Nitrogen-Free Oxygenation
Reducing gaseous microemboli during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), ECMO, and related blood-circulating therapies — accelerating adoption of a clinically validated approach to safer extracorporeal care.
The Unfinished Patient Safety Problem
Despite decades of progress in cardiac surgery and critical care, invisible gas microemboli remain an under-addressed contributor to neurologic injury, organ dysfunction, and systemic inflammation.
Neurologic Injury
Cognitive dysfunction and stroke risk linked to microvascular gas burden
Organ Dysfunction
Impaired microvascular perfusion affecting kidney, liver, and other organs
Systemic Inflammation
Microemboli-driven inflammatory cascades compounding patient risk
High-Risk Patients
Older and medically complex patients face disproportionately higher burden
The Physics: Why Bubbles Persist
Nitrogen-free oxygenation changes the gradient — and changes bubble behavior. Air bubbles in blood do not simply rise and disappear. Protein coatings, phospholipids, and platelet adhesion can stabilize bubbles and slow natural reabsorption, allowing them to persist in circulation far longer than expected.
Nitrogen-free oxygenation creates a diffusion gradient that accelerates bubble shrinkage and clearance.
The Evidence
The science exists. Adoption has not followed. Preclinical models demonstrate dramatic reductions in gaseous microemboli under active air challenge conditions. Despite commercial availability, adoption remains limited.
99.99%
GME Reduction
Demonstrated in preclinical models
<2%
Estimated Global Adoption
Nitrogen-free oxygenation in extracorporeal care
1+
Commercial Implementation
At least one commercial system is currently available for clinical use
Why Adoption Has Lagged
Commercial availability alone has not produced widespread uptake. Successful implementation requires education, clinical champions, institutional support, and practical integration into existing workflows.
1
Limited Awareness & Training
Many clinicians, perfusionists, surgeons, and ECMO practitioners complete training with little or no exposure to nitrogen-free oxygenation, keeping adoption concentrated among early users.
2
Underdeveloped Adoption Pathways
Successful implementation often requires clinical champions, institutional support, workflow integration, and education efforts that are rarely coordinated.
3
Limited Dissemination of Existing Evidence
Preclinical studies, observational research, and practical implementation experience have not yet achieved broad visibility across the extracorporeal care community.
Why Now?
Several converging trends are creating renewed interest in approaches that may reduce embolic burden during extracorporeal care.
Growing Focus on Neurologic Outcomes
Increasing attention is being paid to the long-term neurologic and cognitive consequences of cardiac surgery, ECMO, and related therapies.
Expanding Extracorporeal Medicine
ECMO utilization, organ preservation technologies, and other blood-circulating therapies continue to expand, increasing the relevance of blood-gas interface management.
Emerging Translational Opportunities
Advances in implementation science, registry development, and outcomes research are creating new pathways for evidence generation and adoption.
Renewed Emphasis on Patient Safety
Healthcare systems are increasingly focused on interventions that may improve outcomes, reduce complications, and strengthen quality of care.
Together, these trends create a timely opportunity to revisit underutilized approaches to embolic risk reduction and explore broader adoption across extracorporeal medicine.
Platform Potential Across Extracorporeal Medicine
One physiologic principle. Multiple potential applications. The near-term focus is cardiopulmonary bypass — but the broader opportunity may extend across extracorporeal care wherever blood-gas interfaces and microembolic burden matter.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Primary near-term focus — reducing GME during cardiac surgery with established protocols
ECMO
Veno-arterial and veno-venous configurations where prolonged blood-gas contact amplifies risk
Mobile ECMO
Transport and retrieval scenarios where circuit stability, blood-gas management, and patient safety remain important considerations
Organ Preservation
Ex vivo perfusion and organ transport systems where microvascular integrity may influence outcomes
Future Therapies
Emerging extracorporeal therapies where blood-gas interface management becomes essential
Strategic Value Creation
Building clinical adoption, evidence, and partnerships around a platform technology with potential applications across extracorporeal medicine. Evidence generation, strategic partnerships, and platform expansion represent complementary pathways for long-term value creation.
1
Near-Term
Clinical Education & Implementation Support
Support awareness, education, implementation planning, and practical adoption across healthcare institutions and extracorporeal care programs.
2
Mid-Term
Strategic Partnerships
Develop relationships with manufacturers, clinical centers, training programs, and key opinion leaders.
3
Long-Term
Evidence & Platform Expansion
Advance real-world learning, outcomes evaluation, and exploration of broader applications across extracorporeal medicine.
Bridging Evidence and Adoption
Zero Embolus Technologies, Inc. was created to accelerate evidence generation, strategic partnerships, and adoption pathways around nitrogen-free oxygenation technologies — bridging invention, evidence, and adoption in service of safer patient care.
Successful adoption requires coordinated engagement across clinical, academic, philanthropic, and industry stakeholders.
How We Contribute
Adoption Pathways
Supporting responsible implementation, education, and broader clinical impact across extracorporeal medicine.
Partnership Development
Connecting clinical, academic, industry, and philanthropic stakeholders interested in advancing safer extracorporeal care.
Evidence Generation
Supporting continued outcomes evaluation, translational learning, and understanding of extracorporeal care.

Opportunities for Collaboration
Clinical Adoption
Healthcare systems and clinical leaders interested in implementation, workflow integration, and outcomes evaluation.
Education & Training
Perfusion and ECMO training programs interested in advancing awareness and adoption.
Strategic Partnerships
Manufacturers, industry partners, and organizations exploring applications across extracorporeal medicine.
Mission-Aligned Capital
Philanthropic and impact-oriented partners interested in supporting evidence generation, education, and adoption pathways.
Meet Our Team
Keith Gipson, MD, PhD
Scientific Advisor
Physician-scientist, inventor, and educator focused on reducing gaseous microembolic injury during extracorporeal circulation. Dr. Gipson's work has explored nitrogen-free technological approaches that reduce or eliminate gaseous microemboli in extracorporeal circuits, including implementation strategies and examination of downstream microvascular effects.
Alec Raday
Strategic Partnerships
Alec works at the intersection of philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and mission-driven innovation. Through his advisory practice, he helps founders, institutions, and philanthropic partners develop the relationships, resources, and pathways needed to advance high-potential initiatives. At Zero Embolus, he focuses on partnership development and ecosystem building to support responsible clinical adoption.
Olivia Lancor
Summer Associate
Olivia supports the team through research, communications, and partnership development initiatives that advance evidence generation and stakeholder engagement. Her background in biomedical sciences contributes to branding, community engagement, social media, and outreach efforts that help connect clinical, academic, and industry stakeholders around safer extracorporeal care.
Scientific Leadership
Scientific Advisor
Keith Gipson, MD, PhD
Physician-scientist, inventor, and educator focused on reducing gaseous microembolic injury during extracorporeal circulation. Dr. Gipson's work has explored the relationship between GME, neurologic injury, and organ dysfunction during CPB and related therapies.
Areas of Focus
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) & ECMO
  • Gaseous Microemboli (GME) & Neuroprotection
  • Nitrogen-Free Oxygenation & Translational Adoption
Selected Contributions
  • Inventor of multiple issued patents on nitrogen-free oxygenation and emboli reduction
  • Peer-reviewed publications on GME reduction and ECMO-related embolic burden
  • Frequent presenter and educator within the perfusion and extracorporeal care community
Annals of Thoracic Surgery (2014)
Reduction of Gaseous Microemboli Using Nitrogen-Free Oxygenation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass
ASAIO Journal (2018)
Quantification of Post-Membrane Gaseous Microemboli During ECMO
Wisconsin Perfusion Society (2026)
Air Bubbles in Blood – Creating a Nitrogen Gradient
Translational Evidence
From bubble reduction to potential clinical impact. Reduced microembolic burden was associated with reduced microvascular brain injury in preclinical models, supporting continued investigation of neurologic outcomes in extracorporeal care.
Mechanistic Evidence
Preclinical studies demonstrated dramatic reductions in post-oxygenator gaseous microemboli through creation of a nitrogen diffusion gradient.
Biological Evidence
Animal-model studies demonstrated reduced markers of microvascular brain injury associated with substantial reductions in gaseous microembolic burden.
Translational Relevance
Observational ECMO research suggests gaseous microemboli may have broader implications across multiple extracorporeal therapies.
Collaborate With Us
Zero Embolus welcomes conversations with organizations and individuals interested in advancing safer extracorporeal care through evidence generation, clinical adoption, education, and strategic partnership.
We are particularly interested in collaborating with:
  • Clinical Champions
  • Healthcare Systems and Clinical Centers
  • Perfusion and ECMO Training Programs
  • Medical Device Manufacturers
  • Impact Investors
  • Mission-Driven Philanthropic Partners
  • Organizations Exploring Applications Across Extracorporeal Medicine
Contact Us


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