Tailored 3D Lattice Microstructures for Enhanced Functionality in Blood‐Gas Exchange

Advanced Science, vol. 12, pp. e2501162

Abstract

Current membrane oxygenators for extracorporeal life support (ECLS) are facing their limits regarding gas exchange efficiency and long-term stability. One aspect adding to these limitations is inhomogeneous blood flow distribution inside the oxygenator's membrane structure. Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattice structures are proposed to provide increased mass transfer efficiency and local adaptability introducing heterogeneous properties. However, the adaptation of these structures for blood flow, as in ECLS, is challenging as a hemocompatible flow distribution must be established. In this study, this study proposes a novel method for the smooth, multi-scale modification of TPMS lattice structures creating a tailored flow distribution suited for blood-gas exchange. It implements this method into an automatic structure optimization within an oxygenator. After manufacturing prototypes, it experimentally evaluate the 3D flow distribution using time-resolved, contrast enhanced computed tomography comparing the optimized structure to reference geometries. The TPMS structure modification provides a significant change in flow distribution, improving homogeneity by up to 12%. The approach to creating tailored 3D TPMS lattice structures can be directly transferred to various other applications in the field of heat and mass transfer to enhance functionality, e.g., for heat exchangers or membrane contactors.

Authors 11

1. Kai P. Barbian corresponding Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 55 52074 Aachen Germany

2. Teresa Lemainque Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

3. Ina Grunden Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

4. Roman Iwa Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

5. Bettina Wiegmann

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · German Center for Lung Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Department for Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Vascular Surgery Hannover Medical School Carl‐Neuberg‐Straße 1 30625 Hannover Germany

   German Center for Lung Research (DZL) Carl‐Neuberg‐Straße 1 30625 Hannover Germany

   Implant Research and Development (NIFE) Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering Stadtfelddamm 34 30625 Hannover Germany

6. John Linkhorst Aachen Chemical Process Engineering

   Technische Universität Darmstadt · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemical Process Engineering (AVT.CVT) RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 51 52074 Aachen Germany

   Process Engineering of Electrochemical Systems Technical University of Darmstadt Otto‐Berndt‐Str. 2 64287 Darmstadt Germany

7. Matthias Weßling Aachen Chemical Process Engineering

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemical Process Engineering (AVT.CVT) RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 51 52074 Aachen Germany

   DWI – Leibniz‐Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstr. 50 52074 Aachen Germany

8. Jan Heyer Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 55 52074 Aachen Germany

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

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 55 52074 Aachen Germany

10. Michael Neidlin Aachen Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 55 52074 Aachen Germany

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

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cardiovascular Engineering Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University Forckenbeckstr. 55 52074 Aachen Germany