Development of a Low-Stress Peristaltic Pump for ECMO Systems

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides temporary support to critically ill patients through cardiopulmonary veno-arterial or pulmonary veno-venous support. Centrifugal pumps in the ECMO system deliver blood against high pressures of up to 700 mmHg and at low flow rates of 0.2 L/min. Depending on the patient, a wide range of operating points can occur, which are often far outside the pumps’ design parameters. However, at low flow rates below 2 L/min, the pumps can cause significant problems such as recirculation, shear stress, and hemolysis. These complications lead to damage to red blood cells, bleeding, and thrombus formation. The applicants plan to develop a novel peristaltic pump as a blood pump for ECMO systems that circumvents the problems of existing pumps. Their concept aims to enable flow rates from 0 to 4 L/min and pressure ranges from 100 to 700 mmHg with minimal blood damage.