Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1.6 Comparisonof pore structures of membranes producedby TIPS (a) and dry
stretch (b).
OXYPLUS
Õ
, Membrana GmbH, Germany, Fig. 1.7) show the microporous
wall, which provides mechanical stability and the thin outer skin, which prevents
water or plasma from entering the pores.
This particular type of membrane has been used as an artificial lung for up to
four weeks with no sign of plasma breakthrough.
17,18
1.2.5 Membrane geometry
Today, only capillary membranes play a role in commercially available blood
oxygenators. Those have outer diameters ranging from 200 to about 400m
with the majority at 300 and 380m and inner diameters ranging from 150 to
