Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The Range And Functions Of Oxygen Membrane

By Ruthie Calderon


Medical operations, especially heart bypass, are very sensitive and can mean a person's life or death. Many equipment are used to ensure the success of a procedure and one of those is the oxygen membrane. Membrane oxygenators are devices used to artificially put in oxygen into the blood and extract carbon dioxide without the need for the patient's lung

These membranes imitate breathing during cardiopulmonary bypasses, among other operations. They put oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide, which is essential to life. The gas-giving stage is called extracoporeal membrane oxygenation.

The apparatus contains a delicate, penetrable layer through which blood and gas flow independently. In a circuit, oxygen is dispelled and goes into the blood. While the blood ejects carbon dioxide.

The first artificial lung came about in the mid 1880s. This was a rotating disk oxygenator and blood was exposed to oxygen in the air. But this could risk blood clotting and foaming. When this happens, it cannot be put back into the sick as he or she will perish.

Research continued for many years which included animal testing. The premium new design in 1953 was used for a successful pulmonary bypass. Here a thin film of blood was allowed to access this gas as it passed through steel layers.

The disposable bubble oxygenator was the most popular in most hospitals from the 50s to the 80s. There was an invention for the disposable type because non-disposables were very difficult to clean. Often times, the demand for it was so high that the medical staff tediously had to thoroughly clean it good and fast for the next user. Over the years, membrane oxygenators replaced the bubble oxygenator in popularity.

This is most especially true in the United States. It is at par with the other types of oxygenators in terms of oxygenating liters of blood. However, it is more favored because it only needs a smaller volume of blood for preparation or for the device to function with the sufficient rate of gas transfer. Because of this, there was less blood trauma. It functions closer or most similar to the natural lung.

Originally these devices were made from polyethylene or Teflon, which are not penetrable. So enhancements were made and silicone rubber membranes were used as an alternative, which are very absorbent. This proved to show a major gain in patients' blood quality.

These days in quick cardiopulmonary operations, porous hollow fiber members are used. While in operations of a longer duration, membranes without pores tend to be used. The use of pores or not affects how long the blood is exposed to oxygen. This must be controlled so the body functions normally after the operation.

Research continues into preferences for bubble oxygenators or membrane oxygenators; the result is likely to be found out and made know to the general public and surely it is expected to be a good one. It is also worth mentioning that the cost of each is roughly the same due to technological advances. Membrane oxygenators are still the most popular for cardiopulmonary bypass operations in the developed world.




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