Several companies around the world manufacture membrane oxygenators, which include hollow fiber oxygenators used in medical applications like ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and cardiopulmonary bypass. These manufacturers are known for producing devices that provide efficient gas exchange during medical treatments.
Here are some leading manufacturers of membrane oxygenators:
1. Medtronic
Products: Medtronic produces a range of medical devices, including membrane oxygenators for use in ECMO and cardiopulmonary bypass systems. Their oxygenators are known for their advanced biocompatibility and efficient performance in critical care settings.
Notable Product: Affinity NT Oxygenator series.
2. Getinge
Products: Getinge offers a variety of oxygenators, including those for ECMO and heart-lung bypass procedures. Getinge’s oxygenators are designed for high gas exchange efficiency and minimal blood trauma.
Notable Product: Stockert Oxygenators.
3. Sorin Group (now part of LivaNova)
Products: LivaNova, formed from the merger of Sorin Group and Cyberonics, manufactures membrane oxygenators for cardiac and ECMO use. Their products are designed to improve patient outcomes by reducing complications.
Notable Product: Sorin Membrane Oxygenators and Dideco D901 ECMO Oxygenators.
4. Terumo Cardiovascular Systems
Products: Terumo offers a variety of cardiopulmonary and ECMO oxygenators designed for high efficiency and minimal blood damage.
Notable Product: Terumo Capiox® Oxygenators.
5. Maquet (a part of Getinge Group)
Products: Maquet produces oxygenators for both ECMO and cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Their products focus on high surface area and biocompatibility, ensuring optimal oxygen transfer while minimizing blood cell damage.
Notable Product: Maquet Oxygenators.
6. Xenios (a part of Fresenius Medical Care)
Products: Xenios produces membrane oxygenators and other ECMO equipment. Known for their advanced technology and innovative designs, Xenios is a key player in providing support for critically ill patients requiring extracorporeal support.
Notable Product: HPMX Membrane Oxygenators.
7. Fresenius Kabi
Products: Fresenius Kabi, part of the larger Fresenius Group, manufactures a range of oxygenators designed for high-performance in ECMO and heart-lung bypass applications.
Notable Product: Prismaflex System and HemoFlow Oxygenators.
8. Nipro
Products: Nipro offers a variety of oxygenators, including those for use in ECMO and cardiopulmonary bypass. Their focus is on high-performance, biocompatible devices.
A Hollow Fiber Oxygenator is a medical device primarily used in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedures, which are often employed for patients who require temporary assistance with oxygenating their blood or removing carbon dioxide when their lungs or heart are not functioning adequately.
Key Features:
Hollow Fiber Membrane: The oxygenator consists of bundles of tiny, porous hollow fibers. Blood flows inside these fibers, while a gas mixture (usually oxygen) is circulated on the outside. The tiny pores in the fiber walls allow gases to diffuse across the membrane. This setup mimics the function of the lungs by enabling oxygen to pass into the blood and carbon dioxide to pass out.
Gas Exchange: The main function of a hollow fiber oxygenator is to facilitate gas exchange—adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the blood. This is especially crucial during heart-lung bypass surgeries or ECMO, where the patient's own lungs or heart are temporarily incapable of performing these functions.
Biocompatibility: The materials used in hollow fiber oxygenators are designed to be biocompatible, meaning they don't cause harmful reactions in the body. This is especially important for long-term use in critical care situations.
Size and Efficiency: The hollow fibers' microscopic size and large surface area allow for efficient gas exchange while keeping the device relatively compact.
Clinical Uses:
ECMO: Hollow fiber oxygenators are most commonly used in ECMO circuits to provide respiratory or cardiac support in patients with severe pulmonary or cardiac failure.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass: During certain surgeries like heart bypass, the device temporarily takes over the function of the lungs and heart.
Advantages:
High Efficiency: The design allows for high rates of gas exchange even in small, compact devices.
Reduced Blood Damage: Modern hollow fiber oxygenators are designed to minimize blood trauma, reducing complications such as hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells).
Flexible: They can be used in a variety of critical care settings.
Cardiovascular perfusion devices is a medical device used in cardiac surgery. It consists of two suction paddles that immobilize the target site during procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The vacuum-assisted technology allows for direct visualization and easier completion of anastomoses.
