Team 3

Novel Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Cannula

Team Members: Chilimba Chishiba, Monyimba Nisong, Sawicki Ari & Tam Matthew

Team Mentors: Apollo Arquiza, PhD - SBHSE
Xiaojun Tian, PhD - SBHSE
James Bogert, MD - Dignity Health

YouTube Link: View the video link below before joining the zoom meeting

Zoom Link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/88305792042

Abstract

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an external technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange or perfusion to sustain life. The machine pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest. During this procedure,the patient is connected to an ECMO machine, blood flows through tubing to an artificial lung in the machine that adds oxygen and takes out carbon dioxide; then the blood is warmed to body temperature and pumped back into your body. This is accomplished with large tubes called cannulas. In adults, these must be able to generate blood flow rates of 5 to 6 L/min. During the running of an ECMO circuit, “chugging” or “chattering” can occur where the sides of the vessel containing the ECMO cannula get sucked down onto the holes in the cannula causing a brief interruption in the flow. The mechanical forces involved additionally cause a risk for damage to the blood vessel and the red blood cells flowing through the circuit. A new cannula that is less susceptible to this complication is the objective of our aspired project design. Intended customers for this product include clinicians and medical practitioners, Respiratory Distress Syndrome centres, cardiogenic shock as well as critically ill COVID-19 patients.

To meet the customer needs, the novel cannula is intended to promote laminar flow, support Seldinger technique and well as prove compatibility with existing ECMO machines. With the increased use of ECMO in COVID-19 treatment, the CADGR has increased estimated to 7.5% on the market. The ECMO machine has high value in the cardiovascular niche with an approximate total cost of $ 73, 122.