Critically ill lung-patients are put on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) if they cannot be successfully mechanically ventilated. ECMO is a lung-support treatment where the blood of the patient is pumped out of the body, through an artificial lung for oxygen and carbon monoxide exchange and pumped back into the body. This complex treatment is regarded as a last resort treatment. Nevertheless, it is used e.g. as bridge to lung transplant for patients on the waiting list. However, the long-term outcome of lung transplantation is better in patients, who are able to walk a little prior to the transplantation compared to immobilized patients. Unfortunately, both the ECMO systems and the blood-vessel access used are not really designed for mobilizing patients as they are heavy, bulky, and require support of typically 4 – 5 hospital staff to carry everything around. Additionally, these patients are very weak and need support to stay safely on their feet.
Our innovation focuses on a combined walking aid for these patients, that allows them to walk safely around a hospital hallway while it holds all necessary equipment for their treatment. Additional attention is paid to a safe fixation of the cannula in the patient’s neck.