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Background A wearable artificial lung could improve lung transplantation outcomes by easing implementation of physical rehabilitation during long-term pretransplant respiratory support. The Modular Extracorporeal Lung Assist System (ModELAS) is a compact pumping artificial lung currently under development. This study evaluated the long-term in vivo performance of the ModELAS during venovenous support in awake sheep. Feedback from early trials and computational fluid dynamic analysis guided device design optimization along the way. Methods The ModELAS was connected to healthy sheep via a dual-lumen cannula in the jugular vein. Sheep were housed in a fixed-tether pen while wearing the device in a holster during support. Targeted blood flow rate and support duration were 2-2.5 L/min and 28-30 days, respectively. Anticoagulation was maintained via systemic heparin. Device pumping and gas exchange performance and hematologic indicators of sheep physiology were measured throughout support. Results Computational fluid dynamic-guided design modifications successfully decreased pump thrombogenicity from initial designs. For the optimized design, 4 of 5 trials advancing past early perioperative and cannula-related complications lasted the full month of support. Blood flow rate and CO2 removal in these trials were 2.1 ± 0.3 L/min and 139 ± 15 mL/min, respectively, and were stable during support. One trial ended after 22 days of support due to intradevice thrombosis. Support was well tolerated by the sheep with no signs of hemolysis or device-related organ impairment. Conclusions These results demonstrate the ability of the ModELAS to provide safe month-long support without consistent deterioration of pumping or gas exchange capabilities.

Background Non-invasive and lung-protective ventilation techniques may improve outcomes for patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome by reducing airway pressures. These less invasive techniques can fail due to hypercapnia and require transitioning patients to invasive mechanical ventilation. Extracorporeal CO2 removal devices remove CO2 independent of the lungs thereby controlling the hypercapnia and permitting non-invasive or lung-protective ventilation techniques. We are developing the Modular Extracorporeal Lung Assist System as a platform technology capable of providing three levels of respiratory assist: adult and pediatric full respiratory support and adult low-flow CO2 removal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vivo performance of our device to achieve low-flow CO2 removal. Methods The Modular Extracorporeal Lung Assist System was connected to 6 healthy sheep via a 15.5 Fr dual-lumen catheter placed in the external jugular vein. The animals were recovered and tethered within a pen while supported by the device for 7 days. The pump speed was set to achieve a targeted blood flow of 500 mL/min. The extracorporeal CO2 removal rate was measured daily at a sweep gas independent regime. Hematological parameters were measured pre-operatively and regularly throughout the study. Histopathological samples of the end organs were taken at the end of each study. Results All animals survived the surgery and generally tolerated the device well. One animal required early termination due to a pulmonary embolism. Intra-device thrombus formation occurred in a single animal due to improper anticoagulation. The average CO2 removal rate (normalized to an inlet pCO2 of 45 mmHg) was 75.6 ± 4.7 mL/min and did not significantly change over the course of the study (p > 0.05). No signs of consistent hemolysis or end organ damage were observed. Conclusion These in vivo results indicate positive performance of the Modular Extracorporeal Lung Assist System as a low-flow CO2 removal device.

Extracorporeal CO(2) removal (ECCO(2)R) can permit lung protective or noninvasive ventilation strategies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). With evidence supporting ECCO(2)R growing, investigating factors which affect CO(2) removal is necessary. Multiple factors are known to affect the CO(2) removal rate (vCO(2)) which can complicate the interpretation of changes in vCO(2); however, the effect of hematocrit on the vCO(2) of artificial lungs has not been investigated. This in vitro study evaluates the relationship between hematocrit level and vCO(2) within an ECCO(2)R device. In vitro gas transfer was measured in bovine blood in accordance with the ISO 7199 standard. Plasma and saline were used to hemodilute the blood to hematocrits between 33% and 8%. The vCO(2) significantly decreased as the blood was hemodiluted with saline and plasma by 42% and 32%, respectively, between a hematocrit of 33% and 8%. The hemodilution method did not significantly affect the vCO(2). In conclusion, the hematocrit level significantly affects vCO(2) and should be taken into account when interpreting changes in the vCO(2) of an ECCO(2)R device.

Respiratory failure is a significant problem within the pediatric population. A means of respiratory support that readily allows ambulation could improve treatment. The Pittsburgh Pediatric Ambulatory Lung (P-PAL) is being developed as a wearable pediatric pump-lung for long-term respiratory support and has previously demonstrated positive benchtop results. This study aimed to evaluate acute (4-6 hours) in vivo P-PAL performance, as well as develop an optimal implant strategy for future long-term studies. The P-PAL was connected to healthy sheep (n = 6, 23-32 kg) via cannulation of the right atrium and pulmonary artery. Plasma-free hemoglobin (PfHb) and animal hemodynamics were measured throughout the study. Oxygen transfer rates were measured at blood flows of 1-2.5 L/min. All animals survived the complete study duration with no device exchanges. Flow limitation because of venous cannula occlusion occurred in trial 2 and was remedied via an altered cannulation approach. Blood exiting the P-PAL had 100% oxygen saturation with the exception of trial 4 during which inadequate device priming led to intrabundle clot formation. Plasma-free hemoglobin remained low (

Ambulating patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) improves outcomes. These systems would further simplify ambulation if made more compact. This study investigates blood recirculation to decrease device size by increasing efficiency. The required hollow fiber membrane (HFM) area was determined by numerically modeling gas transfer. An oxygenation device with recirculating blood flow was designed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Hydrodynamic performance and shear stresses of the device were analyzed using CFD at 2,000, 2,250 and 2,500 RPM. A prototype (0.38 m) was manufactured for in-vitro oxygenation testing. Oxygenation was measured at a constant 3.5 L/min blood flow while recirculation flow rate varied up to 6.5 L/min. Hemolysis was measured at 3.5 L/min blood flow and 6.5 L/min recirculation flow. A 0.3 m prototype device was used to test in-vitro ECCO2R recirculation at a constant 500 ml/min blood flow rate and recirculation flow rates up to 5.5 L/min. Computational fluid dynamics analysis showed that the oxygenation device could produce over 250 mm Hg while maintaining 3.5 L/min blood flow and 6.5 L/min recirculation flow. The model predicted oxygenation within 8% and overestimated ECCO2R by up to 32%. Measured gas transfer was 180 ml O2/min and 62 ml CO2/min. Normalized index of hemolysis contribution of the HFM was 0.012 gm/100 L.

Background There is increasing evidence demonstrating the value of partial extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) for the treatment of hypercapnia in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Mechanical ventilation has traditionally been used to treat hypercapnia in these patients, however, it has been well-established that aggressive ventilator settings can lead to ventilator-induced lung injury. ECCO2R removes CO2 independently of the lungs and has been used to permit lung protective ventilation to prevent ventilator-induced lung injury, prevent intubation, and aid in ventilator weaning. The Low-Flow Pittsburgh Ambulatory Lung (LF-PAL) is a low-flow ECCO2R device that integrates the fiber bundle (0.65 m2) and centrifugal pump into a compact unit to permit patient ambulation. Methods A blood analog was used to evaluate the performance of the pump at various impeller rotation rates. In vitro CO2 removal tested under normocapnic conditions and 6-h hemolysis testing were completed using bovine blood. Computational fluid dynamics and a mass-transfer model were also used to evaluate the performance of the LF-PAL. Results The integrated pump was able to generate flows up to 700 mL/min against the Hemolung 15.5 Fr dual lumen catheter. The maximum vCO2 of 105 mL/min was achieved at a blood flow rate of 700 mL/min. The therapeutic index of hemolysis was 0.080 g/(100 min). The normalized index of hemolysis was 0.158 g/(100 L). Conclusions The LF-PAL met pumping, CO2 removal, and hemolysis design targets and has the potential to enable ambulation while on ECCO2R.

Acute and chronic respiratory failure are a significant source of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Current respiratory support options used to bridge children to lung recovery or transplantation typically render them bedridden and can worsen long-term patient outcomes. The Pittsburgh Pediatric Ambulatory Lung (P-PAL) is a wearable pediatric blood pump and oxygenator (0.3 m(2) surface area) integrated into a single compact unit that enables patient ambulation. The P-PAL is intended for long-term use and designed to provide up to 90% of respiratory support in children weighing 5 to 25 kg. Computational fluid dynamics and numerical gas exchange modeling were used to design the P-PAL and predict its performance. A P-PAL prototype was then used to obtain pressure versus flow curves at various impeller rotation rates using a blood analog fluid. In vitro oxygen exchange rates were obtained in blood in accordance with ISO standard 7199. The normalized index of hemolysis (NIH) was measured over a 6-hour period at blood flow rates of 1 and 2.5 L/min. The P-PAL provided blood flows of 1–2.5 L/min against the pressure drop associated with its intended-use pediatric cannulas. The oxygen exchange rate reached a maximum of 108 mL/min at a blood flow rate of 2.5 L/min and met our respiratory support design target. Device-induced hemolysis was low with NIH values of 0.022–0.027 g/100L in the intended blood flow rate range. In conclusion, the current P-PAL design met our pumping, oxygenation, and hemolysis specifications and has the potential to improve treatment for pediatric respiratory failure.

Background Critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often develop hypercapnia and require mechanical ventilation. Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal can manage hypercarbia by removing carbon dioxide directly from the bloodstream. Respiratory hemodialysis uses traditional hemodialysis to remove CO2 from the blood, mainly as bicarbonate. In this study, Stewart’s approach to acid-base chemistry was used to create a dialysate that would maintain blood pH while removing CO2 as well as determine the blood and dialysate flow rates necessary to remove clinically relevant CO2 volumes. Methods Bench studies were performed using a scaled down respiratory hemodialyzer in bovine or porcine blood. The scaling factor for the bench top experiments was 22.5. In vitro dialysate flow rates ranged from 2.2 to 24 mL/min (49.5–540 mL/min scaled up) and blood flow rates were set at 11 and 18.7 mL/min (248–421 mL/min scaled up). Blood inlet CO2 concentrations were set at 50 and 100 mmHg. Results Results are reported as scaled up values. The CO2 removal rate was highest at intermittent hemodialysis blood and dialysate flow rates. At an inlet pCO2 of 50 mmHg, the CO2 removal rate increased from 62.6 ± 4.8 to 77.7 ± 3 mL/min when the blood flow rate increased from 248 to 421 mL/min. At an inlet pCO2 of 100 mmHg, the device was able to remove up to 117.8 ± 3.8 mL/min of CO2. None of the test conditions caused the blood pH to decrease, and increases were ≤0.08. Conclusions When the bench top data is scaled up, the system removes a therapeutic amount of CO2 standard intermittent hemodialysis flow rates. The zero bicarbonate dialysate did not cause acidosis in the post-dialyzer blood. These results demonstrate that, with further development, respiratory hemodialysis can be a minimally invasive extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal treatment option.