Apparatus and method for in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange

Claim 1

A method for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising the steps of: attaching a plurality of gas permeable tubes to a first header at the inlet end of said tubes and to a second header at the outlet end of said tubes; positioning said gas permeable tubes within the venae cavae of a patient; connecting said first header to a source of oxygen enriched gas; connecting said second header to a means for exhausting gas carried by said tubes; passing said oxygen enriched gas through said gas permeable tubes at a rate of from 0.6 to 1.2 liters per minute and at a pressure of from 5 to 10 mm Hg such that blood flowing through said venae cavae is oxygenated as carbon dioxide is removed from said blood into said gas permeable tubes; and applying controlled suction to said second header.

Claim 2

A method for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising the steps of: attaching a plurality of gas permeable tubes to a first header at the inlet end of said tubes and to a second header at the outlet end of said tubes; positioning said gas permeable tubes within the venae cavae of a patient; connecting said first header to a source of oxygen enriched gas; connecting said second header to a means for exhausting gas carried by said tubes; passing said oxygen enriched gas through said gas permeable tubes at a rate of from 0.6 to 1.2 liters per minute and at a pressure of from 5 to 10 mm Hg such that blood flowing through said venae cavae is oxygenated as carbon dioxide is removed from said blood into said gas permeable tubes; and applying controlled suction to said second header.

Claim 5

An apparatus for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising: a plurality of gas permeable tubes adapted for insertion into the venae cavae of a patient, said gas permeable tubes allowing for the passage of oxygen from said gas permeable tubes into blood flowing through said venae cavae and allowing for the passage of carbon dioxide from said blood into said gas permeable tubes, each said gas permeable tube having an inlet end adapted for placement in the inferior vena cava of the patient and an outlet end adapted for placement in the superior vena cava of the patient; a first header adapted for placement in the inferior vena cava and attached to the inlet ends of said gas permeable tubes, said first header having a molded base member into which the inlet ends of said gas permeable tubes are secured in spaced relation to one another; a second header adapted for placement in the superior vena cava and attached to the outlet ends of said gas permeable tubes, said second header having a molded base member into which the outlet ends of said gas permeable tubes are secured in spaced relation to one another; an oxygen inlet tube having one end thereof connected to said first header and the other end thereof in gaseous communication with a source of oxygen, said oxygen inlet tube being adapted for insertion through an incision formed in the inferior vena cava; a gas outlet tube having one end thereof connected to said second header, said gas outlet tube being adapted for insertion through an incision formed in the superior vena cava so as to provide exhaust means for said gas permeable tubes; and a semi-rigid stylet interconnecting said first and second headers so as to be positioned therebetween within said venae cavae, said stylet being bent so as to form an undulating pattern within said venae cavae to thereby minimize laminar blood flow around said gas permeable tubes within said venae cavae.

Claim 6

An apparatus for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising: a plurality of gas permeable tubes adapted for insertion into the venae cavae of a patient, said gas permeable tubes allowing for the passage of oxygen from said gas permeable tubes into blood flowing through said venae cavae and allowing for the passage of carbon dioxide from said blood into said gas permeable tubes, each said gas permeable tube having an inlet end adapted for placement in the inferior vena cava of the patient and an outlet end adapted for placement in the superior vena cava of the patient; a first header adapted for placement in the inferior vena cava and attached to the inlet ends of said gas permeable tubes, said first header having a molded base member into which the inlet ends of said gas permeable tubes are secured in spaced relation to one another; a second header adapted for placement in the superior vena cava and attached to the outlet ends of said gas permeable tubes, said second header having a molded base member into which the outlet ends of said gas permeable tubes are secured in spaced relation to one another; an oxygen inlet tube having one end thereof connected to said first header and the other end thereof in gaseous communication with a source of oxygen, said oxygen inlet tube being adapted for insertion through an incision formed in the inferior vena cava; a gas outlet tube having one end thereof connected to said second header, said gas outlet tube being adapted for insertion through an incision formed in the superior vena cava so as to provide exhaust means for said gas permeable tubes; and a semi-rigid stylet interconnecting said first and second headers so as to be positioned therebetween within said venae cavae, said stylet being bent so as to form an undulating pattern within said venae cavae to thereby minimize laminar blood flow around said gas permeable tubes within said venae cavae.

Claim 16

A method for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising the steps of: attaching a plurality of gas permeable tubes to a first header at the inlet ends of said gas permeable tubes by securing said inlet ends in a molded base member formed in said first header so as to position said inlet ends in spaced apart relationship; attaching the outlet ends of said gas permeable tubes to a second header by putting said outlet ends into a molded base member formed in said second header so as to position said outlet ends in spaced apart relationship; making a first incision in one of the right external iliac or common femoral veins of a patient and a second incision in the right jugular vein of said patient; inserting a guide catheter into said patient's inferior vena cava through said first incision; attaching said second header to said guide catheter and pulling said second header through said first incision and through said inferior vena cava to the point of said second incision so as to position said second header in said patient's superior vena cava and so as to position said first header in said patient's inferior vena cava, thereby positioning said gas permeable tubes within said venae cavae; attaching a first length of tubing to said first header and a second length of tubing to said second header, said first length of tubing extending through said first incision and into the inferior vena cava and said second length of tubing extending through said second incision and into the superior vena cava; connecting said first length of tubing to a source of oxygen enriched gas; connecting said second length of tubing to a means for exhausting gas carried by said gas permeable tubes; passing said oxygen enriched gas through said gas permeable tubes so as to provide for the passage of oxygen from said gas permeable tubes into blood flowing through said venae cavae and so as to allow for the passage of carbon dioxide from said blood into said gas permeable tubes; and minimizing laminar blood flow around said gas permeable tubes within said venae cavae by forming a semi-rigid stylet into an undulating configuration and positioning said stylet within said venae cavae between said first and second headers.

Claim 17

A method for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising the steps of: attaching a plurality of gas permeable tubes to a first header at the inlet ends of said gas permeable tubes by securing said inlet ends in a molded base member formed in said first header so as to position said inlet ends in spaced apart relationship; attaching the outlet ends of said gas permeable tubes to a second header by putting said outlet ends into a molded base member formed in said second header so as to position said outlet ends in spaced apart relationship; making a first incision in one of the right external iliac or common femoral veins of a patient and a second incision in the right jugular vein of said patient; inserting a guide catheter into said patient's inferior vena cava through said first incision; attaching said second header to said guide catheter and pulling said second header through said first incision and through said inferior vena cava to the point of said second incision so as to position said second header in said patient's superior vena cava and so as to position said first header in said patient's inferior vena cava, thereby positioning said gas permeable tubes within said venae cavae; attaching a first length of tubing to said first header and a second length of tubing to said second header, said first length of tubing extending through said first incision and into the inferior vena cava and said second length of tubing extending through said second incision and into the superior vena cava; connecting said first length of tubing to a source of oxygen enriched gas; connecting said second length of tubing to a means for exhausting gas carried by said gas permeable tubes; passing said oxygen enriched gas through said gas permeable tubes so as to provide for the passage of oxygen from said gas permeable tubes into blood flowing through said venae cavae and so as to allow for the passage of carbon dioxide from said blood into said gas permeable tubes; and minimizing laminar blood flow around said gas permeable tubes within said venae cavae by forming a semi-rigid stylet into an undulating configuration and positioning said stylet within said venae cavae between said first and second headers.

Claim 18

A method for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising the steps of: securing a plurality of gas permeable tubes to a first header at the inlet ends of said tubes and to a second header at the outlet ends of said tubes such that said inlet and outlet ends are spaced one from the other to permit blood flow around and through the tubes held by each said header; positioning said tubes and headers within the venae cavae of a patient; forming a semi-rigid stylet into an undulating configuration and positioning said stylet within said venae cavae between said first and second headers to minimize laminar blood flow around said tubes; connecting said first header to a source of oxygen enriched gas and connecting said second header to a means for exhausting gas carried by said tubes; and passing said oxygen enriched gas through said tubes such that blood flowing through said vena cavae is oxygenated as carbon dioxide is removed from said blood.

Claim 19

A method for effecting in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange comprising the steps of: securing a plurality of gas permeable tubes to a first header at the inlet ends of said tubes and to a second header at the outlet ends of said tubes such that said inlet and outlet ends are spaced one from the other to permit blood flow around and through the tubes held by each said header; positioning said tubes and headers within the venae cavae of a patient; forming a semi-rigid stylet into an undulating configuration and positioning said stylet within said venae cavae between said first and second headers to minimize laminar blood flow around said tubes; connecting said first header to a source of oxygen enriched gas and connecting said second header to a means for exhausting gas carried by said tubes; and passing said oxygen enriched gas through said tubes such that blood flowing through said vena cavae is oxygenated as carbon dioxide is removed from said blood.