Importance

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Abstract

An intravascular membrane lung is adapted for percutaneous venous insertion into a living body and comprises an elongated multi lumen catheter and elongated gas exchange members in the form of a large number of microporous fibers tethered at one end to the catheter and extending away from the catheter in all directions. The microporous fibers are in communication with the lumina of the catheter which includes one conduit for delivery of 100% oxygen to the fibers and another conduit for flushing away carbon dioxide from the fibers. The catheter extends between a proximal end and a distal end being a leading end for insertion into the body. The distal end includes a selectively inflatable balloon having an enlarged size larger than a nominal transverse dimension of said catheter and smaller than the inner nominal dimensions of any of the body cavities into which it extends. Upon insertion into the femoral vein, the blood flowing back to the natural lungs of the body propel the catheter and its attached microporous fibers through the inferior vena cava, then into and through the right ventricle, then into and through the pulmonary artery. Another lumen of the catheter serves to receive a fiberoptic bundle to monitor oxygenation of the blood which has passed over the device and still another lumen is provided for sampling blood at the tip of the catheter.

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First Claim