This article is intended for healthcare professionals with training in ECMO management.
The membrane oxygenator is often described as the artificial lung — an accessible description, but one that undersells the complexity of its role in an ECMO circuit.
PMP hollow-fibre design
Modern hollow-fibre membrane oxygenators use polymethylpentene (PMP) fibre. PMP is non-microporous — gas exchange occurs by diffusion through the fibre wall rather than through pores. This is a critical engineering distinction from older polypropylene microporous membranes, which could become saturated with plasma over days of use, progressively impairing gas exchange.
PMP oxygenators do not wet out in the same way. This makes them suitable for extended support durations — days to weeks — where older designs were limited to shorter runs before circuit changeout became necessary.
What the oxygenator does
Gas exchange — oxygen delivery to the blood and CO2 removal — is the primary function. The oxygenator's gas exchange performance is monitored through post-oxygenator blood gas values and transmembrane pressure gradient (delta P).
Temperature management — the heat exchanger integrated into the oxygenator can warm or cool blood returning to the patient. This is used for targeted temperature management in relevant clinical scenarios, or to correct the heat loss that occurs in long circuits.
Oxygenator failure
Oxygenator failure — typically from clot deposition in the hollow fibres — is one of the most common reasons for unplanned circuit changeout in long-run ECMO. The sequence is predictable: rising transmembrane pressure gradient at stable flow, potentially followed by visible clot at the inspection ports, then worsening post-oxygenator gas exchange values.
Early recognition — through regular delta P monitoring and visual inspection — allows the team to plan a circuit changeout in a controlled window rather than responding to emergency oxygenator failure.
Phosphorylcholine coating and circuit longevity
The Lifemotion oxygenator (ARTG 528771) incorporates phosphorylcholine coating on its blood-contacting surfaces. This is an engineering attribute of the platform. Phosphorylcholine coating aims to reduce protein and platelet adhesion to the membrane surface — the primary mechanism driving fibrin deposition and oxygenator degradation over time.
Contact OHM Healthcare at sales@ohmhealthcare.com.au or visit lifemotionecmo.com.au.
For healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations. Product availability and specifications subject to the locally approved Instructions for Use.
OHM Healthcare · sales@ohmhealthcare.com.au · 03 9115 7464 · lifemotionecmo.com.au
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