An integrated blood oxygenation and pump system suitable for use in a sterile field having a low priming volume is provided in which a blood oxygenator portion of the system includes an active element, separate from the pump, that disrupts the development of laminar flow and stagnation zones in the fiber bundle employed for gas exchange. The integrated system enables the pump and oxygenator to be used independently of one another or be rapidly reconfigured to provide both pumping action and blood oxygenation.

A blood membrane oxygenator has a housing defining a blood flow path, a rotor hub in the form of a double lumen shaft, and a plurality of distributor disks each having a plurality of hollow fibers which extend across the housing blood flow path. The plurality of distributor disks rotate within the housing to mix the blood resulting in three-dimensional mixing, disruption of the blood boundary layer and efficient blood oxygenation.

Improvements to integrated blood pump/oxygenator having a rotating hollow fiber bundle assembly that both oxygenates and pumps blood are provided. A plurality of vanes arranged along a central shaft of the device increase pressure near the center of the fiber bundle to prevent microbubble generation and blood trauma. Shearing loads imposed on the fiber elements of the fiber bundle are reduced by the addition of a reinforcement structure, while the gas flow path is configured to minimize flooding and loss of oxygenation efficiency due to occasional rupture of fiber elements. Blood trauma may be further reduced by contouring the vanes and other components of the device.

Improvements to integrated blood pump/oxygenator having a rotating hollow fiber bundle assembly that both oxygenates and pumps blood are provided. A plurality of vanes arranged along a central shaft of the device increase pressure near the center of the fiber bundle to prevent microbubble generation and blood trauma. Shearing loads imposed on the fiber elements of the fiber bundle are reduced by the addition of a reinforcement structure, while the gas flow path is configured to minimize flooding and loss of oxygenation efficiency due to occasional rupture of fiber elements. Blood trauma may be further reduced by contouring the vanes and other components of the device.

An integrated blood pump/oxygenator having a rotating hollow fiber bundle assembly that both oxygenates and pumps blood is provided that includes a plurality of partitions disposed within or about the fiber bundle assembly to lengthen the flow path of blood passing through the fiber bundle. Alternatively, or in addition, blood flow paths may be lengthened and oxygenation improved by providing internal recirculation paths within the pump/oxygenator, which also advantageously may be used to reduce blood trauma caused by stagnation nearing moving parts and heat build-up.