Investigating the effect of cannulation on blood flow during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using positron emission particle tracking

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving technique that can provide support for patients with both cardiac and respiratory dysfunction. Different variations of ECMO are used depending on the needs of the patient, but these all rely on the cannulation of particular blood vessels. Although ECMO has been successfully used as a form of life support for over 30 years, there are complications that can arise during treatment, which increase the mortality rate significantly. For many of these complications, there is a limited understanding of the causes, making it challenging to propose and find solutions. When patients are treated using ECMO, the angle of insertion of the cannula will vary on a case-by-case basis. This will impact the flow from, and around, the cannula, and thus finding an optimal angle could minimise the turbulence in the flow, and therefore reduce the occurrence of complications, such as blood clots. Additionally, the datasheets for the cannulae used in clinical settings only provide measurements of water flow through the cannula, in coarse units of L/min.
The aim of this project is to investigate the blood flow in such a system with higher precision, and in turn, provide insight on potential causes of some of the common complications. To do this, experimental flow measurements through a cannula and model vascular system can be acquired using positron emission particle tracking (PEPT). PEPT is an imaging technique, pioneered at the University of Birmingham, that is used to track the motion of individual radioactively labelled tracer particles. The first run of experiments has been carried out while systematically varying both the angle of insertion of the cannula and the fluid used in the model system.
In parallel to the experimental work, numerical simulations of the system using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are being developed. These simulations will be compared to the experimental results, and subsequently used to test more complex systems. Initially, both the experimental and simulation data will be analysed using existing methods. Following this, work will be carried out to explore the potential benefits of incorporating topological methods into the reconstruction and analysis algorithms.

1. Our primary impact will be by supplying the UK knowledge economy with skilled multidisciplinary researchers, equipped with the technical and transferable skills to establish the UK as pre-eminent in topology-based future technologies. The training they receive will make them proficient in the demands of the translation of academic science (with a broad background in condensed matter physics, materials science and applied electromagnetics) to industry, with direct experience from internship and industry engagement days. With their exposure to both theoretical research (including modelling and big data-driven problems) and experimental practice, our graduates will be ideally equipped to tackle research challenges of the future and communicate to a broad audience, ready to lead teams made up of diverse specialised components. The potential impact of our researchers will be enhanced by a broad programme of transferable skills, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship and responsible research. Beneficiaries here will include the students themselves as they embark on future careers intertwining academic research and industry, as well as the other sectors listed below.

2. The research undertaken by students in the CDT will have impact on the future direction of topological science. Related disciplines, including physics, materials science, mathematics, and information technology will benefit from the cross-disciplinary fertilisation it will enable. The CDT will not only provide an interface between research in physical sciences and engineering, but also provide a route for academia to interact effectively with industry. This will help organise researchers from different disciplines to collaborate around the needs of future technology to design materials based on topological properties.

3. Our research will enable industries to set the direction of topological research around the needs of commercial research and development, leading to wealth generation for the UK, and to influence the mindset of the next generation of future technologists. Specifically, topological design has the promise to revolutionise devices and materials relevant to communications, microwave and terahertz technologies, optical information processing, manufacturing, and cybersecurity. Through partnership with organisations from the wider knowledge sector, we will deepen the relationship between academic research and disciplines including IP law and scientific software development.

4. Our CDT will also have impact on the wider academic community. New specialist courses and training in transferable skills will be developed utilising cutting-edge multimedia technologies. Our international research collaborators, including prominent global laboratories, will benefit from placements and research visits of the CDT students. Our interdisciplinary research, combining the needs of academia and industry will be an exemplar of the effectiveness of the CDT model on an international stage.

5. The wider community will benefit from our organised public engagement activities. These will include direct interaction activities, such as demonstrating at the Birmingham Thinktank Science Centre, the Royal Society Summer Exhibition, local schools and community centres.