Abstract: A blood oxygenation system includes an oxygenator for oxygenating blood and a heat exchanger for regulating blood temperature. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange coil that provides a flow path for a heat exchange media, the heat exchange coil is configured to define a heat exchange zone, and the oxygenator is disposed in heat transfer relationship with the heat exchange zone in order to transfer heat between the heat exchange coil and the oxygenator. The heat exchange coil may at least partially circumscribe the oxygenator and, preferably, be helically shaped and disposed coaxially over a membrane oxygenator. In one embodiment, single or multiple hollow fiber strands are wound onto a small diameter center core so that the fiber segments provide spiralling helical blood-flow pathways which increase oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange by secondary flow paths.

Abstract: A blood reservoir has a blood storage section for temporarily storing blood, a blood discharge port defined in a bottom of the blood storage section for discharging the blood, the blood discharge port being displaced from a central portion of the blood storage section, and at least one partition disposed substantially vertically in the blood storage section for suppressing resonant suppression of a surface level of the stored blood upon pulsative blood discharge from the blood storage section.

Abstract: The fluid processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet; a fluid processing tubular means received in the housing; partitions securing the opposed ends of the fluid processing tubular means to the housing in a fluid tight seal to partition the housing interior into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet and a second fluid chamber defined in the fluid processing tubular means; a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber; and projections formed on an inner surface of one end portion of the housing so as to project toward the nearer end opening of the housing, said partition of the one end portion side of said housing being secured to the one end portion of the housing so that the projections are positioned within the partition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blood-treatment device including hollow fibers which are suitable for conveying a fluid and are in a plurality of superposed layers arranged in directions which are offset from layer to layer so as to create a uniform flow of blood from an inlet chamber adjacent one end layer of the plurality of superposed layers to an outlet chamber adjacent the other end layer, the blood passing through the layers in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and bathing the external surfaces of the hollow fibers.

Abstract: A medical instrument having a blood contact portion formed of a hydrophobic material, wherein a surface-active agent safe to a human body is deposited onto part or the entirety of the blood contact portion so that the medical instrument is fully primed by introducing liquid into the instrument without leaving fine bubbles adhered to the surface of the blood contact portion. Further, a method for fabricating a medical instrument is provided, comprising steps of assembling a medical instrument having a blood contact portion formed of a hydrophobic material, and contacting a liquid containing a surface-active agent safe to a human body to the blood contact portion, followed by drying, leaving the surface-active agent deposited onto the surface of the blood contact portion so that the surface-active agent is steadily and readily deposited onto the blood contact portion of hydrophobic material.

Abstract: A device (10) having a blood oxygenator (12) and heat exchanger (14) of the outside perfusion type. The blood oxygenator (12) employs a tightly packed, crisscrossing bundle of gas permeable hollow fibers (50). The heat exchanger (14) employs a bundle of polyurethane, liquid impermeable hollow tubes (96). A center divider (16) facilitates two separate compartments (30, 40) and allows control over pack densities within each compartment while allowing blood to move in a planar manner throught out the device (10).

Abstract: A blood reservoir serves to suppress generation of air bubbles in blood in an extracorporeal blood circulation circuit. The blood reservoir includes a blood storage chamber for temporarily storing the blood, the blood storage chamber having blood inlet and outlet ports, and a fluid-permeable blood spouting inhibitor disposed over the blood inlet port. Since the blood flows into the blood storage chamber through the blood spouting inhibitor, the blood is prevented from being spouted into the blood reservoir, so that air bubbles are prevented from being generated in the blood.

Abstract: The hollow fiber type blood processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing, a bundle of hollow fibers which consists of a great number of hollow fibers for processing blood and is housed in the housing, an inlet and an outlet of a blood processing liquid which are provided near each end of the housing, partitions which secure each end of the bundle of hollow fibers to each end of the housing, an entrance blood port which has a blood inlet and is attached to one end of the housing, and an exit blood port which has a blood outlet and is attached to the other end of the housing, wherein the two blood ports have each an annular groove at the peripheral area of their inside surface and an annular elastic member conjoined in the annular groove by molding, the annular elastic members have each an annular elastic rib extended out of the annular groove, and the blood ports are attached to the housing with their annular elastic member pressed to the corresponding partition and the annular elastic rib

Abstract: A combined cardiotomy and venous reservoir with filtration for autotransfusion of cardiotomy blood and venous blood during surgery and for postoperative wound site pleural drainage of shed blood for continued autotransfusion using the same unit. Vacuum regulation in the form of a manometer combined with a water seal are integral with the unit.

Abstract: A membrane blood oxygenator having a mechanism for automatically maintaining the total pressure of the oxygenating gas near yet below that of the blood across the membrane is described. This includes a valve for restricting the flow of oxygenating gas exiting the oxygenator with the pressure of the blood exiting the oxygenator. A tubing communicates the pressure of the exiting blood to the valve to activate the valve.

Abstract: A housing accommodates a hollow fiber bundle such that a blood port zone is defined between an open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle and an inner wall surface of the housing. The blood port zone includes an increased distance space, which is formed annularly along an edge portion of the open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle and communicates with the blood port, and a small distance space, which communicates with the blood port and has an end wall surface substantially parallel to V, and at a small distance from V, the open end surface of the hollow fiber bundle. A movable member, such as a flexible membrane facing the end surface of the hollow fiber bundle, is provided for varying the volume of the blood port zone. A restriction is provided for restricting the movement of the movable member.

Abstract: A device having a blood oxygenator and heat exchanger of the outside perfusion type. The blood oxygenator employs a tightly packed, crisscrossing bundle of gas permeable hollow fibers. The heat exchanger employs a bundle of polyurethane, liquid impermeable hollow tubes. A center divider facilitates two separate compartments and allows control over pack densities within each compartment while allowing blood to move in a planar manner throughout the device.

Abstract: A hollow fiber blood oxygenator is provided having a plurality of enclosed, coaxial heat exchanger coils, having a common header to insure uniform temperature in the coils. An enclosed fiber bundle is concentrically positioned inside the heat exchanger coils to define a flow path around the coils and through the fiber bundle. The heat exchanger coils and the outside of the fiber bundle are tapered to provide a close fit. Gas manifolds direct gas flow to and from the hollow fibers.

Abstract: A device including an integrally formed membrane oxygenator and heat exchange device positioned in a single housing. The device includes a thermally conductive body formed with a plurality of blood pathways on its surface, and a gas permeable membrane, or membranes positioned in the housing in substantial contact with the heat exchange body to cover or lie within a portion of each of the pathways. The membrane defines a gas pathway separate from the blood pathway through which a gas is directed. The blood is directed through the individual blood pathways. The device also includes various ports and passageways for delivering the blood to the individual channels, and for collecting and removing the blood from the device.

Abstract: A membrane oxygenator having a gas pressure relief valve operable to release gas when the gas pressure in the oxygenator exceeds a predetermined level. Generally, the membrane oxygenator includes a housing in which is mounted a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane, i.e. a bundle of microporous hollow fibers. This membrane defines separate oxygen enrichable fluid and gas flow pathways. The housing also includes both gas and oxygen enrichable fluid inlet and outlet ports communicating with respective opposite ends of the gas and oxygen enrichable fluid flow pathways. The gas pressure relief valve communicates with the gas flow pathway.

Abstract: An apparatus for concurrently oxygenating and pumping blood circulated extra-corporeally in vascular assistance includes at least one blood-oygenating fluid interface permeable to gas and impermeable to blood. The interface is provided within a container to define an exchange area between a first circulation space for blood and a second circulation space for an oxygenating fluid. A pressure control device is provided for periodically varying the pressure of an oxygenating fluid acting on the interface within the second circulation space. As a result, the oxygenated blood in the first circulation space is pumped therefrom through the oxygenated blood outlet concurrently during oxygenation of blood within the first circulation space.

Abstract: A blood oxygenator having a defoaming device for separating foam and bubbles from a liquid, such as blood, is disclosed. The defoaming device of the oxygenator is designed for separating air from blood while minimizing blood contact with the antifoam agent used in the device. In a first embodiment, the device includes a reservoir and a filtering material that does not contain any antifoaming agent. This filtering material is positioned in a lower portion of the reservoir to separate foam and bubbles from the liquid. An element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir above the maximum surface fluid level therein and receives the foam and bubbles that rise from the filtering material. Contact of the liquid with the antifoaming agent is substantially avoided. In a second embodiment, an element containing an antifoaming agent is positioned in the reservoir within the fluid therein.

Abstract: A membrane type artificial lung uses a gas-exchange membrane having at least the surface thereof for exposure to blood or the minute pores therein coated or blocked with a vinyl type copolymer having as one of the components thereof a vinyl monomer possessing a perfluoroalkyl side chain. The gas-exchange membrane of the artificial lung is manufactured by a method which comprises bringing at least the surface of the gas-exchange membrane for exposure to blood into contact with a solution of the vinyl type copolymer and subsequently vaporizing the solvent in the solution.

Abstract: A heat or material exchanger is provided which comprises a cylindrical housing having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, an assembly of heat or material-exchange tubes in the housing, partitions securing the opposed ends of the assembly to the housing in a fluid tight seal to partition the housing interior into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet and a second fluid chamber defined in the assembly, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber, an independent space defined by the inner wall of the housing and one partition and extending the entire circumference of the housing, but not in fluid communication with the first and second fluid chambers, and a vent in the housing for communicating the space to the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: An artificial lung includes a housing having gas inlet and outlet ports, a blood inlet chamber mounted on the upper ends of the housing, a blood outlet chamber mounted on the lower end of the housing, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes for exchanging a gas, disposed within the housing and having ends opening into the blood inlet chamber and opposite ends opening into the blood outlet chamber. A blood inlet port communicates with the blood inlet chamber and is positioned such that the ratio of the distance from the central axis of the blood inlet chamber to the central axis of the blood inlet port to the inside radius of the blood inlet chamber ranges from 0.25 to 0.95, so that blood introduced from the blood inlet port into the blood inlet chamber will be swirled in one direction.

Abstract: A heat or material exchanger is provided which comprises a cylindrical housing having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, an assembly of heat or material-exchange tubes in the housing, partitions securing the opposed ends of the assembly to the housing in a fluid tight seal to partition the housing interior into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet and a second fluid chamber defined in the assembly, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber, an independent spaced defined by the inner wall of the housing and one partition and extending the entire circumference of the housing, but not in fluid communication with the first and second fluid chambers, and a vent in the housing for communicating the space to the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel blood oxygenation apparatus. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger, and a gas exchanger which functions by internal flow of an oxygen-enriched gas. The heat exchanger is disposed with the gas-exchanger in a common compartment through which blood requiring oxygenation is passed.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood circuit comprises a generally cylindrically shaped blood reservoir; a generally cylindrically shaped oxygenator arranged coaxially and adjacently below said reservoir; and a generally cylindrically shaped heat exchanger attached coaxially and adjacently below said oxygenator. The reservoir encloses an upper defoamer and multiple filter element adapted to receive cardiotomy blood within the interior of said upper element and to discharge treated blood to said reservoir; and a lower defoamer and filter element adapted to receive arterial blood within the interior of said lower element and to discharge treated blood to said reservoir; and has a lower blood outlet. The oxygenator has an inlet adapted to integrally receive blood directly from the outlet of said heat exchanger and an outlet adapted to return the oxygenated blood to the patient.

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: An artificial lung comprises a venous blood reservoir to receive and store venous blood. A heat exchanger communicating with the venous blood reservoir receives the venous blood so the blood temperature is regulated by heat exchange through a wall between flowing water and the venous blood. A blood oxygenator concentrically disposed within a hollow space of said heat exchanger comprises a cylindrical body defining a cylindrical space and at least one gas permeable membrane separating said cylindrical space into a first space and a second space. The first space receives the venous blood from the heat exchanger and the second space communicates with an oxygenating gas feed line so that the blood is oxygenated through the gas permeable membrane.

Abstract: A hollow fiber oxygenator including a hollow fiber bundle having first and second ends located within an oxygenator chamber. The oxygenator chamber includes a hollow core around which the hollow fibers are spirally wound and includes an outer casing adjacent the fibers. A gas entry port is coupled to the interior of the fibers adjacent the first end of the bundle and a gas outlet is coupled to the interior of the fibers at the second end of the bundle. A blood inlet to the oxygenator chamber, exterior of the fibers, is provided adjacent the second end of the bundle, and a blood outlet from the oxygenator chamber is provided adjacent the first end of the bundle. The resulting structure provides an axial flow oxygenator, in which the direction of blood flow through the oxygenator chamber is opposite the direction of gas flow through the fibers.

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

Abstract: The fibre (3) is wound in several layers at a variable winding pitch so that the angle winding (.alpha.) is kept substantially constant. The length wound in each layer and the angle at which the various layers cross each other thus remain substantially constant.The winding pitch (p) is variable according to the equation:P=P.sub.1 +2.pi...DELTA.r tan .alpha.where:P.sub.1 is the pitch at which the innermost layer is wound,.alpha. is the substantially constant winding angle, and.DELTA.r is the increase in the winding radius corresponding to the layer which is being wound.

Abstract: An oxygenator has a housing provided with a blood inlet and a blood outlet, a bundled aggregate of a multiplicity of gas-exchange membranes, and a gas inlet and a gas outlet independently formed outside opposite bundle end parts of the bundled membrane aggregate, the bundled membrane aggregate being stowed within the housing in such a manner as to partition a gas flow path for communication between the gas inlet and gas outlet and a blood flow path for communication between the blood inlet and blood outlet from each other, which oxygenator is characterized by the fact that the bundled membrane aggregate is provided in or near the gas outlet with a device for thermally insulating or heating the gas emanating from the gas outlet.

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: In a membrane type artificial lung using as gas-exchange membranes porous hydrophobic membranes having a wall thickness in the range of 5 to 80 .mu.m, a porosity in the range of 20 to 80%, and a pore diameter in the range of 0.01 to 5 .mu.m, the minute pores of the membranes are blocked with minute particles of silica having a diameter smaller than the pore diameter and having a hydrophobic surface at least on the sides thereof intended for exposure to blood. Optionally, the gas-exchange membranes have the surfaces for exposure to blood coated with a biocompatible hydrophobic resin.

Abstract: The element is disposed in a vessel receiving a fluid flow. The vessel wall is porous at least for a proportion of the fluid and bounds an inner chamber communicating through the vessel wall with a chamber outside the vessel. The element is in the shape of a plate or tube and is so devised that the porous wall either on its own or in combination with other similarly shaped elements to form a module, forms a turbulence generator particularly in the form of a static mixer for the fluid flow. The resulting turbulence on the wall of the elements ensures that the wall remains porous.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and blood oxgenator apparatus includes a housing having a blood inlet portion, a blood outlet portion, and a housing wall defining an enclosed chamber disposed along a chamber axis between the blood input portion and the blood output portion through which to pass a quantity of blood to be temperature controlled. A heat exchanger tube having an exterior surface and a hollow interior through which to pass a heat exchange medium for purposes of exchanging heat with a quantity of blood brought into contact with the exterior surface, is disposed in a generally helical coil that is mounted within the chamber to encircle the chamber axis. A scalloped inner surface is included on the housing wall to face generally inward toward the heat exchanger tube.

Abstract: Blood purification apparatus comprises a dead-end system in which blood from the patient is allowed to flow through one or more purification modules, such as a dialyzer, a hemofilter, a hemoperfusion column and an oxygenator, into a resiliently walled reservoir, which is conveniently a standard blood bag. The direction of flow of the blood is then reversed by exertion of sufficient pressure on the bag to push the blood back through the purification module to the patient's circulation. Thus, since the reservoir is of available capacity, being of resilient material for example, the capacity of the apparatus remains equal to the volume of extra-corporeal blood.

Abstract: A membrane oxygenator includes an upper nested arrangement of a hard shell venous reservoir, a bowl-like defoamer within the reservoir and a heat exchanger coil vertically supported within the defoamer, and includes a membrane oxygenator unit mounted on the bottom of the upper arrangement. The oxygenator unit includes an inlet chamber with a tangential inlet providing swirling blood flow to dislodge air bubbles and centrifuge air to an upper center region of an inlet chamber where gas is exhausted through a vent. A bottom blood outlet chamber of the blood oxygenator unit has a relatively thin vertical cross-sectional area such that priming flow velocity therein discharges all air from the outlet chamber.

Abstract: A process for sterilizing a filtration device which comprises employing therein a hollow fiber type module having hollow fibers of heat resistant polymer with a heat distortion temperature of 70.degree. C. or higher under a load of 18.6 kg/cm.sup.2 and with a pore diameter of less than 0.45 .mu.m and having a difference in average linear expansion coefficient between the sealing material for fixing the end portions of the hollow fibers in the module case, at a temperature of 20.degree.-121.degree. C. of 7.times.10.sup.-5 /.degree. C. or lower, and passing steam from the raw water side of the module to the filtrate side thereof, while withdrawing all or a part of the raw water and filtrate which partially fill the module or alternatively after withdrawal of raw water and filtrate.

Abstract: A membrane type blood oxygenating system with the membrane device, blood heater and blood reservoir constructed as an integral unit with the membrane device located lower than the blood reservoir.

Abstract: A blood oxygenator includes an elongated hollow housing having an elongated chamber therein, an elongated fiber assembly disposed within the chamber along an axis thereof and including a bundle of hollow fibers of a microporous membrane. The opposite ends of the fiber bundle are sealingly secured to the inner peripheral surface of the housing by a potting material. Gas inlet and outlet members are connected respectively to the opposite ends of the housing and communicate respectively with the opposite ends of the hollow fibers. Blood inlet and outlet are formed on the housing and communicate with the chamber intermediate the opposite ends of the hollow fibers. The fiber assembly includes a plurality of layers of spirally-wound fiber bundles arranged one upon another. Each turn of one of each adjacent spirally-wound bundles is disposed in a plane intersecting the plane in which each turn of the other fiber bundle is disposed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger using hollow fibers formed of an organic polymer as the heat transfer tubes; a blood oxygenating device comprising a blood oxygenator combined with the aforesaid heat exchanger; and a small-sized and lightweight blood oxygenator which comprises a blood oxygenator of the hollow-fiber membrane type having the aforesaid heat exchanger incorporated thereinto to form an integral unit, and hence has excellent gas exchange and heat exchange performance.

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

Abstract: A porous polypropylene hollow fiber membrane of a circular cross section 150 to 300 .mu.m in inside diameter and 10 to 150 .mu.m in wall thickness for use in an artificial lung, which hollow fiber membrane is characterized by having an inner surface aperture ratio in the range of 10 to 30%, a porosity in the range of 10 to 60%, and an oxygen flux in the range of 100 to 1,000 liters/min.m.sup.2.atm. and inducing no leakage of blood plasma within 20 hours use in the external circulation of blood therethrough.

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: In a hollow-fiber oxygenator consisting of a container containing a plurality of fibers joined into a bundle and open at their ends to allow the passage into them of a first fluid (blood) and over the outside of which flows a second fluid (oxygen-carrying gas) which diffuses between them, a diffuser for the second fluid is provided which consists of several arms disposed in an array and is introduced between the fibers in positions close to the terminal zone of the fibers themselves.

Abstract: A liquid-gas bubble separator comrising a container having an inlet for a fluid which includes liquid and gas bubbles, an outlet and upstream and downstream vents. A filter element is provided in the container between the inlet and the outlet. The filter element permits the passage of the liquid and inhibits the passage of the gas bubbles. The filter element is between the upstream and downstream vents so that gas bubbles which do not pass through the filter element can be vented through the upstream vent, and any gas bubbles downstream of the filter element can be vented through the downstream vent. A bypass passage is provided around the filter element. A portion of the filtered fluid is recirculated through the bypass passage to prevent forward flow through the bypass passage when the filter element is clean, and such recirculating flow is terminated when the filter is clogged to a predetermined degree to thereby open the bypass passage for forward flow.

Abstract: A system and protocol for performing cytotoxicity studies including apparatus and methods for culturing the biopsied cells, for providing oxygenated nutrients, for removing cell-waste products, for introducing a fluorogenic substrate, for introducing cytotoxic agents including anticancer drugs, for measuring the released fluorescence and for measuring intracellular accumulation of fluorescein. Cytotoxicity can be determined by measuring fluorescence in the efflux of the vessel and concommitantly by direct photometric comparisons of the cells in the vessel before and after exposure to the cytotoxic agent.

Abstract: Device for the ultrafiltration of a pressurized high-temperature liquid, having, inside a pressure resistant casing (1), a second casing (11) to which are fastened tube plates (15,16) carrying tubes (14) forming an ultrafiltration wall, and a first set of partitions inside the second casing (11) for channelling the flow of the filtrate. A second set of partitions (27) arranged in the casing (11) above the upper tube plate (16) and partitions placed in the casing (1) underneath the lower tube plate (15) make it possible to channel the fluid to be purified and the concentrate. The part of the filter which incorporates the tubes (14) can easily be removed. The fluid circulates at a constant rate in all parts of the filter.

Abstract: A mass/heat exchange device for use as blood oxygenator, dializer, heat exchanger and the like, includes a rectangular or cylindrical elongated housing with first and second opposite axial ends. The interior of the housing is subdivided into three chambers, including an inlet chamber located at one axial end, an outlet chamber located at the opposite axial end and a central mass/heat transfer chamber located therebetween. A plurality of parallel tubes extend through the central chamber and connect the inlet and outlet chambers to provide passageways for treating medium to flow therebetween. The outer surface of each tube has the shape of a series of spherical lobes, connected end-to-end. Further, adjacent tubes are offset from one another to allow internesting of their lobes in a tight orderly packed manner. The treating medium, for example oxygen, flows through the tubes while a medium to be treated, for example blood, flows through the interstitial spaces between the tubes.

Abstract: A hollow fiber separation device such as an oxygenator for blood which comprises a core having a bundle of hollow tubular fibers circumferentially wrapped around the core for separation of materials. A housing encloses the bundle and first and second manifold systems respectively provide separated flow through the bundle in contact with exterior surfaces of the hollow fibers and the bores of the hollow fibers in first and second flow paths. A space extends longitudinally through the bundle exposing open ends of the fibers at opposed sides of the space, regions of the bundle are adjacent to the space being potted to prevent leakage around to the fibers. The second manifold system includes an inlet and outlet conduit, each being in flow communication with the space. Partition means in the space isolates fluid flow between the inlet conduit in one of the opposed sides from fluid flow between the outlet conduit in the other of opposed sides.

Abstract: A material transfer apparatus of hollow fiber type is provided comprising tubular housing, a bundle of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes axially extending through the housing, a first fluid chamber defined by the outer surface of the hollow fibers and the inner surface of the housing, a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet both in fluid communication with the first chamber for passing a dialysate into and out of the first chamber, partitions supporting the opposite ends of the hollow fibers and isolating the fiber end from the first chamber, and a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet both in fluid communication with the interior space of the hollow fibers for passing a blood into and out of the fiber interior space. Flowpath forming members each having an elastomeric annular member integrally molded thereto are mounted on opposite ends of the housing.

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.