Bubble oxygenator
# Bubble oxygenator

A bubble oxygenator is an early implementation of the oxygenator used for cardiopulmonary bypass. It has since been supplanted by the membrane oxygenator as a result of advances in material science. Some continue to promote it as a low-cost alternative allowing greater $self-sufficiency.^{:p.182}$

## History

Open-heart surgery developed rapidly beginning in the 1950s, and many methods were developed for oxygenating blood outside the body. A bubble oxygenator was introduced in 1950 by Clark, Gollan, and Gupta. The method faced initial $skepticism^{:p.11}$ but in 1956 the University of Minnesota's De-Wall-Lillehei bubble oxygenator was demonstrated to be relatively simple, inexpensive, and easy to $operate.^{:p.16}$

The device faced competition from membrane oxygenators, which arrived within the same decade and were found to provide better oxygenation for periods over eight hours, and other advantages beyond six $hours.^{:p.16}$ However, most open-heart operations were substantially $shorter,^{:p.18}$ and by 1976 the bubble oxygenator was $predominant.^{:p.16}$

In the 1980s, microporous membrane oxygenators were developed, and replaced bubble oxygenators in most $applications.^{:p.18}$

