A team in Shandong University has recently developed an Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine at a lower cost than foreign brands that is expected to move into mass production amid the country's efforts in fighting novel coronavirus pneumonia, according to the university.
The new ECMO machine is small and boasts an efficient pump system. Its design lowers the risk of hemolysis-the destruction of red blood cells-and promotes easy blood flow, said Liu Shuqin, a member of the research team.
Performance data show it meets global standards, she said.
An ECMO machine, a kind of life support device, may be used during life-threatening conditions such as severe lung damage from an infection or to treat shock after a massive heart attack. It has played a crucial role in treating novel coronavirus pneumonia patients who are in critical condition.
A 16-member team consisting of researchers from fields including fluid engineering, emergency medicine, cardiac surgery, critical care, electrical engineering and systems and control engineering spent more than 10 years developing the new machine.
Source: China Daily
