Advanced development of ECLS systems

Ecmius Biomedical is a Canadian company that is invested in the research, development, and future production of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) technology, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO is an invaluable tool that can support the treatment of adults and children with severe cardiac and/or pulmonary dysfunction, maintaining patient condition until longer-term treatments become available. Functionally, an ECMO device will pump and oxygenate a patient’s blood outside of the body, relieving thus the heart and lungs. If the heart and lungs are beyond recovery, ECMO can support a patient until suitable means of treatment, such as a transplant, becomes available. The main objective of this project is to establish an in-house ex-vivo blood circuit model and laboratory that will be used for the verification and performance optimization of the Ecmius ECMO device. This is an area of priority, as it is an essential step in working towards device approval and commercialization in Canada and internationally. Currently, Canada does not have an indigenous ECLS systems manufacturer. All of the devices used in Canadian hospitals are imported. This means that the relevant technologies and know-how associated with ECLS device manufacturing are absent.

Faculty Supervisor:

Colin Dalton

Student:

Partner:

Ecmius Biomedical

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Calgary

Program: