Extracorporeal circuit for removal of CO2 from blood

BACKGROUND Extracorporeal CO2-extraction from blood is employed for patients with respiratory failure. Currently, the methods used in clinics are notefficient and require the use of invasive approaches with high extracorporeal blood flow to compensate. Some experimental techniquesbased on the infusion of organic acids into the extracorporeal circuit have overcome these limitations by showing high CO2 removalefficiencies. However, the infused organic acids can cause metabolic acidosis and an increase in the body’s production of CO2, effectivelyreducing the effectiveness of the treatment.

TECHNOLOGY This innovative technology overcomes the current limits of extracorporeal CO2-extraction by exploiting a cationic resin loaded with hydrogen ions for blood acidification, abolishing the administration of exogenous metabolizable acids. The cationic resin does not influence the total CO2 production in the body and therefore this technology shows both efficiency and effectiveness at low extracorporeal blood flow(200 ml/min). Moreover, the proposed CO2-extraction circuit can be simultaneously used to apply continuous renal replacement therapy.

REF: A Minimally Invasive and Highly Effective Extracorporeal CO2 Removal Device Combined With a Continuous Renal ReplacementTherapy. Zanella A, Pesenti A, et Al., Crit Care Med. 2022 May 1;50(5): e468-e476. The technology is validated in laboratory conditions(TRL 3). The activities needed to improve the TRL and bring the technology to the clinic are the optimization of electrolytes replacement, ofion-exchange resins and of circuit design. The following activity is the validation of the system with the implementation of safety controls,regulatory approval and pre-market clinical trial.