other fiber structures, such as fiber bundles in particular.

The term “fibers” used here in the context of the invention always also includes hollow fibers.

A preferred variant provides that the device has at least one fiber and/or fiber bundle and/or a fiber mat and/or a fiber membrane according to the present invention, whereby the detection device is further advantageously designed can.

The present detection device can be arranged integrated in the oxygenator with other functional components, such as electrical connection means or the like, which are provided in addition to fiber sleeves or fiber bundles or fibers thereof, and/or as additional module parts provided† to the oxygenator.

With regard to a further embodiment variant, it is advantageous if the present device has an evaluation and display unit, by means of which a ventilation flow can be determined from measured data and displayed to a user, for example visually, acoustically, haptically or the like.

The ejection and display unit can be implemented either from hardware components or from software.

This ejection and display unit can be arranged, for example, on a housing of the oxygenator so that the individual deaeration indicator can be read directly on the corresponding oxygenator.

Since such an evaluation and display unit, in particular, advantageously further develops conventional oxygenators alone, the features relating to the evaluation and display unit are also advantageous without the other features of the invention. It is advantageous if the device has a mobile hand-held device for temporary coupling to the oxygenator by means of an electrical and/or data technology interface†. As a result, the mobile hand-held device can communicate with functional components of the detection device or the oxygenator as required.

For example, a single mobile hand-held device can be used to operate a number of detection devices and thus a corresponding number of oxygenators can also be operated.

Such an interface provided within the meaning of the invention can be cable-connected, contact-connected, or cable-free.

It is advantageous if the mobile hand-held device has a suitable readout device for reading out data determined on the oxygenator or the detection device, so that the data can be transmitted to the hand-held device.

It is also advantageous if the mobile hand-held device has an evaluation device for data determined on the oxygenator, so that the data can be evaluated or further evaluated in the mobile hand-held device, which means that functional components of the detection device provided on the oxygenator could also be reduced in this regard.

In this respect, a corresponding evaluation device does not necessarily have to be present several times, as a result of which the detection device and also an oxygenator equipped with it can be provided in a more compact manner.

In order to be able to read the results of the detection or test conveniently, it is advantageous if the mobile handheld device has a corresponding display device†.

For example, the mobile hand-held device can have an additional or even the only power source of the detection device, by means of which the respective detection device can be operated electrically, for example to determine the ventilation status of the respective oxygenator.

If the mobile hand-held device has in particular an evaluation device and/or a display device, the detection device on the respective oxygenator can be designed to be even more reduced in design.

In this respect, the present object, according to a third aspect of the invention, is also provided by a mobile hand-held device for reading out and/or evaluating and displaying data determined on an oxygenator, in particular with regard to a venting status of the Oxygenator, with a hand-operated housing part and with a contact device of an electrical and / or data-technical interface between the mobile hand-held device and a device for detecting gas quantities, in particular critical gas quantities such as air or the like, solved for the oxygenator.

The mobile hand-held device can be used in connection with several detection devices or oxygenators, so that the structural effort on the part of the respective oxygenator can be reduced.

As already mentioned† above, a suitable electrical and/or data technology interface can be configured as wired, contact surface-bound, or cable-free etc.†.

The mobile handset may also include a smart device, such as a fable†, a smart phone, or the like, where appropriate.

If the mobile hand-held device has a power source for the present detection device, the mobile hand-held device can immediately supply electricity to the electrical functional components of the detection device present on the oxygenator when a venting status is determined. In other words, by means of the mobile hand-held device, an electrical voltage can be applied to the present detection device and functional components thereof.

It is particularly advantageous if the mobile hand-held device is set up so that the electrical energy for the electrically conductive conductor elements can be modulated in terms of impedance spectroscopy on the oxygenator.

In particular, it is advantageous if the mobile hand-held device is set up so that frequencies with respect to electrically conductive conductor elements can be modulated in the sense of an impedance spectroscopy on the oxygenator.

As a result, the detection device formed on the oxygenator can be provided in an even more compact manner.

Cumulatively or alternatively, it is advantageous if, in addition to or as an alternative to a ventilation status of an oxygenator, other statuses can be processed and displayed using the mobile hand-held device, such as a status of thrombi, or an activatable heat input or the like.

According to a fourth aspect, the object of the invention is also achieved by an oxygenator with a housing, with a blood-carrying area, with blood supply and discharge connections and with at least one fiber mat made of fibers, in particular with at least one hollow fiber mat made of hollow fibers, within the housing for gas exchange with respect to blood flowing through the fiber masses, wherein the at least one fiber mat or fibers thereof are at least partially electrically conductive in such a way that a venting status of the oxygenator can be determined.

The possibility of being able to determine the ventilation status using electrically stimulated or stimulable fiber mats or individual fibers thereof opens up significantly improved operational reliability of oxygenators, which also significantly reduces the risk of the oxygenator malfunctioning due to air pockets before the oxygenator is used on a patient is.

For the purposes of the invention, the term “electrically conductive” describes an electrical conductivity of a material for fiber bundles, in particular fiber mats, or fibers thereof, which, for example, differs from a material that is considered electrically non-conductive, such as an insulator, a corresponding plastic or the like.

The expressions “fibers” or “hollow fibers”, fiber mats or hollow fiber mats can be used synonymously within the meaning of the invention. This also applies to terms such as fiber bundles or the like. In particular, instead of a fiber mat or hollow fiber mat, a suitable fiber bundle or hollow fiber bundle can also be used.

The term "hollow fiber" is used here to make it clear once again that the fiber is preferably hollow in order to be able to allow gases to flow better through this fiber, while blood flows around the fibers at the same time Gas transfer take place.Since the relevant functions of such fibers, fiber bundles, fiber mats or the like are sufficiently known from the prior art, they will not be discussed further.At this point, reference should also be made to WO 2019/057858 A1 mentioned at the outset.

In any case, the present oxygenator can be designed particularly advantageously if the oxygenator has a device described here and/or fibers and/or fiber mats described here and/or a fiber membrane which is designed according to one of the features described in this regard.

It is also advantageous if the oxygenator has electrical connection parts, by means of which the at least one fiber mat or fibers thereof can be connected to current conductors of an internal or external current source.

Electrical connection parts of this type can be designed in different ways, for example with plug-in connections, to which fiber mats or fibers thereof are electrically connected can become.

In particular, the present detection device can be easily integrated into an oxygenator if the oxygenator has a modular structure, with electrically conductive fiber sleeves being arranged on or between individual modules of the oxygenator.

A preferred embodiment variant provides that the oxygenator has a counter-confactor device of an electrical and/or technical interface between the mobile hand-held device and the detection device, so that a mobile hand-held device equipped with a complementarily designed confector device can be equipped with this counter-confactor device appropriately set up oxygenator in active contact† can be used†. As a result, an electrical and, in addition, also a data-technical coupling is easily possible.

Advantageously, the counter-contact device is arranged on the outside of the oxygenator, so that this counter-contact device is easily accessible, in particular for the mobile hand-held device and its contact device.

According to a fifth aspect, the object of the invention is also achieved by a fiber, in particular a hollow fiber, for a fiber mat or a fiber bundle, in particular for a hollow fiber mat or a hollow fiber bundle, of an oxygenator, the fiber or hollow fiber being at least partially electrically conductive.

As already described above, such an electrically conductive fiber provided for an oxygenator can extremely advantageously extend the functionality of an oxygenator accordingly equipped with it, in particular with regard to a life-saving check of a ventilation status of the oxygenator for a patient.

In addition, an additional heat input into the oxygenator can also be actively carried out by means of a correspondingly set-up fiber, which makes it possible to regulate the temperature of the blood. As a result, other heat sources for tempering blood can be reduced† or eliminated entirely. In addition, as a result, gas or air inclusions can be better discharged from the oxygenator.

The electrically conductive fiber can be designed in different ways.

For example, fibers can be coated with an electrically conductive material in order to be able to be made electrically conductive within the meaning of the invention. For example, a suitable material is vapor-deposited onto the fibers from the outside†. The electrically conductive fibers can thus have an electrically conductive sheath. However, hollow fibers are preferably used.

In this respect, electrically conductive material particles can advantageously have broken into the fiber or the hollow fiber, for example by means of an extrusion process. In this respect, the electrically conductive fiber or the hollow fiber can be designed as a plastic compound with inclusions of electrically conductive particles or the like.

Cumulatively or alternatively, an electrically conductive material or conductor element† can also have collapsed† in a cavity present in the fiber. This is particularly advantageous since the fiber for an oxygenator is often in the form of a hollow fiber†, as already described above.

It is advantageous if the fiber at least partially encloses an electrically conductive conductor element, as a result of which the electrically conductive conductor element can be realized in a structurally simple manner on the detection device or on the oxygenator.

This electrically conductive conductor strap can be designed, for example, as a wire strap made of metal.

For example, the electrically conductive conductor element† can be flown into a cavity of the fiber, also subsequently†, such as a wire or as a viscous material, which can then fully harden within the fiber.

A good design variant in this respect provides that the electrically conductive conductor strip† has an electrically conductive adhesive†.

This shows that the electrically conductive fiber can be configured in a wide variety of ways.

The electrically conductive fiber has an advantageous structure if a tube part with a cavity is arranged in a cavity of the fiber, with an electrically conductive conductor element being arranged in the cavity of the tube part.

The tubular part itself can be electrically conductive.

The tubular member may be less electrically conductive than the electrically conductive conductor element† disposed therein.

The tubular part can be more electrically conductive than the hollow shell part of the electrically conductive fiber formed by the fiber itself.

Since a conventional oxygenator can already be advantageously further developed by the electrically conductive hollow fiber proposed here, the features with regard to the here described electrically conductive hollow fiber advantageous even without the other features of the invention.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the present object is also achieved by a sliver or a fiber bundle, in particular a hollow sliver or a hollow fiber bundle, of an oxygenator, wherein the sliver or the fiber bundle consists of a large number of fibers, and the sliver, in particular the Hollow fiber mat, or the fiber bundle, in particular the hollow fiber bundle, is at least partially electrically conductive.

Conventional fiber bundles or fiber bundles have hitherto consisted of electrically non-conductive or electrically negligibly conductive fibers. In the present case, however, the fibers are designed to be electrically conductive in such a way that they can be used in particular to check the venting status of an oxygenator.

Such an electrically conductive fiber mat or an electrically conductive fiber bundle can be provided in a particularly simple design if the fiber mat or the fiber bundle has at least one electrically conductive fiber according to the present invention†.

In this respect, with regard to the present fiber mat, a preferred embodiment variant provides that the fiber mat or the fiber bundle is made of electrically conductive fibers and of electrically less gu† and/or of electrically non-conductive fibers.

Advantageously, electrically non-conductive fibers of the fiber mat or the fiber bundle are at least partially replaced by more electrically conductive fibers in order to produce the present electrically conductive fiber mat or the electrically conductive fiber bundle for an oxygenator inexpensively.

It is therefore advantageous if the fibers of the fiber mat or the fiber bundle are replaced by electrically conductive conductor elements. As a result, the electrically conductive fiber mat or the electrically conductive fiber bundle can be produced very inexpensively†.

For example, for the present invention, the electrically conductive conductor elements are realized by metallic wires.

For the reliable supply of electrical energy, it is advantageous if the fiber and/or the fiber mat and/or the fiber bundle has electrical connection elements for connection to electrical functional components of the present detection device or the Oxygenafors.

According to a seventh aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a fiber membrane, in particular a hollow-fiber membrane, an oxygen membrane with fiber sleeves, in particular with hollow-fiber sleeves, in which fiber sleeves of the fiber membrane are at least partially, preferably entirely, made of different materials with different electrical conductivities.

Due to the different electrically conductive materials from which the fiber mats are composed, it is structurally particularly easy to determine a ventilation status within the meaning of the invention.

Instead of fiber mats, suitable fiber bundles can also be provided as an alternative.

According to an eighth aspect, the object of the invention is also achieved by a fiber membrane, in particular a hollow-fiber membrane, of an oxygenator with fiber mats, in particular with hollow-fiber mats, in which individual fiber mats are replaced by mat elements or grid elements consisting of electrically conductive conductor elements.

A venting status within the meaning of the invention can also be determined in a structurally particularly simple manner by means of these electrically conductive mat or grid elements.

In this respect, oxygenators in particular can be advantageously further developed by the present fiber membranes.

In order to be able to advantageously equip a detection device claimed within the meaning of the invention or an oxygenator claimed within the meaning of the invention, it is advantageous if the first fiber mats of the fiber membrane are made of a first material and further fiber mats of the fiber membrane are made of a further material, with the first material and the second material have different electrically conductive properties.

In the sense of the invention, the present fiber membrane is a blood-gas membrane for an oxygenator.

According to a ninth aspect, the object of the invention is a method for detecting gas quantities, in particular critical gas quantities, such as air, on a Oxygenator dissolved in order to thereby determine in particular a ventilation status of the Oxygenafors, in which an electrical voltage is applied to components on and / or in bluf-leading areas of the Oxygenafors such that existing amounts of gas are defekfierf at the Oxygenator.

Using the detection method according to the invention, it is possible to examine an oxygenator for undesired amounts of gas or air pockets in an uncomplicated manner, so that subsequent use of an oxygenator tested in this way can be carried out in a particularly reliable manner.

The detection method can be further developed particularly advantageously if gas or air inclusions within the oxygenator can not only be detected, but can also be localized locally. As a result, gas or air inclusions remaining in the oxygenator can be localized precisely and specific measures can be taken in order to finally conduct these unwanted gas or air inclusions out of the oxygenator.

It is therefore particularly advantageous if gas quantities present in the oxygenator are locally localized†.

Depending on the design of the method, the electrical voltage can be applied permanently or temporarily.

For example, if such an electrical voltage is permanently present on the detection device or functional components thereof, permanent monitoring for critical gas or air inclusions can be achieved very easily.

However, if the detection device or functional components thereof are only temporarily subjected to a suitable electrical voltage, the present method can be carried out in a more energy-efficient manner.

According to a tenth aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for producing fibers, in particular hollow fibers, for an oxygenator, in which the fibers are made at least partially electrically conductive.

If fibers intended for use in an oxygenator are made electrically conductive during their production, as proposed by the invention, these fibers can be used in particular for detecting critical gas or air inclusions within the oxygenator gu†.

For this it is advantageous if the fibers are made of an electrically conductive material† will. This means that these fibers can be used directly on a suitably scaffolded oxygenator.

Cumulatively or alternatively, it is advantageous if an electrically conductive material is arranged on the fibers. For example, an electrically conductive material is attached to fibers from the outside, as a result of which electrically conductive fibers can be produced within the meaning of the invention.

Cumulatively or alternatively, it is advantageous if an electrically conductive material is broken into the fibres†. This variation of the process is particularly advantageous when using conventional hollow fibers.

The electrically conductive fibers can be manufactured in a variety of ways† by breaking† the electrically conductive material into the fibers in a solid, pasty or viscous state, or in a liquid state.

For example, the electrically conductive material may be plugged into the fiber as a wire strap† in terms of a solid state. In this way, the wire element gives the fiber a corresponding shape capability.

In this respect, a very preferred variant of the method provides that a wire element or a large number of wire elements is broken into a cavity in the fibers.

By introducing a suitable wire or suitable wires into a fiber, in particular into a cavity of such a fiber, the fiber can be given particularly good electrical properties.

In this context, the object of the invention is also achieved by a special method for producing fibers, in particular hollow fibers, for an oxygenator, in which at least one wire element or a large number of wire elements is broken into a cavity of the respective fiber. Using fibers constructed in this way, a venting status on the oxygenator can be detected particularly easily and/or the fiber can also be heated, for example.

In this respect, the object of the invention is also achieved by another important method for producing fibers, in particular hollow fibers, for an oxygenator, the fibers being at least partially designed to be electrically conductive, and for this purpose at least one wire element or a large number of wire elements in a cavity of the respective fiber is broken†.

Especially with this process, particularly gu† electrically conductive fibers can be produced† will. By means of fibers constructed in this way, a deaerating process on the oxygenator can be defecfed particularly easily and/or the fiber can also be heated, for example

Metallic wire elements or wires are preferably used†.

For example, the wire strap† is subsequently inserted into the cavity of the fiber.

Alternatively, it is advantageous if an electrically conductive adhesive is broken† into the fibers, with the electrically conductive adhesive then curing†.

Instead of the electrically conductive adhesive, another pasty or viscous or liquid substance that has suitable electrical conductivities† can also be incorporated into the fiber†.

As a result, the electrically conductive adhesive or a corresponding electrically conductive substance can also simply assume the shape of the fiber.

It goes without saying that an adhesive or substance can also be used that does not necessarily have to harden or fully harden within the fiber.

In any case, some of the process variants gu† mentioned are suitable for being able to be subsequently broken into fibers that are already essentially finished.

Furthermore, alternatively, the electrically conductive fibers can advantageously be extruded. This can be used, for example, if electrically conductive materials or particles are added to the fiber material in order to obtain electrically conductive fibers.

Another variant of the method for producing electrically conductive fibers in the sense of the present invention provides that a tube part is broken into a cavity of the fibers, with the electrically conductive material being broken into the tube part. In this way, the fiber can be given even more advantageous functional properties.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, the object is also achieved by a method for producing fiber mats or fiber bundles from fibers, in particular hollow fiber mats or hollow fiber bundles from hollow fibers, for an oxygenator, in which the fiber mats and the fiber bundles are produced from fibers with different electrical conductivity . As a result, the respective fiber mat or the respective fiber bundle is designed with fewer or no electrically conductive fibers as well as with electrically gu† gu† conductive fibers, so that these fiber mats or this fiber bundle can be used to detect critical gas or air pockets on an Oxygenafor gu†. In this context, the object of the invention is also achieved by a special method for producing fiber bundles or fiber bundles from fibers, in particular hollow fiber bundles or hollow fiber bundles from hollow fibers, for an oxygenator, with at least one wire element or a large number of wire elements breaking into a cavity of fibers † will. By means of a fiber sleeve or fiber bundle constructed in this way, a deaerator of the oxygenator can be defecated particularly easily and/or the fiber sleeve or fiber bundle can also be heated, for example.

In particular, the object of the invention is also achieved by another special method for producing fiber bundles or fiber bundles from fibers, in particular hollow fiber bundles or hollow fiber bundles from hollow fibers, for an oxygenator, the fiber bundles or the fiber bundle being at least partially produced from electrically conductive fibers , and for this purpose at least one wire element or a multiplicity of wire elements is inserted into a cavity of the respective electrically conductive fiber.

Especially with this method, particularly good electrically conductive fiber mats and fiber bundles can be produced.

Such fiber bundles or fiber bundles can also be produced very easily from previously commercially available fiber bundles or fiber bundles if electrically less conductive fibers or non-conductive fibers of a fiber bundle or fiber bundle are replaced at least partially by electrically conductive fibers.

At this point it should be claimed that the methods described can also be supplemented by further technical features described in connection with the invention, in particular by features of the device, in order to advantageously further develop the methods or present or formulate method specificafions even more precisely and to be able to delimit.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a use of a fiber sleeve, in particular a hollow fiber sleeve, for an oxygenafor for determining a deaerating factor of the oxygenafor. As has already been described several times above, critical gas or air inclusions within an oxygenator can be advantageously defecated by means of a correspondingly designed electrically conductive fiber sleeve.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, the object is also achieved in this respect by using a fiber of a fiber sleeve, in particular a hollow fiber of a hollow fiber sleeve, for an oxygenafor to determine a deaeration filter of the oxygenafor. As already described several times above, critical gas or air inclusions can be trapped within an oxygenator by means of appropriately designed electrically conductive fibers be advantageously detected.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by using a fiber mat, in particular a hollow fiber mat, for an oxygenator for the activatable introduction of thermal energy into the oxygenator.

If the fiber mat is at least partially electrically conductive according to the invention, the fiber mat can be used cumulatively or alternatively for an activatable and additional heat input into the oxygenator.

As a result, critical gas or air inclusions can also be released more intensively from the oxygenator.

The same also applies to a corresponding use of fibers.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, the object is also achieved by using a fiber of a fiber mat, in particular a hollow fiber of a hollow fiber mat, for an oxygenator for the activatable introduction of thermal energy into the oxygenator.

The same also applies to a fiber bundle or a hollow fiber bundle.

At this point it should be mentioned again that in particular the above-described uses of the present fibers, fiber bundles and/or fiber mats and in particular also fiber membranes provided thereby can also be used independently of a patient, for example to test or establish the general usability of an oxygenator.

At this point it should be pointed out that in the context of the present patent application, indefinite articles and indefinite numbers such as "one...", "two..." etc. should generally be understood as minimum information, i.e. as " at least one...", "at least two..." etc., unless it follows from the context or the specific text of a specific passage that there is only "exactly one...", "exactly two...". ." etc. should be meant.

It should also be mentioned that in the context of the present patent application, the expression "in particular" should always be understood to mean that this expression introduces an optional, preferred feature " to understand. It goes without saying that the features of the solutions described above or in the claims can also be combined if necessary in order to be able to cumulatively implement the advantages and effects that can be achieved here.

Further features, effects and advantages of the present invention are explained using the accompanying drawing and the following description, in which an oxygenator with a detection device for detecting critical gas or air quantities within the oxygenator is shown and described by way of example.

In the drawing show the

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an oxygenator for treating blood, equipped with a detection device for detecting critical gas or air inclusions; and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of an at least partially electrically conductive

Hollow fiber with an electrically conductive inlay.

The exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1 as an example and only partially shows an oxygenator 3 equipped with a device 1 for detecting critical gas or air inclusions 2 for treating blood 4 in a blood-carrying region 5 of the oxygenator 3.

The oxygenator 3 has a housing 6 which has a blood supply connection 7 and a blood discharge connection (not shown) as well as a vent line 8 †.

The device 1 has electrically conductive conductor elements 10 which are arranged within the blood-carrying area 5 of the oxygenator 3 . In this respect, the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 and products made from them are only shown covered here.

These electrically conductive conductor elements 10 have electrical connections 11, by means of which the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 can be charged with current. Furthermore, the electrical connections 11 can be used to transmit voltage conditions or changes with regard to the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 .

Such determined voltage conditions or voltage changes or the like on the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 of the present device 1 can be used to detect unwanted and dangerous gas or air inclusions 2 within the oxygenator 3, even in sections of the oxygenator that cannot be seen or are difficult or impossible to access 3. In this respect, a venting status of the oxygenator 3 can be determined without any problems using the device 1, so that the operation of the oxygenator 3 can be started in a particularly reliable manner.

For this purpose, the device 1 also makes use of the principle of impedance measurement.

At least in this exemplary embodiment, the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 are embedded in some fibers 12 of fiber mats 14 of a fiber membrane 16 of the oxygenator 3, whereby both the corresponding fibers 12 of the relevant fiber mats 14 and the fiber mats 14 or the fiber membrane 16 themselves are at least partially electrically are conductive.

At this point it should be explicitly pointed out that instead of fiber mats 14, fiber bundles (not explicitly numbered here) can also be used in the oxygenator 3, even if such a fiber bundle is not shown in addition.

The electrically conductive fibers 12 are designed here as hollow fibers (not numbered again) and each have an electrically conductive wire element (not shown) in their cavities (not shown), whereby the fibers 12 overall have the electrical conductivity required for the invention.

In addition to the electrically conductive fiber mats 14, the fiber membrane 16 also has fiber mats 18 that are electrically non-conductive or have a negligibly low electrically conductive content.

In this case, the fiber mats 14 and 18 are arranged on the blood-carrying area 5 so that they can be replaced with one another by modules 20 (only numbered as an example) of the oxygenator 3 .

The device 1 also has an evaluation and display unit 25, by means of which a ventilation status can be determined from data measured with the device 1 and displayed to a user.

For this purpose, the evaluation and display unit 25 has a display 26 with a first indicator light 27 (green) for indicating a positive venting status of the oxygenator 3 and with a second indicator light 28 (red) for indicating a negative venting status of the oxygenator 3.

Cumulatively or alternatively, the display 26 can also be formed on the housing 6 of the oxygenator 3 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the evaluation and display unit 25 is accommodated in a mobile hand-held device 30 of the device 1 , the mobile hand-held device 30 comprising a housing part 31 which can be guided by hand. The mobile hand-held device 30 has a contact device 32 of an electrical and/or data technology interface 33 of the device 1 so that the mobile hand-held device 30 can interact with a counter-connector device 34 on the housing 6 of the oxygenator 3 .

By means of the electrical and/or data technology interface 33, data can be transmitted from the oxygenator device 1 or functional components thereof to the mobile hand-held device 30.

The mobile handset 30 also houses a power source (not shown) which can be activated by means of a push button 35 on the top 36 of the mobile handset 30 so that the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 can be supplied with current once the facilities 32 and 34 interact with each other.

Alternatively, electronics (not shown), in particular of the evaluation device, can be completely or partially accommodated in the oxygenator 3 .

Alternatively, the device 1 can also be powered by a power source (battery, mains unit) of the oxygenator 3 .

Figure 2 shows an example of a first possible embodiment of an electrically conductive hollow fiber 40 in the sense of the electrically conductive conductor elements 10 installed here on the oxygenator 3.

The hollow fiber 40 has a hollow jacket part 41 which is gas-permeable and is therefore ideally suited for the usual use in the oxygenator 3 .

In the cavity 42 of the hollow fiber 40, at least in this first exemplary embodiment, a flowable, electrically conductive material 43 has broken into the cavity 42 of the hollow fiber 40 to form the electrical conductor element 10; is elastically or plastically deformable.

The hollow fiber 40 can be completely or only partially lined with the flowable material 43 along its length.

At this point it should be explicitly pointed out that the features of the solutions described above or in the claims and/or figures can also be combined if necessary in order to be able to cumulatively implement or achieve the features, effects and advantages explained. It goes without saying that the exemplary embodiment explained above is merely a first embodiment of the detection device according to the invention or of the oxygenator according to the invention. In this respect, the configuration of the invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed to be essential to the invention† if they are new compared to the prior art, either individually or in combination.

Reference character list:

1 device or detection device

2 critical gas or air inclusions

3 Oxygenafor

4 blood

5 bluffing area

6 housing

7 Blur Supply Port

8 breather pipe

10 electrically conductive conductor elements

11 electrical connections

12 electrically conductive fibers

14 electrically conductive fiber mats or fiber bundles

16 electrically conductive fiber membrane of the Oxygenafors

18 electrically non-conductive fiber loops

20 modules

25 ejection and display unit

26 displays

27 first indicator light

28 second indicator light

30 mobile handset

31 handheld case file

32 confectionery

33 electrical and/or technical interface

34 Counter-Confactor Facility

35 snap button

36 upper soap

40 at least partially electrically conductive hollow fiber

41 hollow manfel file

42 cavity

43 flowable material

Claims

patent claims

1. Device (1) for detecting gas quantities (2), in particular critical gas quantities (2), such as air or the like, for an oxygenator (3), the device (1) having electrically conductive lead elements (10) which can be arranged within a blood-carrying area (5) of the oxygenator (3).

2. Device (1) for determining a ventilation status of an oxygenator (3), the device (1) having electrically conductive conductor elements (10) which can be arranged within a blood-carrying area (5) of the oxygenator (3).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that electrically conductive conductor elements (10) are arranged at a distance of more than 20% or more than 30%, preferably 50% or more, of a fiber mat thickness from one another .

4. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that electrically conductive conductor elements (10) are arranged at a distance of less than 80% or less than 60%, preferably 50% or less, of a fiber mat thickness from one another † are.

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that crossing electrically conductive conductor elements (10) are arranged at right angles to one another.

6. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that electrically conductive conductor elements (10), fibers (12) or hollow fibers, in particular fiber bundles or hollow fiber bundles or fiber mats (14) or hollow fiber mats, of a membrane (16) of the Oxygenator (3) have.

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the device (1) has at least one fiber (12) and/or fiber bundle and/or a fiber mat (14, 18) and/or a fiber membrane (16) according to any one of claims 17 to 28†.

8. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (1) has an evaluation and display unit (25) by means of which a ventilation status can be determined from measured data and displayed to a user.

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device (1) has a mobile hand-held device (30) for temporary coupling by means of an electrical and/or data-technical interface (32) on the Oxygenafor (3). †.

10. Mobile hand-held device (30) for reading out and/or evaluating and displaying data determined on an oxygenator (3), in particular with regard to a ventilation status of the oxygenator (3), with a hand-held housing part (31) and with a contact device (32) an electrical and/or data technology interface (33) between the mobile hand-held device (30) and the device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9.

11. Mobile hand-held device (30) according to claim 10, characterized in that the mobile hand-held device (30) has a power source for the device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

12. Oxygenator (3) with a housing (6), with a blood-carrying area (5), with blood supply and discharge connections (7) and with at least one fiber mat (14, 18) made of fibers (12 ), in particular with at least one hollow fiber mat made of hollow fibers, within the housing (6) for gas exchange with blood (4) flowing through the fiber mats (14, 16), characterized in that the at least one fiber mat (14, 18) or fibers (12) of which are at least partially electrically conductive in such a way that a venting status of the oxygenator (3) can be determined.

13. Oxygenator (3) according to claim 12, characterized in that the oxygenator (3) has a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and/or fibers (12) and/or fiber mats (14, 18) and/or or a fibrous membrane (16) according to any one of claims 17 to 28†.

14. Oxygenator (3) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the

Oxygenator (3) has electrical connection parts (11) by means of which the at least one fiber mat (14, 18) or fibers (12) thereof can be connected to current conductors of an internal or external current source.

15. Oxygenator (3) according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the oxygenator (3) is of modular design, with electrically conductive fiber mats (14, 18) on or between individual modules (20) of the oxygenator (3). are arranged†.

16. Oxygenator (3) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the

Oxygenator (3) a Gegenkon†ak†einrich†ung (34) an electrical and / or data technical interface (33) between a mobile hand-held device (30) and a

Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9†.

17. Fiber (12), in particular hollow fiber, for a fiber mat (14) or a fiber bundle, in particular for a hollow fiber mat or a hollow fiber bundle, of an oxygenator (3), characterized in that the fiber (12) or hollow fiber is at least partially electrically conductive .

18. Fiber (12) according to claim 17, characterized in that the fiber (12) at least partially encloses an electrically conductive conductor element (10).

19. Fiber (12) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the electrically conductive conductor element (10) comprises an electrically conductive adhesive.

20. Fiber (12) according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that a tube part with a cavity is arranged in a cavity of the fiber (12), an electrically conductive conductor element (10) being arranged in the cavity of the tube part † is.

21. Fiber mat (14, 18) or fiber bundle, in particular hollow fiber mat or hollow fiber bundle, of an oxygenator (3), the fiber mat (14, 18) or consisting of a large number of fibers (12), characterized in that the fiber mat (14 ) or the fiber bundle is at least partially electrically conductive.

22. Fiber mat (14, 18) or fiber bundle according to claim 21, characterized in that the fiber mat (14) has at least one fiber (12) according to one of claims 17 to 20.

23. Fiber mat (14, 18) or fiber bundle according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the fiber mat (14) or the fiber bundle consists of electrically conductive fibers (12) and of electrically less gu† or of electrically non-conductive fibers (12) is made†.

24. Fiber mat (14, 18) or fiber bundle according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that fibers (12) of the fiber mat (14, 18) or of the fiber bundle are replaced by electrically conductive conductor elements (10).

25. Fiber (12), fiber bundle or fiber mat according to one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the fiber (12) and / or the fiber mat (14, 18) and / or the fiber bundle electrical connection elements (11) for connecting to electrical Functional components of the device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9†.

26. Fiber membrane (16), in particular a hollow fiber membrane, of an oxygenator (3) with

Fiber mats (14, 18), in particular with hollow fiber mats, in which fiber mats (14, 18) of the fiber membrane (16) are made at least partially, preferably entirely, from different materials with different electrical conductivities.

27. Fiber membrane (16), in particular hollow-fiber membrane, of an oxygenator (3) mi†

Fiber mats (14, 18), in particular with hollow fiber mats, in which individual fiber mats (14, 18) are replaced by mesh elements or grid elements consisting of electrically conductive conductor elements (10).

28. Fiber membrane (16) according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that first fiber mats (14, 18) of the fiber membrane (16) are made of a first material and further fiber mats (14, 18) of the fiber membrane (16) are made of a further material. are, wherein the first material and the second material have different electrically conductive properties.

29. Method for detecting amounts of gas (2), in particular critical amounts of gas, such as Lut†, on an oxygenator (3), in order to thereby in particular determine an En†ICif†ungss†a†us of the oxygenator (3), in which an electrical voltage is applied to components on and/or in blood-carrying areas of the oxygenator (3) in such a way that gas quantities (2) present on the oxygenator (3) are detected.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that gas quantities (2) present in the oxygenator (3) are localized locally.

31. The method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the electrical voltage is applied permanently or temporarily.

32. A method for producing fibers (12), in particular hollow fibers, for an oxygenator (3), characterized in that the fibers (12) are designed to be at least partially electrically conductive.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that the fibers (12) are made of an electrically conductive material.

34. The method according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that an electrically conductive material is arranged on the fibers (12).

35. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that an electrically conductive material is broken into the fibers (12).

36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that the electrically conductive material is broken into the fibers (12) in a solid, a pasty or viscous, or a liquid state.

37. The method according to claim 35 or 36, characterized in that a wire loop or a plurality of wire elements is broken into a cavity of the fibers (12).

38. The method according to claim 35 or 36, characterized in that an electrically conductive adhesive is broken into the fibers (12), the electrically conductive adhesive subsequently curing.

39. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 38, characterized in that the electrically conductive fibers (12) are extruded.

40. Method according to one of claims 32 to 39, characterized in that a tubular file is broken into a hollow space of the fibers (12), the electrically conductive material being broken into the tubular file.

41. A method for producing fiber mats (14, 18) or fiber bundles made from fibers (12), in particular hollow fiber mats or hollow fiber bundles made from hollow fibers, for a

Oxygenator (3), characterized in that the fiber mats (14, 18) or the fiber bundles are produced from fibers (12) with different electrical conductivity.

42. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that electrically less conductive fibers or non-conductive fibers of a fiber mat (14, 18) are at least partially replaced by electrically conductive fibers (12).

43. Use of a fiber mat (14, 18), in particular a hollow fiber mat, in particular according to claims 21 to 25, for an oxygenator (3) for determining a venting status of the oxygenator (3).

44. Use of a fiber mat (14, 18), in particular a hollow fiber mat, in particular according to claims 21 to 25, for an oxygenator (3) for activatable entries of

Thermal energy into the oxygenator (3).

45. Use of a fiber (12) of a fiber mat (14, 18), in particular a hollow fiber of a hollow fiber sleeve, in particular according to claims 17 to 20, for an oxygenator (3) for determining a degassing factor of the oxygenator (3).

46. Use of a fiber (12) of a fiber sleeve (14, 18), in particular a hollow fiber of a

Hollow-fiber maffe, in particular according to Claims 17 to 20, for an oxygenator (3) for the activatable introduction of thermal energy into the oxygenator (3).