System And Method Configured To Provide Extracorporeal Support For Premature Fetus

Abstract

A system configured to enclose a premature fetus within an extracorporeal environment to promote growth of the fetus and increase viability of the fetus. The system includes a chamber having an interior space configured to enclose the fetus, a first fluid circuit that delivers sterile fluid to the chamber, and a second fluid system that transfers oxygen to the fetus. The system chamber includes a stop mechanism including a clamp and an actuator, the clamp positioned in the interior space, the actuator coupled to the clamp such that movement of the actuator moves the clamp, and the actuator positioned at least partially outside the interior space.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A chamber configured to enclose a fetus within an interior space of the chamber, the chamber comprising:
 a housing including a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell cooperate to at least partially define the interior space, the housing configured such that the second shell is movable with respect to the first shell from a first position to a second position, such that in the first position the chamber is in an open configuration, in the second position the chamber is in a closed configuration, and in the closed configuration a seal is formed between the first shell and the second shell;   a stop assembly including a clamp and an actuator, the clamp positioned in the interior space when the housing is in the closed configuration, the actuator coupled to the clamp such that movement of the actuator moves the clamp, the actuator positioned at least partially outside the interior space when the housing is in the closed configuration;   wherein when the chamber is in the open configuration the first shell and the second shell cooperatively define an opening into the interior space, the opening defines a first distance measured from a portion of the first shell to a portion of the second shell, when the chamber is in the closed configuration the opening defines a second distance measured from the portion of the first shell to the portion of the second shell, and the second distance is less than the first distance.