Abstract: A membrane module for hemodiafiltration having a cylinder-shaped housing and a bundle of hollow-fiber membranes capable of supporting fluid flow and arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the housing. The ends of the hollow-fiber membranes are embedded in a fluid-tight manner in first and second sealing compounds joined to the housing inner wall in a fluid-tight manner. The exterior space formed around the hollow-fiber membranes and delimited by the first and second sealing compounds and the housing inner wall is divided along the longitudinal extent of the housing into a dialyzate space and a substituate space by a dividing wall that is made from a substantially dimensionally stable material. The dividing wall encloses each hollow-fiber membrane and is arranged substantially transversely to the hollow-fiber membranes. The dialyzate space and substituate space each have at least one opening for introducing or draining a fluid.

Abstract: Membrane module for substance-specific treatment of fluids, such that the module has first and second membrane elements arranged with one end pointing toward a distribution space and the other end pointing toward a collection space. Each of the membrane elements have a cavity formed by a membrane wall. The first membrane elements have their ends embedded in sealing compounds such that their cavities open into the distribution space and collection space. The second membrane elements are also embedded in the sealing compound at the end pointing toward the collection space. The cavities of the second membrane elements open into the collection space, but are closed at the end pointing toward the distribution space. The fluid to be treated flows through the first membrane elements in cross-flow mode. In the process, part of the fluid passes through the membrane wall as a permeate, which then passes through the second membrane elements in dead-end mode.

Abstract: A hemodiafiltration system for treating blood which has module having a housing in which hollow-fiber membranes are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent and are embedded at their ends in first and second sealing compounds joined to the inner wall of the housing in a fluid-tight manner. The membrane module also has a dialyzate space and a substituate space separated from the dialyzate space in a fluid-tight manner by a continuous dividing wall. The membrane module further includes means for delivering and withdrawing a dialyzate to and from the dialyzate space, and means for delivering a substituate to the substituate space. The hollow-fiber membranes are used for blood treatment, filtration of the substituate, and delivery of the substituate to the blood.

Abstract: Membrane module for substance-specific treatment of fluids, in which are arranged first and second membrane elements (1, 2) with one end pointing toward a distribution space (8) and the other toward a collection space (9), each having a cavity (10,11) formed by the membrane wall. The first membrane elements (1) have their ends embedded in sealing compounds (4, 5) such that their cavities are open and open into the distribution space (8) and collection space (9). The second membrane elements (2) are also embedded in the sealing compound (5) at the end pointing toward the collection space (9), their cavities opening into the collection space, but are closed at the end pointing toward the distribution space (8).

Abstract: An apparatus and process for substance-specific treatment of fluids using groups of first and second treatment elements, adjacently positioned in a housing and made from membranes, the treatment elements having cavities open on one side, whereby the cavities of the first treatment elements are open in the direction of the inlet arrangement of the housing and the cavities of the second treatment elements are open in the direction of its outlet arrangement. A stream of the fluid to be treated is introduced via the inlet arrangement into a distribution space, which is delimited only by the housing, the inlet arrangement, and the ends, pointing to the inlet arrangement of the treatment element group adjacent to the inlet arrangement, and entering the cavities of the first treatment elements. The stream then flows successively through the walls of the first and second treatment elements, whereby the substance-specific treatment of the fluid takes place.

Abstract: Hemodiafiltration system for treating blood, comprising a membrane module (1) in whose housing (2) hollow-fiber membranes (3) embedded at their ends in first and second sealing compounds (4,5) joined to the inner wall of the housing in a fluid-tight manner are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent, the membrane module (1) also having a dialyzate space (12) and a substituate space (11) separated from the dialyzate space (12) in a fluid-tight manner by a continuous dividing wall (10), and further comprising means for delivering (18,19) and withdrawing a dialyzate to and from the dialyzate space (12), and means for delivering (21) a substituate to the substituate space (11), the same hollow-fiber membranes (3) being used for blood treatment, filtration of the substituate, and delivery of the substituate to the blood, and an exterior space being formed around the hollow-fiber membranes (3) that is delimited by the inner wall of the housing (2) and sealing compounds (4,5) and divided along the longi

Abstract: Membrane module and process for its manufacture, wherein the membrane module contains at least two groups of hollow-fiber membranes, the groups arranged in layers and capable of being fed independently by fluids. The membrane module has a housing shell comprising a channel-shaped housing middle section, open at the top, and adjoining end pieces, also open at the top and with a number of arms corresponding to the number of groups. The groups of hollow-fiber membranes are inserted as layers over one another such that they are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the housing middle section and substantially parallel to each other. The ends of hollow-fiber membranes of different groups are arranged in respectively different arms of the end pieces and embedded with a sealing compound such that at least one end of the hollow-fiber membranes is open.

Abstract: A membrane module for substance-specific treatment of a fluid includes a housing with a bundle of hollow-fiber membranes with semipenneable, porous walls. The hollow-fiber membranes are embedded in a sealing compound only at one end, and flow around the second end is substantially unrestricted. The lumina of the hollow-fiber membranes are open at the unembedded end and lead into the external space surrounding the hollow-fiber membranes. The fluid to be treated is introduced via an inlet arrangement on only one of the two sides (inside or outside) of the hollow-fiber membranes and directed over this side as a primary stream such that a portion thereof flows as a permeate stream through the wall to the respective other side, the substance-specific treatment taking place on the permeate stream. After passing through the wall, the permeate stream is collected on the other side and reunited with the primary stream in the external space.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for substance-specific treatment of fluids, whereby the apparatus comprises a housing with a distribution space and a collection space, between which is arranged a structure of adjacent flat first and second layers containing first and second hollow-fiber membranes, respectively, and a matrix on which groups acting in a substance-specific manner for fluid treatment are immobilized, whereby the filling ratio &egr; of the housing determined by the hollow-fiber membranes and the matrix is greater than 0.55. The first hollow-fiber membranes are open in the direction of the distribution space and closed in the direction of the collection space, and the second hollow-fiber membranes are open in the direction of the collection space and closed in the direction of the distribution space, and the hollow fiber membranes are embedded at least at their open end in the sealing compounds.

Abstract: Device and process for the substance-specific treatment of fluids by means of treatment elements made from porous membranes, arranged in a casing, where the treatment elements have cavities which are closed or open in the direction of the outlet arrangement of the casing and the treatment elements are arranged in the casing such that a continuous channel system is formed around them and which substantially surrounds them. The fluid to be treated flows as the primary stream around the treatment elements along essentially their entire exterior, and part of this primary stream flows as a secondary stream through the porous membrane wall of the treatment elements wherein the substance-specific treatment is performed, collects in the cavities and leaves the treatment elements again in order to be reunited with the primary stream within the casing.

Abstract: A bioartificial organ for implanting to provide a therapeutic effect is prepared containing a core of living cells encapsulated in a foam-like membrane having three regions: a dense, fine-pored, permselective inner region, a middle region that lacks macrovoids and a fine-pored outer region. The membrane has a molecular weight cutoff that permits passage to nutrients to the cells but not passage of the cells. Preferably, the membrane is made of polyether sulfone, pores range in size between 0.02 .mu.m and 2.0 .mu.m and have polyhedrally symmetric boundaries and are arranged asymmetrically from one surface to the other. The membrane has an asymmetry factor AF relative to the maximum pore diameter of 0.01 to 2.0 and a ratio of the maximum mean free path length to the diameter of the largest pore of greater than 3. The membrane can be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. The bioartificial organ is formed by coextrusion or by stepwise assembly by forming the cell core and then applying the membrane.

Abstract: A laminate that restrains organic vapors, aerosols, and biological agents, where at least one layer is implemented as a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is implemented from cellulose-based polymers over its entire surface and the laminate is water-vapor permeable, as well as to the application of the laminate in clothing articles such as work clothing, work safety clothing, military protective clothing, gloves, work shoes, head coverings, and sweat suits, and in construction components for delimiting spaces, tents, emergency shelters, and storage sites for toxic materials is disclosed.

Abstract: A dialysis membrane is made of a regenerated cellulose polymer in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity filled essentially with a gas. The hollow fiber has a porous inner and an outer surface. The outer surface of the hollow fiber is formed by a thin skin which has fine lengthwise grooves. The inner surface of the hollow fiber is positively modified by physical and/or chemical means.The invention also includes a method for manufacturing such a dialysis membrane.

Abstract: A hollow fiber bundle in which the hollow fibers are in the form of warp threads of woven hollow fiber tapes. The plurality of hollow fibers are held together by a low density, double weft thread. The hollow fiber bundles may form an angle with the lengthwise axis of the bundle such that adjacent woven hollow fiber tapes form an angle of intersection with one another or alternatively, the hollow fiber tapes may be made into partial bundles and the partial bundles assembled together so that the hollow fibers are arranged essentially parallel to one another and the lengthwise axis of the bundle. In both cases, the presence of weft threads ensures that the hollow fibers will not slide into the spaces between adjacent hollow fibers.

Abstract: A method and device for producing woven hollow fiber tape, for use in exchange devices such as blood oxygenators and heat exchangers, having weft threads and hollow fibers as warp threads, formed as a double weft tape. The device feeding a plurality of parallel hollow fibers as warp threads in a first direction, dividing alternating adjacent hollow fibers to create two sets of hollow fibers, separating one set of the hollow fibers from the second set to create a gap therebetween, inserting a double weft thread into the gap and knitting the double weft thread at a side of the plurality of parallel hollow fibers away from that side where the double weft thread is initially inserted. The hollow fibers are separated into the two sets by a reciprocating shedding device thereby creating the gap for insertion of the weft threads.

Abstract: A multilayer hollow fiber wound body, in which at least a portion of the hollow fibers is formed as helices and/or a portion of the hollow fibers as spirals. The hollow fibers within each hollow fiber ply are disposed at regular intervals to each other. The hollow fibers of adjacent, successive hollow fiber plies cross. The hollow fibers are disposed in the form of at least two superposed and then spirally wound hollow fiber mats, the hollow fibers within each hollow fiber mat being held by several inserted transverse fibers or the like. Within each hollow fiber mat the regular interval between the transverse fibers or the like is greater than the regular interval between the hollow fibers, and none of the hollow fibers has a deflection site, whereby according to the invention the ratio of the regular interval between adjacent transverse fibers within each hollow fiber mat to the regular interval between adjacent hollow fibers within each hollow fiber mat falls in the range of 2 to 40.

Abstract: A woven hollow tape, for use in exchange devices such as blood oxygenators and heat exchangers, having weft threads and hollow fibers as warp threads, formed as a double weft tape, in which one tape edge is formed as a knitted edge and the weft density is much less than that found in normal woven textile tapes, each weft being spaced apart from the adjacent wefts. The tape is produced by a weft insertion that takes place in a manner similar to that of a shuttleless ribbon loom, especially a needle ribbon loom, preferably using freshly spun hollow fibers. The resultant tape may have hollow fibers along both edges and may be used to form the appropriate products either with or without the weft threads which are easily removed as a result of the tape structure.

Abstract: A multilayer hollow fiber wound body, in which at least a portion of the hollow fibers is formed as helices and/or a portion of the hollow fibers as spirals. The hollow fibers within each hollow fiber ply are disposed at regular intervals to each other. The hollow fibers of adjacent, successive hollow fiber plies cross. The hollow fibers are disposed in the form of at least two superposed and then spirally wound hollow fiber mats, the hollow fibers within each hollow fiber mat being held by several inserted transverse fibers or the like. Within each hollow fiber mat the regular interval between the transverse fibers or the like is greater than the regular interval between the hollow fibers, and none of the hollow fibers has a deflection site, whereby according to the invention the ratio of the regular interval between adjacent transverse fibers within each hollow fiber mat to the regular interval between adjacent hollow fibers within each hollow fiber mat falls in the range of 2 to 40.

Abstract: A device for separating gas bubbles from infusion fluids or human-body fluids by means of fluid-repellent, gas-permeable, microporous degassing elements with a casing, which has an inlet opening for the fluid to be degassed, an outlet opening for the degassed fluid, and at least one outlet opening for gas. The degassing element is disposed at least in the area of the casing in which gas bubbles occur, wherein the degassing element comprises at least one degassing capillary whose inner cavity is closed against the passage of fluid, and an outlet opening for the gas. Preferably, this device is used as an infusion filter, in which case a wettable, gas-impermeable microporous filter is additionally disposed in the casing. The wettable, gas-impermeable microporous filter may comprise filter capillaries, in which case the filter capillaries and the degassing capillaries can be disposed in such a way that they have only one common embedment.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting mass and/or heat transfer, comprising a bundle of hollow filaments of substantially equal length, the ends of which are embedded in a sealing compound, a substantially cylindrical housing with connecting branches for the supply and removal of at least two media, the first medium being guided through the hollow filaments and the second medium being guided radially inwardly at the flow inlet of the housing and radially outwardly at the flow outlet, the housing comprising a substantially tubular body and two caps. The connecting branches are disposed in the caps. Each cap forms with the ends of the substantially tubular body two distributor chambers, the first of which is disposed on the end face and the second on the outside jacket of the tubular body. The outside jacket of the tubular body has at least one port in the area of the second distributor chamber. The interior of the substantially tubular body may widen conically from one end area to the other.