Improvement of a Mathematical Model to Predict CO2 Removal in Hollow Fiber Membrane Oxygenators

The use of extracorporeal oxygenation and CO2 removal has gained clinical validity and popularity in recent years. These systems are composed of a pump to drive blood flow through the circuit and a hollow fiber membrane bundle through which gas exchange is achieved. Mathematical modeling of device design is utilized by researchers to improve device hemocompatibility and efficiency. A previously published mathematical model to predict CO2 removal in hollow fiber membrane bundles was modified to include an empirical representation of the Haldane effect. The predictive capabilities of both models were compared to experimental data gathered from a fiber bundle of 7.9 cm in length and 4.4 cm in diameter. The CO2 removal rate predictions of the model including the Haldane effect reduced the percent error between experimental data and mathematical predictions by up to 16%. Improving the predictive capabilities of computational fluid dynamics for the design of hollow fiber membrane bundles reduces the monetary and manpower expenses involved in designing and testing such devices.