A thermochromic ink heater-cooler color change system for medical blood simulation

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified form of CPB that supports intensive care patients' vital functions during recovery from cardiac or pulmonary trauma. ECMO, although lifesaving, is vulnerable to a plethora of mechanical complications which can cause mortality. This is why developing advanced training systems is of crucial importance. In this paper, as part of an ECMO simulator for training management, a novel thermochromic heater-cooler system is presented. The need of such contribution arises from the lack of high-realism blood simulation methodologies Hence, developed upon thermochromic ink, cost-effective blood simulation is achieved by temperature adjustment, simulating oxygenation and hypoxemia. The system has been developed as a prototype with successful and reversible transitions between dark and bright red blood color. After addressing the limitations, the heater-cooler will be integrated with the ECMO simulator, allowing unpreceded cost-efficient simulation possibilities.