Photolytic artificial lung

• US 7,914,479 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute, Pharos, LLC (George N. Hatsopoulos, PhD)
• Inventors: Monzyk, Bruce F., Dasse, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener; Jennifer K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dam; Dustin Q
• Application Number:
  US10/939,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,388 Days
• Field of Search: 204/198, 205/633, 604/6.08, 604/6.14, 604/20, 422/45
• US Class Current: 604/6.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/32 Oxygenators without membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/327 using catalytic production of oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3679 by absorption A61M1/3675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3681 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3683 using photoactive agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3687 Chemical treatment A61M1/3675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2073 Manganese
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/20776 Tungsten
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4575 in aeroplanes or space ships
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/326 in electrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/864 Removing carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/885 Devices in general for catalytic purification of waste gases
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0207 Water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/55 Photoelectrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a photolytic artificial lung. The photolytic artificial lung converts water to oxygen for blood absorption, regulates pH, the removes carbon dioxide, and co-produces electrical power is disclosed. The photolytic artificial lung includes a photolytic cell where all of the chemical reactions occur. The photolytic cell disclosed herein can also be used to direct chemical reactions in organs other than the lung. Also disclosed herein is a gas sorption device for removing carbon dioxide from the system by chemical sorption.

Claims

1. A method for delivering oxygen to blood comprising:

providing the blood into a photolytic cell;

converting water present in the blood into dissolved oxygen by a light-activated catalyst in said photolytic cell, wherein the dissolved oxygen is formed directly from water and bypasses the gaseous state;

binding said dissolved oxygen to an oxygen carrier in said blood; and

removing said blood out of said photolytic cell.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing carbon dioxide from said blood in said photolytic cell.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxygen carrier is hemoglobin.

3. A method for delivering oxygen to a blood comprising:

providing the blood into a photolytic cell;

converting water present in the blood into dissolved oxygen by a light-activated catalyst in said photolytic cell, wherein the dissolved oxygen is formed directly from water and bypasses the gaseous state;

producing carbon dioxide from said blood in said photolytic cell;

removing said carbon dioxide from said blood;

binding said dissolved oxygen to said blood; and

removing said blood out of said photolytic cell.

4. A method for oxygenating blood from a patient comprising the steps of:

providing blood from a patient into a photolytic cell;

converting water present in the blood into dissolved oxygen in said photolytic cell by a series of photochemical reactions;

binding the dissolved oxygen to blood hemoglobin;

forming carbon dioxide in said photolytic cell;

removing carbon dioxide formed in said photolytic cell and blood; and

removing oxygenated blood out of said photolytic cell and returning the blood to the patient.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the blood provided into the photolytic cell is venous blood.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising converting bicarbonate ions present in the blood into carbonic acid in the photolytic cell.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein further comprising converting the carbonic acid to carbon dioxide.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein further comprising producing carbon dioxide when the dissolved oxygen is bound to the solution.

5. A method for producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from a patient'"'"'s blood comprising the steps of:

providing deoxygenated blood received from a patient into a photolytic cell, wherein said photolytic cell contains a light activated catalyst having the ability of converting water to oxygen upon light activation;

providing light to said photolytic cell and activating said catalyst wherein water present in the blood is converted into dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide is formed in said photolytic cell;

binding the dissolved oxygen to blood hemoglobin in said photolytic cell;

removing the carbon dioxide formed in said photolytic cell; and

removing the oxygenated blood out of said photolytic cell and returning the blood to the patient.

7. A method for oxygenating blood from a patient comprising the steps of:

contacting blood from a patient with a photolytic cell;

converting water present in the blood into dissolved oxygen; and

binding the dissolved oxygen to blood hemoglobin; and

removing oxygenated blood out of said photolytic cell and returning the blood to the patient.

8. A method for oxygenating blood from a patient comprising the steps of:

providing blood from a patient into a photolytic cell;

converting water present in the blood into dissolved oxygen in said photolytic cell by a series of photochemical reactions;

converting bicarbonate ions present in the blood into carbonic acid in said photolytic cell;

allowing the dissolved oxygen to bind to hemoglobin located to red blood cells;

allowing the carbonic acid to form carbon dioxide in the photolytic cell;

removing oxygenated blood from the photolytic cell;

removing carbon dioxide in the oxygenated blood; and

returning the oxygenated blood to the patient.