Use of a mathematical model to predict oxygen transfer rates in hollow fiber membrane oxygenators.

A semi-empirical theoretical model of oxygen transfer is used to predict the rates of oxygen transfer to blood in hollow fiber membrane oxygenators over a wide range of inlet conditions. The predicted oxygen transfer rates are based on performance of the devices with water, which is more cost effective and easier to handle than blood for in vitro evaluations. Water experiments were conducted at three different flow rates to evaluate oxygen transfer performance in three commercially available membrane oxygenators. Data obtained from these experiments were used in a computer model to predict the rate of oxygen transfer to bovine blood at specified inlet conditions. Blood experiments were conducted at three different flow rates at a wide variety of inlet conditions, including different pH levels, hemoglobin concentrations, and oxyhemoglobin saturations for the three types of oxygenators. The measured and predicted oxygen transfer rates are closely correlated, which suggests that we have an accurate, reliable method for predicting oxygen transfer in hollow fiber membrane lungs.