In vitro evaluation of the Mera Silox-S 0.5 and 0.8 m 2 silicone hollow-fibre membrane oxygenator for use in neonatal ECMO.
The Mera Silox-S is a silicone hollow-fibre membrane oxygenator made up of thousands of fibres in a clear polycarbonate housing.  Being a silicone membrane it does not have the plasma leakage problem associated with conventional microporous hollow fibres when used in a long-term application.  This device (Mera Senko Medical Instrument Co., Japan) is made in three sizes:  0.3, 0.5 and 0.8 m 2.  The performance of the 0.5 m 2 and 0.8 m 2 Silox-S membrane oxygenators was tested in vitro using filtered ovine blood and a customized test circuit designed to provide a continuous source of de-oxygenated, CO 2-laden blood, according to the AAMI standard for oxygenator performance. The 0.8 m 2 membrane provided excellent oxygenation, with a transfer rate of 13.0-43.5 ml/min for blood flows of 200-800 ml/min. CO 2 transfer over the same range of flows measured 32.3-40.8 ml/min.  Flow rates of 100-500 ml/min for the 0.5 m 2 membrane provided an oxygen transfer of 6.8-28.3 ml/min and would probably not be suited for the existing neonatal ECMO population.  A matter of concern with both oxygenators was an increased pressure drop for blood flow through the devices.  The delta P for the 0.5 m 2 for flows of 100-500 ml/min ranged from 155 +/- 7 mmHg to 516 +/- 6 mmHg. For the 0.8 m 2, delta P was 194 +/- 39 mmHg to 492 +/- 53 mmHg for flows of 200-800 ml/min.  Overall, favourable results support further long-term evaluation for potential use in neonatal ECMO.
Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010.
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Rais-Bahrami
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Mikesell
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Seale
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Rivera
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Hearty
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D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane; D012828:Silicones