gas exchange in the artificial lung

iLA Membrane Ventilator

A special hollow-fiber membrane assumes the function of pulmonary alveoli.

Effective and reliable: the iLA Membrane Ventilator® (Source: Novalung Support Registry 2008)

The iLA Membrane Ventilator® is the first artificial lung that breathes for the patient outside the body. It removes carbon dioxide outside of the lung, and is perfused by the heart like a natural organ. This relieves the patient’s lung by providing gas exchange support and reducing the workload for the breathing pump. The lung is given “Time to Heal“®.
The iLA Membrane Ventilator® is sometimes referred to in scientific articles as “pecla“ (pumpless extracorporeal lung assist) or ”AVCO2R“ (arterio-venous CO2 removal).

Gas exchange via artificial alveoles

A hollow-fiber membrane is responsible for gas exchange in the artificial lung, which measures only 14 by 14 cm, supporting or even replacing mechanical ventilation. The iLA Membrane Ventilator® is connected to the patient via two NovaPort® femoral cannulas in an arterio-venous circuit. The absence of a mechanical blood pump reduces the risk of inflammatory reactions.

How it works: effective and reliable

The iLA Membrane Ventilator® incorporates a heparin-coated hollow-fiber diffusion membrane and removes carbon dioxide effectively and reliably in a very short period of time to achieve the desired target, using low blood flows of approx. 1 L/min. This extrapulmonary ventilation can be controlled via the sweep gas flow. In cases of respiratory acidosis the pH is generally returned to normal physiological levels within a few hours. This can help protect the kidney and other organs and prevent multi-organ failure.

Easy to use and easy to care for

Positioning therapy and initial mobilization are possible with the iLA Membrane Ventilator thanks to the 360° rotating curve connectors. It is also been used for both inter-hospital and intra-hospital transport. The iLA Membrane Ventilator® was developed for temporary use in intensive-care patients and is approved in Europe for up to 29 days.

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gas exchange in the artificial lung by NovaLung /Ila

Gas exchange via artificial alveoles

A hollow-fiber membrane is responsible for gas exchange in the artificial lung, which measures only 14 by 14 cm, supporting or even replacing mechanical ventilation. The iLA Membrane Ventilator® is connected to the patient via two NovaPort® femoral cannulas in an arterio-venous circuit. The absence of a mechanical blood pump reduces the risk of inflammatory reactions.

see moe on this new lung Ila product

Novalung receives CE mark

Novalung receives CE mark for iLA activve With the new all-rounder for extrapulmonary lung support Novalung GmbH is the only company worldwide offering the complete portfolio for both pumpless and pump-driven lung support.

Novalung announces receiving CE mark approval for their new pump-driven iLA activve® lung support system. It will be launched in Europe with immediate effect.

Respiratory support with iLA activve® enables a treatment environment with awake, mobile patients instead of sedated patients on invasive mechanical ventilation that causes further damage to the lung and other organs. The iLA activve® is thus a major step towards replacing invasive mechanical ventilation.

Different patient populations and types of lung failure place varying demands on optimal respiratory support. To cover all extrapulmonary support needs with one system platform, the iLA activve® has been developed as a flexible all-rounder. The iLA activve® with veno-venous cannulation covers the full range of respiratory support, from highly effective carbon dioxide elimination to complete oxygenation. Core elements are the iLA Membrane Ventilator®, the only gas exchanger specifically designed for long-term respiratory support, and the iLA activve® pump which surpasses all previously available blood pumps in its performance, broad range of blood flow, and blood protection characteristics.

The iLA activve® system has been specifically configured to allow patients to move about during respiratory support. Therefore all necessary components are mounted on an easily movable trolley. Furthermore the iLA Membrane Ventilator® and the iLA activve® pump are height-adjustable via a quick-release handle. “This allows physicians, respiratory therapists and nurses to adjust the system to the patient’s individual needs, whether the patient is in bed, sits up or even walks”, explains Dr. Georg Matheis, Managing Director of Novalung.

The range of applications of the iLA Membrane Ventilator® technology has broadened substantially. While severe acute lunge failure (ARDS) was the typical indication in the early days, today exacerbations of chronic lung disease (COPD) comprise a growing application of the iLA Membrane Ventilator®. Novalung will launch several additional products for the iLA activve® platform throughout this year.

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