TPMS-based membrane lung with locally-modified permeabilities for optimal flow distribution

Scientific Reports, vol. 12, pp. 7160

Abstract

Membrane lungs consist of thousands of hollow fiber membranes packed together as a bundle. The devices often suffer from complications because of non-uniform flow through the membrane bundle, including regions of both excessively high flow and stagnant flow. Here, we present a proof-of-concept design for a membrane lung containing a membrane module based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS). By warping the original TPMS geometries, the local permeability within any region of the module could be raised or lowered, allowing for the tailoring of the blood flow distribution through the device. By creating an iterative optimization scheme for determining the distribution of streamwise permeability inside a computational porous domain, the desired form of a lattice of TPMS elements was determined via simulation. This desired form was translated into a computer-aided design (CAD) model for a prototype device. The device was then produced via additive manufacturing in order to test the novel design against an industry-standard predicate device. Flow distribution was verifiably homogenized and residence time reduced, promising a more efficient performance and increased resistance to thrombosis. This work shows the promising extent to which TPMS can serve as a new building block for exchange processes in medical devices.

Authors 9

1. Felix Hesselmann corresponding Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany. felix.hesselmann@rwth-aachen.de

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany

2. Michael E. Halwes Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany

3. Patrick Bongartz Aachen Chair of Chemical Process Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany

4. Matthias Weßling Aachen Chair of Chemical Process Engineering DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany

5. Christian Gabriel Cornelissen Aachen Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine Medical Clinic V

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Medical Clinic V, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

6. Thomas Schmitz‐Rode Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany

7. Ulrich Steinseifer Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany

8. Sebastian Victor Jansen Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany

9. Jutta Arens Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Engineering Organ Support Technologies, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Technology University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany