Nitrogen-Free Oxygenation



Reducing gaseous microemboli during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), ECMO, NRP, EVP, 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, NRP & V
  • 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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