  This paper presents a novel mechatronic setup intended for providing
respiratory support to patients suffering from pulmonary failure. The setup
relies upon the circulation of an oxygenated perfluorocarbon (PFC) through the
abdominal cavity. Such circulation provides a potential pathway for the
transport of oxygen to the bloodstream. However, the viability of this
technology for $CO_2$ clearance has not been established. Moreover, there is a
lack of experimental data enabling the modeling and identification of the
underlying dynamics of this technology. To address these gaps, we develop a
flexible experimental perfusion setup capable of monitoring and controlling key
variables such as perfusate flowrate, temperature, pressure, and oxygenation.
The paper (i) briefly summarizes the design of this setup; (ii) highlights the
degree to which its data acquisition system enables the collection and
cross-correlation of both perfusion-related and physiological variables; and
(iii) discusses the development of flow, pressure, and temperature control
algorithms for the setup. Experiments with large animals (swine) show that the
setup is capable of successfully controlling the perfusion process, as well as
gathering extensive data to support subsequent modeling and identification
studies.
