ECMO and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, explained

ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — a form of extracorporeal life support that takes over the work of the heart and/or lungs for a patient in cardiac or respiratory failure. Blood is drawn from the body, passed through a mechanical pump and an artificial membrane oxygenator to add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, then returned to the patient.

An ECMO system typically comprises a console (the control and monitoring unit), a centrifugal pump, a membrane oxygenator and a circuit of tubing connecting them to the patient. The Lifemotion ECMO system packages these as the Lifemotion Console, Disposable Centrifugal Pump Head, Disposable Membrane Oxygenator and Disposable ECMO Set.

Yes. The Lifemotion ECMO system holds four current ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods) entries, sponsored by SASS Biomedical Engineering Services t/a OHM Biomedical Engineering Services, covering the console, centrifugal pump, membrane oxygenator and ECMO set.

OHM Healthcare is the exclusive Australia and New Zealand distributor for the Lifemotion ECMO system, providing local Clinical Engineering support, installation, commissioning and first-line troubleshooting.

Yes. The platform is designed with portable, dual-battery configurations and a stretcher/carrier system, developed with Starmed GmbH, intended for inter-hospital and intra-hospital transfers within approved transport configurations.

ECMO consoles vary in portability, redundancy architecture, monitoring depth and circuit configuration. The Lifemotion ECMO system is built around three layers of pump redundancy, phosphorylcholine-coated blood-contacting surfaces, and a modular design that reconfigures from a compact core module through to a complete trolley-based platform. If you're evaluating options for your service, OHM Healthcare's Clinical Engineering team can walk through a side-by-side technical comparison against your current console.

The four core Lifemotion ECMO components — console, membrane oxygenator, centrifugal pump head and ECMO sets — have current ARTG entries for supply in Australia. Procurement and supply within the applicable ARTG entries and approved intended purpose do not rely on the Special Access Scheme. Hospitals should confirm each current TGA record, the approved IFU and their own clinical governance requirements before use.

Yes. OHM Healthcare can arrange an obligation-free Lifemotion ECMO system demonstration for appropriate ICU, perfusion, retrieval, procurement and Clinical Engineering teams. Any hands-on evaluation or trial must be arranged under agreed site, safety and governance conditions and does not replace formal training or local competency requirements.