Every operation carries risk and can be a life or death situation for the patient. Lots of different equipment exists to ensure operations are very successful, one of which is an oxygen membrane. These ensure oxygen gets into the patient's blood and remove carbon dioxide while his or lungs are not functioning. This makes it possible for most patients to live long and enjoy what life has to offer. The device, because of the way and manner it functions, is very good for human beings and this article seeks to throw more light on some its history, functions and advantages.
There are two approaches made by this device. First is to imitate breathing like how a lung works in cardio pulmonary bypass and to put in more oxygen outside the patient's control or body to lengthen his life. This is also called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Oxygen membranes contain a thin, penetrable layer which gas and blood go through separately. This colourless, odourless reactive gas is dispelled in a circuit and enters the blood. In the meantime the blood expels carbon dioxide.
Artificial lungs first appeared in the mid 1880s. This was a rotating disk oxygenator by which blood would be allowed to get oxygen from the air. There was a danger of blood clotting and foaming in this procedure. If that occurs, the blood cannot then be put back into the sick person as they will die.
A few more decades, research continued, with a few successful animal tests. The most successful was the design used in the successful 1953 pulmonary bypass operation. It was a stationary type. A thin film of blood was exposed to oxygen while it passed through steel layers.
From the 1950s to 1980s, disposable bubble oxygenators were commonly used in the majority of hospitals. Those that were not disposable were very hard to keep clean. Many times demand for these devices was so high that the staff had to clean it very quickly and well for the next patient in a very short space of time.
As time progressed, membrane oxygenators grew to be the most often used, particularly in the USA. These can oxygenate the same number of liters of blood as bubble oxygenators. However, they need less volume of blood to work properly, so patients suffer less trauma. They work most like actual lungs.
The first models used polyethylene or Teflon, which were impenetrable materials. Improvements were made and silicone rubber membranes, which were highly absorbent, were used instead. This showed great improvement to the blood quality of patients.
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.
There are two approaches made by this device. First is to imitate breathing like how a lung works in cardio pulmonary bypass and to put in more oxygen outside the patient's control or body to lengthen his life. This is also called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Oxygen membranes contain a thin, penetrable layer which gas and blood go through separately. This colourless, odourless reactive gas is dispelled in a circuit and enters the blood. In the meantime the blood expels carbon dioxide.
Artificial lungs first appeared in the mid 1880s. This was a rotating disk oxygenator by which blood would be allowed to get oxygen from the air. There was a danger of blood clotting and foaming in this procedure. If that occurs, the blood cannot then be put back into the sick person as they will die.
A few more decades, research continued, with a few successful animal tests. The most successful was the design used in the successful 1953 pulmonary bypass operation. It was a stationary type. A thin film of blood was exposed to oxygen while it passed through steel layers.
From the 1950s to 1980s, disposable bubble oxygenators were commonly used in the majority of hospitals. Those that were not disposable were very hard to keep clean. Many times demand for these devices was so high that the staff had to clean it very quickly and well for the next patient in a very short space of time.
As time progressed, membrane oxygenators grew to be the most often used, particularly in the USA. These can oxygenate the same number of liters of blood as bubble oxygenators. However, they need less volume of blood to work properly, so patients suffer less trauma. They work most like actual lungs.
The first models used polyethylene or Teflon, which were impenetrable materials. Improvements were made and silicone rubber membranes, which were highly absorbent, were used instead. This showed great improvement to the blood quality of patients.
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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