Computational model of CO2 removal in a prototype for neonatal Total Liquid Ventilation

This study is aimed at optimizing the CO2 removal in the ventilator prototype for neonatal Total Liquid Ventilation (TLV) designed by our research group. A computational approach was adopted to evaluate carbon dioxide exchange between the liquid perfluorocarbon and the oxygenating gas mixture, as a function of the geometrical parameters of the device. The computational model proved to be a good tool to simulate gas transfer and allowed the design of a new ventilator prototype, currently undergoing in vivo trials.