Fluosol was first produced in Japan and adapted by the United States in 1982. Fluosol is effective by entering the bloodstream and serving as a solvent to oxygen which then circulates to oxegenate the body. For Fluosol to serve its purpose, the patient must breathe pure oxygen or be in a hyperbaric environment.
The makers of it claim that Fluoxol works very well because of its particles that are smaller than true erythrocytes and are slippery as well. It was hoped that thesetwo aspects of Fluosol would help increase the circulation rate by being able to move quickly, especially through capillaries.
Unfortunately, further research has been done which strongly indicates that this type of artificial blood can weaken a patient's immune system. Therefore, the original idea that Fluosol had potential for heart attack, carbon monoxide poisoning and sickle cell anemia patients as a therapy treatment has become doubtful. However, Fluosol's use to keep organs oxegenated before being transplanted and to protect the heart form inchemia at the time of a heart attack remains promising.
erythrocytes
red blood cells
inchemia
localized blood loss
hyperbaric
high pressure
capillaries
the smallest portion of a blood vessel that are used to interchange substances (such as oxygen)
sickle cell anemia
a chronic and often fatal anemia in which mutated hemoglobin leads to misshapen red blood cells