Blood Oxygenation. I. The Kolff Apparatus. II. Multiple Horizontal Rotating Cylinders.

Abstract

-I and II. The Kolff artificial kidney is inefficient as an oxygenator because the thinnest available membranes offer about 10 times as much resistance to oxygenation as an open blood-oxygen interface. Slightly inclined cylinders, rotating so that the blood forms a film on their surfaces, are more efficient, but cause foaming. HI. and IV. Comparison of the efficiency of vertical revolving cones and cylinders, employed to oxygenate blood flowing down the inner surfaces, shows a cylinder 18 cm. in diameter and 18 cm. high to be the most efficient.