Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type oxygenator is provided wherein a bundle of a plurality of hollow porous fibers presenting gas exchange membranes axially extends through a housing to define a first flow path for oxygen, a pair of partitions support the opposed open ends of the hollow fibers to isolate the open ends from the first flow path to define a second flow path through the fiber cavities for blood, and the micropores in the hollow fibers are filled with a silicone compound, for example, a RTV silicone rubber or a blend thereof with a silicone oil while the hollow fibers on their side wall are substantially free of a layer of the silicone compound. The oxygenator is manufactured by prefabricating an oxygenator module of the above-mentioned construction, impregnating the hollow fibers with a solution of the silicone compound, and passing a cleaning liquid to remove excessive silicone compound, thereby filling only the micropores with the silicone compound.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type artificial lung and a method for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type oxygenator is provided wherein a bundle of a plurality of hollow porous fibers presenting gas exchange membranes axially extends through a housing to define a first flow path for oxygen, a pair of partitions support the opposed open ends of the hollow fibers to isolate the open ends from the first flow path to define a second flow path through the fiber cavities for blood, and the micropores in the hollow fibers are filled with a silicone compound, for exmaple, a RTV silicone rubber or a blend thereof with a silicone oil while the hollow fibers on their side wall are substantially free of a layer of the silicone compound. The oxygenator is manufactured by prefabricating an oxygenator module of the above-mentioned construction, impregnating the hollow fibers with a solution of the silicone compound, and passing a cleaning liquid to remove excessive silicone compound, thereby filling only the micropores with the silicone compound.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane type artificial lung and a method for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A sealed-type flexible reservoir constituting part of the blood circulating circuit of a membrane-type artificial lung is regulated to a specified volume by a pair of opposing planar restricting members, thereby specifying the amount of blood circulating through the circuit. The reservoir comprises a vessel provided at its upper portion with deaeration ports, a blood inflow tube having two or more side apertures for communication with the interior of the vessel, and a blood outflow port for guiding blood exiting from the vessel. The side apertures are located at a position higher than the blood outflow port, with the blood inflow tube and blood outflow port being spaced away from each other by a predetermined distance, Accordingly, air bubbles carried into the reservoir by the flowing blood may be removed from the deaeration ports without being drawn out through the blood outflow port.

Abstract: A sealed-type flexible reservoir constituting part of the blood circulating circuit of a membrane-type artificial lung is regulated to a specified volume by a pair of opposing planar restricting members, thereby specifying the amount of blood circulating through the circuit. The reservoir comprises a vessel provided at its upper portion with deaeration ports, a blood inflow tube having two or more side apertures for communication with the interior of the vessel, and a blood outflow port for guiding blood exiting from the vessel. The side apertures are located at a position higher than the blood outflow port, with the blood inflow tube and blood outflow port being spaced away from each other by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, air bubbles carried into the reservoir by the flowing blood may be removed from the deaeration ports without being drawn out through the blood outflow port.

Abstract: A hollow fiber type oxygenator comprising a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port for oxygen and an inlet port and an outlet port for blood, and a plurality of hollow fibers for gas exchange disposed inside the housing along the longitudinal direction thereof. In the housing is formed an inward projection midway in the longitudinal length thereof for engaging and fastening the bundle of hollow fibers to the housing, and there is formed a liquid passage at the inward projection for discharging the water. The oxygenator is so constructed that no water accumulates at the inward projection and the gas exchange efficiency is maintained at a high level even after a protracted use.

Abstract: An oxygenator comprises a cylindrical housing provided with inlet and outlet ports for oxygen, and a bundle of hollow fibers disposed within the housing. The porous hollow fibers are made of polyolefin resin, sized at 100 to 300.mu. in inner diameter and 10 to 50.mu. in wall thickness, and have an average pore size of 200 to 1,000A and porosity of 20 to 80%. The blood is allowed to flow through the hollow fibers and O.sub.2 --CO.sub.2 exchange is effected through the porous walls of the hollow fibers.

Abstract: An artificial lung has an axially extending housing which accommodates a bundle of hollow fibers retained within the housing by a pair of walls provided at the ends of the housing. The housing has blood inlet and outlet ports defining a blood chamber within the housing. Oxygen gas is passed through the hollow fibers and blood is passed through the blood chamber so that a gas exchange may take place through the hollow fiber walls. The artificial lung is provided with a blood reservoir chamber integral with the blood chamber and capable of being communicated with the blood chamber, so that blood which has undergone a gas exchange inside the chamber may be stored within the reservoir. A heat exchanger is disposed at a point preceding, following or intermediate the blood chamber and blood reservoir chamber, which construct a blood circuit.