Photolytic artificial lung

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a photolytic artificial lung. The photolytic artificial lung converts water to oxygen for blood absorption, regulates pH, removes carbon dioxide, and co-produces electrical power. The photolytic artificial lung includes a photolytic cell where all of the chemical reactions occur. The photolytic cell disclosed herein can also be used to direct chemical reactions in organs other than the lung. Also disclosed herein is a gas sorption device for removing carbon dioxide from the system by chemical sorption.

1 . A gas sorption device comprising: 
 a coalescence compartment comprising a gas head space and a gas coalesor connected to the gas head space; and    a gas sorber connected to the coalescence compartment, wherein gas accumulating in the gas head space moves to the gas sorber, and the gas sorber converts the gas to a solution or solid.    
   
   
       2 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorption device further comprises an entry point connected to the gas head space for entry of hydrogen gas.  
   
   
       3 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorption device further comprises an outlet connected to the gas sorber for the removal of the solution or solid.  
   
   
       4 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorption device does not comprise a gas permeable membrane.  
   
   
       5 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the coalescence compartment is tilted to have an upper end and a lower end, CO 2  enters the coalescence compartment at the upper end, and hydrogen gas enters the coalescence compartment at the lower end.  
   
   
       6 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the coalescence compartment further comprises a means for controlling temperature.  
   
   
       7 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorber contains a sorbent which is reactive with CO 2  gas.  
   
   
       8 . The gas sorption device of  claim 7 , wherein the sorbent is a solid.  
   
   
       9 . The gas sorption device of  claim 7 , wherein the sorbent is a solution.  
   
   
       10 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorber further comprises an outlet which is connected to the coalescence compartment for the recycling of residual hydrogen gas.  
   
   
       11 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorber has a total internal volume of about 25 cubic centimeters.  
   
   
       12 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorber has a plurality of 90° flow path changes.  
   
   
       13 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  gas enters at one end of the gas sorber and sorbent enters at an opposite end of the gas sorber.  
   
   
       14 . The gas sorption device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas sorber further comprises a pH indicator.  
   
   
       15 . A gas sorption device comprising: 
 a coalescence compartment comprising a gas head space and a gas coalesor connected to the gas head space;    a gas sorber connected to the coalescence compartment, wherein gas accumulating in the gas head space moves to the gas sorber, and the gas sorber converts the gas to a solution or solid; and    an entry point connected to the gas head space for entry of hydrogen gas.    
   
   
       16 . The gas sorption device of  claim 15 , further comprising an outlet connected to the gas sorber for the removal of the solution or solid.  
   
   
       17 . The gas sorption device of  claim 15 , wherein the coalescence compartment is tilted to have an upper end and a lower end, CO 2  enters the coalescence compartment at the upper end, and hydrogen gas enters the coalescence compartment at the lower end.  
   
   
       18 . A gas sorption device comprising: 
 a coalescence compartment comprising a gas head space and a gas coalesor connected to the gas head space;    a gas sorber connected to the coalescence compartment, wherein gas accumulating in the gas head space moves to the gas sorber, and the gas sorber converts the gas to a solution or solid; and    an outlet connected to the gas sorber for the removal of the solution or solid.    
   
   
       19 . The gas sorption device of  claim 18 , wherein the gas sorption device further comprises an entry point connected to the gas head space for entry of hydrogen gas.  
   
   
       20 . The gas sorption device of  claim 18 , wherein the coalescence compartment is tilted to have an upper end and a lower end, CO 2  enters the coalescence compartment at the upper end, and hydrogen gas enters the coalescence compartment at the lower end.