Polymer membrane for more efficient ECMO

“. . . researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) in Germany have created a new type of membrane that permits a much more efficient gas exchange (compared to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). They have created asymmetrical membranes that have irregular pore structures that are essentially random. Near where the separation happens, the material has small cavities and below that are larger cavities that are open at the bottom. Thanks to convection and diffusion, the gas separates much faster using the new membrane design.” MORE

Image Credit: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research