Liquid purification or separation – With heater or heat exchanger – For filter
Patent
1988-09-21
1990-04-17
Fisher, Richard V.
Liquid purification or separation
With heater or heat exchanger
For filter
210186, 21032178, 21032179, 2103218, 21032189, B01D 3518, B01D 1300
Patent
active
049177974
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid and/or heat between fluids, particularly for medicinal or biotechnical use, where at least one of the fluids between which an exchange takes place is a biological fluid, such as blood for example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exchange functions of this kind are widely used in the field of medicine. An example of such functions is found in blood oxygenators used for supplying oxygen (O.sub.2) to and removing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from blood in so-called heart-lung machines. Another example is found in so-called dialysis filters for removing liquid and waste salts from the blood in artificial kidneys.
In exchangers of this kind the two fluids between which an exchange is to take place are separated by a membrane which is of a nature such as to enable the exchange desired to be effected therethrough. In the case of one large, principal group of such exchangers, the membrane consists of a very large number of capillary fibres, i.e. hollow fibres, through which one of the fluids passes while the other of said fluids flows around the outer surfaces of the fibres, the walls of the fibres having a nature such as to permit the desired exchange to take place. For example, the fibre walls of a blood oxygenator are permeable to gas, whereas the fibre walls of a dialysis filter are permeable to those salt ions which are to be removed from the blood. For instance, the nature of the fibre wall may be such as to allow liquid to pass therethrough under the influence of a difference in pressure across the fibre wall. The nature of the fibre wall is thus contingent upon or determined by the exchange desired between the two fluids, while the internal diameters of the fibres and the wall thicknesses are contingent on the fluid which is intended to flow through the fibres.
Several important requirements are placed on exchangers which operate with such capillary filter membranes and which are intended for use in medicinal techniques for treating primarily blood.
Thus, the total volume of blood in the apparatus should be the smallest possible;
The passages through or along which the blood travels shall be formed so that no eddy currencies or like turbulence flow will occur and so that no locations are found where blood could stand stationary and coagulate; The flow rate of the fluid which flows around the fibres should be as uniform as possible throughout the entire volume occupied by the fibre bundle.
Hitherto known exchangers provided with capillary fibres do not fulfill all of these requirements in a satisfactory manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved exchanger of the kind disclosed in the pre-characterizing clause of claim 1.
The characterizing features of the inventive exchanger are set forth in the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a number of exemplifying embodiments of the invention and in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic axial sectional view of a first embodiment of an exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line II--II in said Figure;
FIG. 3 is a schematic, axial sectional view of a second second embodiment of the exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic axial sectional view of a third embodiment of an exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the exchanger illustrated in FIG. 4, taken on the line V--V in said Figure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The exemplified inventive exchanger illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a rigid container or vessel which is generally referenced 1 in the Figures and which has at one end thereof an axially directed tubular inlet 2 and at its othe
REFERENCES:
patent: 2064511 (1936-12-01), Wells
patent: 3528553 (1970-09-01), Caracciolo
patent: 3722695 (1973-03-01), Sargent et al.
patent: 4075091 (1978-02-01), Bellhouse
patent: 4124509 (1978-11-01), Ijima et al.
patent: 4196075 (1980-04-01), Bentley
patent: 4301013 (1981-11-01), Setti et al.
patent: 4440641 (1984-04-01), Ostertag
patent: 4668395 (1987-05-01), Clark
Inacio Jorge
Nilsson Erling
Data Promeditech I.N.C. AB
Fisher Richard V.
Nessler Cynthia L.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid and/or hea does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid and/or hea, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid and/or hea will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1050633