Development of a compact artificial gill using concentrated hemoglobin solution as the oxygen carrier

An artificial gill was developed using a concentrated hemoglobin solution containing inositol hexaphosphate (IHP), as the oxygen carrier solution, with the oxygen affinity controlled by temperature. Oxygen dissolved in sea water is first taken up from water to the oxygen carrier solution at 293 K. The oxygen carrier solution is then heated and the oxygen is released from the oxygen carrier solution to expired air at 310 K. The enhancement factors of the oxygen carrier solution that indicate its performance were obtained from the oxygen uptake rate and oxygen release rate. The values were approximately 3 at oxygen uptake and 16 at oxygen release. The scale-up for a human being at rest was estimated using these values, and the optimal operating condition was determined. The required membrane surface area for a human being is 63.8 m2. The oxygen partial pressure of inspiration is 20.7 kPa, adequate for the respiration. These indicate the feasibility of a compact and portable artificial gill device.