It has since been supplanted by the membrane oxygenator[1] as a result of advances in material science.
Some continue to promote it as a low-cost alternative allowing greater self-sufficiency.
A bubble oxygenator was introduced in 1950 by Clark, Gollan, and Gupta.
[3] The method faced initial skepticism[4]: p.11 but in 1956 the University of Minnesota's De-Wall-Lillehei bubble oxygenator was demonstrated to be relatively simple, inexpensive, and easy to operate.
[4]: p.16 However, most open-heart operations were substantially shorter,[4]: p.18 and by 1976 the bubble oxygenator was predominant.