Novel Size-Variable Dedicated Rodent Oxygenator for ECLS Animal Models—Introduction of the “RatOx” Oxygenator and Preliminary In Vitro Results

Micromachines, vol. 14, pp. 800

Abstract

The overall survival rate of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) remains at 60%. Research and development has been slow, in part due to the lack of sophisticated experimental models. This publication introduces a dedicated rodent oxygenator (“RatOx”) and presents preliminary in vitro classification tests. The RatOx has an adaptable fiber module size for various rodent models. Gas transfer performances over the fiber module for different blood flows and fiber module sizes were tested according to DIN EN ISO 7199. At the maximum possible amount of effective fiber surface area and a blood flow of 100 mL/min, the oxygenator performance was tested to a maximum of 6.27 mL O2/min and 8.2 mL CO2/min, respectively. The priming volume for the largest fiber module is 5.4 mL, while the smallest possible configuration with a single fiber mat layer has a priming volume of 1.1 mL. The novel RatOx ECLS system has been evaluated in vitro and has demonstrated a high degree of compliance with all pre-defined functional criteria for rodent-sized animal models. We intend for the RatOx to become a standard testing platform for scientific studies on ECLS therapy and technology.

Authors 12

1. Lasse J. Strudthoff corresponding Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Jannis Focke Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Felix Hesselmann Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Andreas Kaesler Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Ana Martins Costa

   University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technologies, University of Twente, 7522 LW Enschede, The Netherlands

6. Peter Schlanstein Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

7. Thomas Schmitz‐Rode Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

8. Ulrich Steinseifer Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

9. Niklas B. Steuer Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

10. Bettina Wiegmann

    Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · German Center for Lung Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hanover, Germany

    German Center for Lung Research (DLZ), 30625 Hanover, Germany

    Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hanover, Germany

    Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hanover, Germany; German Center for Lung Research (DLZ), 30625 Hanover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hanover, Germany

11. Jutta Arens Aachen Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Medical Faculty

    RWTH Aachen University · University of Twente

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technologies, University of Twente, 7522 LW Enschede, The Netherlands

    Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

    Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technologies, University of Twente, 7522 LW Enschede, The Netherlands; Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

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

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany