Intracorporeal gas exchange devices, systems and methods

Abstract

A system for intracorporeal gas exchange includes a flexible, rotatable shaft; a plurality of axially spaced agitation mechanisms positioned on the rotatable shaft, such that the rotatable shaft can flex between the axially spaced agitation mechanisms; a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of gas between intracorporeal fluid and an interior of the hollow fibers. The plurality of hollow fibers is positioned radially outward from the agitation mechanisms. A blood contacting medical system includes at least one seal, and a purge system via which a flushing fluid is introduced under pressure over a blood-side face of the seal and caused to flow through a space on the blood side of the seal. The system can further include a rotatable member. The space on the blood side of the seal can be in fluid connection with an annular space adjacent to a rotating element operatively connected to the rotatable member.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system for intracorporeal gas exchange comprising:
 a rotatable shaft;   at least one agitation mechanism positioned on the rotatable shaft;   a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of gas between intracorporeal fluid and an interior of the hollow fibers, the plurality of hollow fibers being positioned radially outward from the agitation mechanism;   at least a first seal, and   a purge system via which a flushing fluid is introduced under pressure over a blood-side face of the at least a first seal and caused to flow through a space on a blood side of the at least a first seal.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the space on the blood side of the at least a first seal is in fluid connection with an annular space positioned radially outward from the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         21 . A blood contacting medical system, comprising:
 at least one seal, and   a purge system via which a flushing fluid is introduced under pressure over a blood-side face of the at least one seal and caused to flow through a space on a blood side of the at least one seal.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a rotatable member. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the space on the blood side of the at least one seal is in fluid connection with an annular space positioned radially outward from the rotatable member. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the purge system comprises a first conduit to deliver the flushing fluid the annular space. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises a medial manifold and a distal manifold, a first end of each of the plurality of hollow fibers being in fluid connection with the medial manifold, a second end of each of the plurality of hollow fibers being in fluid connection with the distal manifold. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the medial manifold comprising the at least a first seal and the distal manifold comprises at least a second seal, the purge system further introducing the flushing fluid under pressure over a blood-side face of the at least a second seal and causing the flushing fluid to flow through a space on a blood side of the at least a second seal 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the space on the blood side of the at least a first seal is in fluid connection with an annular space adjacent to a first rotating element operatively connected to the rotatable shaft and the space on the blood side of the at least a second seal is in fluid connection with an annular space adjacent to a second rotating element operatively connected to the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the purge system comprises a first conduit to deliver the flushing fluid to the medial manifold and a second conduit to deliver the flushing fluid to the distal manifold.