Practical miniaturized membrane oxygenator for isolated organ perfusion.

Silastic membrane tubing oxygenators possess valuable atraumatic properties, but no satisfactory miniature system for isolated organ perfusion has been achieved. We describe the construction of a new type of miniaturized Silastic membrane tubing oxygenator, 1.5 m long, 1.5-mm diameter, 75-micron wall thickness, incorporated in a single self-supporting unit readily applicable to isolated organ perfusion because of its simplicity, durability, and small prime volume of less than 3 ml. In vitro experiments using out-dated human banked blood demonstrated that the unit can effectively oxygenate blood of hematocrit 35% at flow rates of at least 10 ml/minute and that higher flow rates may be used to oxygenate blood or perfusates of a lower hematocrit. The results were verified in three different practical experimental applications: isolated rat liver, rabbit heart, and rat free skin flap perfusion.