DE2910214A1 - METHOD OF PASTING THE ENDS OF A BUNCH OF HOLLOW FIBERS IN A HOUSING AND HOUSING WITH HOLLOW FIBERS MANUFACTURED BY THIS METHOD - Google Patents

Description

DlpL-lng. P. WIRTH ■ Dr. V. SCHMIED-KOWARZIK

Dlpl.-lng. G. DANNENBERG ■ Dr. P. WEINHOLD - Dr. D. GUDEL Dipl.-Ing.S.SCHUBERT

281134 GR. ESCHENHEIMER STR. 39

TELEPHONE: C0611) eOOOFRANKFURTAMMAINI

AO-800 CIP

March 13, 1979
SS / Ar

Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Ine,
Deerfield, Illinois 60015 / USA

Method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers in and after a housing Process manufactured housing with hollow fibers

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The invention relates to a method for casting a bundle of hollow fibers which are accommodated in a housing are.

The invention also relates to an elongated, tubular Housing with a bundle of hollow fibers housed in it.

The present invention is an additional application (continuation-in-part application) U.S. Patent Application 888,071, filed March 20, 1978.

Hollow fiber dialysis machines are known and are an increasingly popular type of dialysis machine for use as artificial ones Kidney as well as for other desired purposes. A liquid for dialysis, usually blood, runs through the Drilling a bundle of semi-permeable fibers while a second dialysis fluid is passed through the bundle via the outer surfaces of the fibers flows.

commonly, as in U.S. Patents 3 * 492,698 and 3,442,002, the hollow fiber bundles are accommodated in a substantially tubular housing, and the ends of the hollow fiber bundles are cast inside the housing to provide a tight seal. After the sealant has hardened the cast surfaces are cut off to expose the holes for the fibers in the bundle, and outer connection heads are placed over the ends of the case, allowing blood or other fluid to reach the ends of the fibers can be distributed at one end of the housing and collected from the other ends of the fibers of the housing can.

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In conventional manufacturing techniques, the housing is rotated about an axis of rotation that runs through the center of the housing extends so that a centrifugal force acts on the sealant at opposite ends of the housing, while the sealant is fed through the ends as it hardens. The ends of the housing are in the usual way formed by a temporary mechanical seal of the centrifuge to prevent the loss of sealant from the to avoid open ends of the housing out.

It has been found that it is difficult to seal the sealant because the open ends are subject to considerable, centrifugal force resulting from the centrifuge. Therefore, even then, leakage of the sealant often occurs on when expensive, high quality mechanical seals of the Ends are provided on the centrifuge.

The present invention accordingly has the object provided means for sealing the ends of a hollow dialysis machine without the use of mechanical seals to create the ends in such a way that the system is simplified during the spinning process. Furthermore, after the invention a sealing system can be created that less sealant for the unit to be produced with each Sealing process required.

Further advantages of the manufacturing method are to be provided, e.g. by a carousel-like manufacturing method a row of sealing centrifuges are arranged on a carousel plate, which the sealing centrifuges in move in a circular path to sequentially feed them to the operator for removal and reinsertion, at the same time a substantial saving of sealing compound occurs with this function.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method

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_ 9 solved the features characterized in claim 1.

Accordingly, the ends of a bundle become hollow fibers housed in a conventional tubular housing. The fiber bundle is in the housing through one of its open ends used. Then the end or the ends of the housing are sealed, preferably with a rigid housing closure member to effectively seal the housing ends, e.g., by a solvent or by Ultrasonic welding, with which the housing closure members are an integral part of the closure and the Housing can be joined together. According to another approach according to the invention, the housing ends and the Housing fasteners wear screw heads so that the fasteners are screwed onto the ends for sealing and can be removed later.

After closing the housing ends with the closing links the housing ends are rotated around an axis of rotation that extends through the middle part of the housing, while curable liquid sealing compound is introduced into the housing through the side openings in connection heads. Accordingly, the liquid sealant migrates to the inner ends of the centrifugal force due to the rotation Housing to the ends of the fiber bundle inside the housing pour in. After the liquid sealant has hardened, you can cut through the housing closure members, likewise the hardened sealant and the hollow fibers at each end of the housing to expose the holes in the hollow fibers. In the other solution, you can simply use the housing locking links remove as described above and then cut the sealant and fibers.

Connection heads can then be connected in the usual way. attached to each end of the housing to allow the flow of liquid

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through the open bores of the fibers in the bundle to facilitate.

The sealing compound can preferably pass through lateral openings to be inserted into the housing by turning the side openings of the housing at the outlet opening of a hollow, elongated element, known as a casting ship, and by placing the liquid sealant in the hollow, elongated element is inserted prior to rotation of the housing. The outlet openings of the casting ship are preferred arranged at its opposite ends.

Accordingly, the spinning becomes as above has been described moving the sealant to the opposite ends of the casting ship and from there through the outlet openings and through the side openings into the housing, where it wan radially outwards into the housing closure member * to surround and cast the ends of the fiber bundle. This takes place without loss of the casting compound, as the housing closure members are absolutely tight, which is a significant improvement over conventional sealing members, which are attached to the centrifuge, as they were previously used, to the ends of the housing against the environment complete while at the same time trying to put the sealant in the desired position against the Centrifugal force generated by the centrifuge, to keep.

After the sealant has hardened, the fixed housing closure member opened and the molded end of the bundle can be cut off in a two-step process as follows First, a circumferential channel or an incision is made through the housing or the housing closure member, for example by using a parting tool, incised around the cast bundle below the essentially solid plastic of the housing

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To expose final links. As another possibility, the housing closure member can, for example, simply be removed thereby that it is unscrewed. Then the cast-in bundle end can be cut in the usual way with a precision meat cutting machine or a similar machine, through the circumferential channel or the circumferential Incision therethrough, or with the end exposed when the housing closure member is removed, about a plane Surface, which are the open holes of the fibers in the? Includes bundle.

In an expedient manner, the fixed housing closure member can comprise cup-shaped members made of plastic, of which each is sealed at its end to one end of the tubular housing. Part of each cup-shaped link at the edge can have a relatively large diameter in relation to the tubular housing, to serve as a connection head on the side openings in the housing, which when it is ultimately used as Inlet and outlet openings are used for one of the liquids, who are subjected to the dialysis process.

Each of the cup-shaped members can also form an extended cylindrical section, which is preferably of equal length or longer than the enlarged diameter portion located away from the rim, and one Has diameter which is smaller than the portion of relatively enlarged diameter. this section of the cup-shaped element receives one end of the hollow fiber bundle and is filled with the casting compound. As a result of this With a reduced diameter, the amount of casting compound that must be used is reduced compared to the prior art.

In another form of solution, the housing closure members simply be separate end plates attached to and fixedly connected to each end of the housing, according to

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which the fiber bundle is used. In this case, the housing can be cut open even after the shooting process will.

The invention is explained below with reference to a drawing with 10 figures. It shows:

1 shows a partially schematic side view of a hollow fiber bundle which is accommodated in a housing and carried by a centrifuge according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one end of the housing and fiber bundle shown in Fig. 1, wherein the casting compound is visible migrating from the casting ship to both ends of the housing;

Fig. 3 in a view similar to FIG. 2 how the closure member is cut through by a circumferential Cutting the channel around the occluding member;

FIG. 4 in a view similar to FIG. 2 as the end section of the closure member is removed and the cast-in ends of the fiber bundle cut off in a disk shape will;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a separate hollow tubular housing according to the present invention, in which a fiber bundle is housed, and a separately molded closure member adapted to be sealed to one end of the housing to become;

6 shows a perspective illustration of the completed cut-off tubular housing and a Connection head attached to it;

7 shows a plan view of a dividing carousel for the semi-automatic Mass production of hollow fiber bundles cast in housings according to the present invention Invention;

8 is a side view of one end of a hollow fiber bundle

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dels in another embodiment of the housing and an associated cup-shaped housing closure member according to the present invention;

Figure 9 is a partial side view of one end of the housing and the fiber bundle shown in Fig. 8, showing how the protruding the molded fiber bundle end can be cut off can, and

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of one end of the housing and fiber bundle shown in FIG is after the cutting step has been completed.

Referring to Figures 1 through 6, there is a method and apparatus for making a molded hollow fiber bundle within of a housing disclosed. A central, hollow housing is shown with a hollow fiber bundle 12 inserted at the beginning which is preferably made in accordance with US patent application 767,711 filed on February 11, 1977 or by any other desired technique for building fiber bundles. It is shown that the hollow fiber bundle 12 should be longer than the central housing 10, so that it is at both ends from the Housing 10 protrudes a predetermined length. Preferably, the ends of the bundle of fibers 12 are from adhesive tape 14 surrounded and fixed by this before the bundle is introduced into the housing 10 in order to facilitate the introduction and prevent disruption of the bundled arrangement of the fibers.

Thereafter, the essentially cup-shaped housing closure members 16 on ends 18 of housing 10 to surround and enclose fiber bundle 12 Ultrasonic welding or a similar process with a permanent hermetically sealed connection is attached. As shown, the housing closure member 16 forms a closed

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has its end wall 20 which may be arranged to be a short distance from the associated end of the fiber bundle 12 is located.

In this embodiment, the cup-shaped housing closure member 16 also carries a lateral connection piece 22 as an integral part.

Furthermore, a section 24 of the cup-shaped housing closure member has 16 has an enlarged diameter with respect to the tubular housing 10 in order to act as a distribution surface for To serve liquids that enter the connecting piece 22 or flow out of these. Another wider one cylindrical section 26 of the cup-shaped housing closure member 16, which is preferably of the same or larger Length than the section 24 has a diameter that is less than the relatively enlarged diameter of the section 24 is, and is, as stated above, arranged to receive one end of the hollow fiber bundle 12.

The structure shown in Fig. 2 is at both ends of the Housing the same, so one end is omitted for simplicity of illustration.

An inner rim 25 can be used to improve the centering of the bundle 12.

After the cup-shaped fixed housing closure member 16 is tightly attached to each end of the housing 10 through Ultrasonic welding or another desired technique is the resulting assembly unit on a centrifuge rotor 28 attached, which is driven by a centrifuge 36. The centrifuge rotor and centrifuge 36 can be of conventional design and are adapted to hold the housing 10 and associated parts in place. Arms 29 of the rotor grip the housing 10 and the

Housing latches 16.

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A hollow, elongated casting ship 30, which can be made of thermoplastic plastic or the like, is with its outlet connections 32 in the connection piece 22, as shown in Fig. 2, attached. Any fastener you want can be used. For example, the end of each outlet port 32 can be slightly domed be, as shown, a frictional connection within of the connecting piece 22, and the casting ship 30 can be attached to the housing by rubber bands 31.

At the top of the casting ship 30 is an open opening 34 is formed into which a liquid-curable casting compound, e.g. Polyurethane sealant, can be entered, typically while the centrifuge is in operation. this happens after the housing 10 and the casting ship 30 have been attached to the centrifuge rotor 28.

The centrifuge 36 rotates the housing 10 about an axis of rotation 37, which extends through the center of the housing. The polyurethane sealant 39 is radially outward to both ends of the casting ship 30 driven. From there, the sealing compound migrates through the outlet connection 32 and the connection piece 22 to continue the flow radially outward along the top of the housing closure member 16, the removed to fill lying part 26 of the housing closure member 16, to surround and enclose the ends of the fiber bundle 12. Typically, a sufficient amount of potting compound is used to fill the cylindrical portion 26 of the To enable housing closure member up to a level on which the paragraph 38 is located, the connection between the Section 26 and the section 24 of the housing closure member defined.

As a result, less potting compound is used while at the same time the bundle 12 is thoroughly at its ends is poured and fixed to the interior of the housing assembly.

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After the casting compound 37 has hardened sufficiently, is the centrifuge 36 stopped. The housing 10 and its associated parts can be removed from the centrifuge, and the casting ship 30 can also be removed, either for further use or for disposal, whichever is desired is.

After the casting compound has completely hardened, can the housing assembly can be opened at its ends, typically by the first step that a circumferential Channel or an incision through each housing closure member, in particular in section 26 of the housing closure cup, is cut. This is shown in Fig. 3 and can, if desired, with a parting tool can be performed to expose the fiber bundle and the hardened putty at the bottom of the incision 40. Thereafter can be a commercially available FleÄh cutting machine or a equivalent machine can be used to cut through the incision 40 and the cast bundle end separate and remove the ends of the housing assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 4, various consecutive severing cuts can be used as desired to obtain a smooth cut in which the greatest possible number of fibers in the bundle have open exposed bores and also around a smooth surface provide that does not promote clotting of the blood.

Thereafter, a conventional connection head 41 can be attached to each end be attached. The connecting pieces 22 of the housing are preferably arranged parallel to one another in order to facilitate the attachment to facilitate on the casting ship 30.

In Fig. 7, an industrial design is shown that of the apparatus and the method according to the present invention Makes use.

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A carousel plate 42 supports a plurality of centrifuges 36 in a series of stations for the continuous and multiple production of molded hollow fiber bundle housings on a semi-automatic basis. Each centrifuge station 36 is configured to implement the present invention, as described above.

Accordingly, as each centrifuge station 36 is spaced from station / location 44 by a partial rotation of the carousel 42 in a given scheme, the fabricated hollow fiber bundle housing can be removed therefrom, or it can be rebuilt with a new housing and casting ship. Then the intended amount of casting compound is introduced into the casting ship after the centrifuge 36 rotates, and the carousel plate covers a partial rotation to bring another centrifuge 36 to the work station 44, while the freshly loaded centrifuge rotates away from the position 44 is to perform an automatic spin operation for any length of time.

Accordingly, if desired, an operator can operate all of the centrifuges on the carousel plate 42 while the remaining centrifuges 36 work until the allotted Curing time is over.

The carousel plate 42 is preferably in a housing 46 included, which is equipped with a vent tube 48 is to remove the vapors of the casting compound resulting from the curing process.

The carousel plate 42 can also have a heater 50 with a forced air duct wear to heat the hollow fiber bundle housing 10 and their associated elements to a temperature that preferably higher than that of the polyurethane casting compound before Introducing the polyurethane into the housing 10 for sealing.

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The polyurethane then tends to get along with the first To connect the housing wall of the dialysis machine and then slowly move it inwards while its volume is being built up, to join the fibers together and create an improved overall connection. Usually is a temperature of 55 ° C is desirable.

As an alternative to this, a second work station could be used be provided, which is for example 180 ° away from the first work station 44, or some other arrangement can be used when desirable.

In the following, reference is made to FIGS. 8 to 10, in which another embodiment of the invention is shown, but its construction and manufacturing technique are compared with the embodiment shown in ö-ό. Figures 2 to 7 is described, unless otherwise stated below, coincides.

A hollow, tubular housing 10a contains a hollow fiber bundle 12a in a similar manner to the embodiment described above, where the ends of the bundle 12a consist of each Protrude end of the housing 10a.

In this embodiment, the connecting piece to side connector 22a can be carried by a housing closure member I6a which, as described in the preceding Execution example, with the tubrisforraigen housing 10a fixed connected is.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment described above, the housing closure member I6a is used as a terminating connecting member 52, which carries a screw thread 54. The opposite end of the housing 10a and the Housing closure member I6a can be designed in the same way as shown in Figure 8 · «

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After inserting the fiber bundle 12a into the tubular housing 10a is a substantially cup-shaped housing closure member 55 attached to each end of the housing closure member 16a. The cup-shaped housing closure member 55 » which has a matching screw thread 56 on its lip, can easily be attached to each end of the housing closure member 16a can be screwed on to form a tight seal to form at the ends of the housing 10a. The cup-shaped housing closure member 55 seated in its place is with shown in broken lines in FIG.

The housing closure member 55 has a web 57 extending over its outer side along the diameter to facilitate the attachment and removal of the housing closure member 55 to and from the housing closure member 16a.

The housing 10a and the corresponding housing locking members 16a, 55 at each end of the housing 10a can be over-side Openings 22a can be connected to a casting ship 30 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. The centrifuge is operated to let the polyurethane sealant 39a fHessen to the ends of the housing 10a and around them in a manner similar to that described above Embodiment shown and described to harden. The polyurethane sealant 39a is added to to fill each of the cup-shaped housing closure members 55 and preferably parts of the housing closure members I6a, so that the inner side of the sealant is substantially within the terminal link 52. As As shown in Figure 8, the sealant is then cured to form the shape of the inner chamber of each cup-shaped housing closure member 55 to be accepted. If desired, the apparatus of FIG. 7 and the preferred sealing methods, the described above can be used.

After the potting and curing steps have taken place, the spinning process is ended, and each of the

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Cup-shaped housing closure members 55 are made by simply twisting off the housing closure member from the connection connecting member 52 removed on the housing closure members 16a. Then the ends of the fiber bundle 12a, which are with cured sealant 39a are cast, cut off, preferably by a round knife 60, which is close is located at each end of the housing 10a. Preferably, the housing 10a can be arranged within a rotatable drum with its ends protruding and then rotated about its longitudinal axis while it is in cut contact with a pair of knives 60 arranged to make the cut at each end of the housing 10a perform at the desired locations. An arrow 62 shows the direction of rotation of the housing 10a and its associated parts at.

The result of this step is that the bores of the hollow fibers of the bundle 12a in a flat surface 64 are exposed at the end. The flat surface 64 at the end includes the ends of the fibers of the bundle 12a and hardened Sealant, with surface 64 extending generally slightly outwardly from the outer end of each termination link 52, which is formed by the housing closure member 16a.

This can be followed by a conventional connection head 41 of the type used in the preceding exemplary embodiment, which however is preferably provided with screw threads, simply screwed onto the screw thread 54 to provide a tight seal to provide a final connection head at each end of the housing 10a and thereby to form a finished dialysis machine.

According to the above technique, simple means are provided to avoid a complicated sealing apparatus, which is carried by the centrifuge to prevent the sealant from migrating to the outside and the sealant from escaping

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from the ends of the housing 10 or 10a. The complicated seals of the centrifuge are through a replaces simple and disposable cup-shaped closing element, which improves sealing effect and reliability having.

The preceding embodiments are for the purpose of illustration of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments.

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Claims (15)

Patent claims: ( 1 / Method for casting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers which are accommodated in a housing, characterized by the following steps: inserting the bundle of hollow fibers (I2 (a)) through an open end of the housing into the housing; sealing the ends tightly the housing by attaching solid housing locking members (I6 (a)) to the housing; Rotating the housing ends (18) about an axis of rotation extending through a central portion of the housing; Entering hardenable liquid sealing compound (39) through side openings in the housing in such a way that the liquid sealant migrates to the inner ends of the housing due to centrifugal force as a result of the rotation, to pour the ends of the fiber bundle into the housing, and after the liquid casting compound has hardened, Remove the housing ends (cylindrical section 26, housing closure member 55) and cut through the Casting compound and the hollow fibers on the spring housing end to expose the holes in the hollow fibers. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized by the additional step that outlet openings of a hollow, elongated element (casting ship 30) are attached to lateral openings (connecting pieces 22), which are in fluid-conducting connection with the housing, and introducing the liquid sealant into the hollow, elongated element before the centrifuge rotates. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that both lateral openings (connecting pieces 22) are arranged on opposite sides of the housing and 909839/0850 generally run parallel to each other. 4. The method according to claim 3 » characterized by the further step that the ends of the fiber bundles are surrounded with adhesive tape before the bundle is inserted into the housing. 5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing closure member (16) is removably attachable to the housing (10) by screw threads (56) and is removed from the housing without cutting the housing closure member before the sealant and the hollow fibers at each end of the housing be cut off. 6. A method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers housed in a housing, characterized by the steps of: inserting the bundle of hollow fibers (12) through an open end of the housing (10) into the housing; tight sealing of the ends of the housing by forming solid housing closure members as integral components of the housing (10); Rotating the housing ends (18) about an axis extending through a central portion of the housing, Introducing hardenable liquid sealing compound through lateral connection stubs (22) in the housing in such a way that the liquid sealant (39) by the centrifugal force due to rotating toward the inner ends of the housing migrates to pour the ends of the fiber bundle (12) and, after the liquid sealant has hardened, cut through through the housing and the sealing compound as well as the fibers to expose the holes in the hollow fibers. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized by the additional step that outlet openings of a hollow, elongated element (casting ship 30) on the side 909839/0850 291Q2U Openings (connecting pieces 22) are attached, which are in fluid-conducting connection with the housing stand, and introducing the liquid sealant into the hollow, elongated element before the centrifuge rotates. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that that the housing closure member (16) is cut through by making a circumferential incision (40) is cut around each housing closure member (16) and that then the casting compound (39) and the hollow fibers (12) cut through. 9. Elongated, tubular housing with a bundle of hollow fibers housed therein, characterized in that fixed housing closure members (I6 (a)) are arranged at both ends of the housing, that a pair of lateral connecting pieces (22 (a)) is arranged on the housing, that each fixed housing closure member (I6 (a)) comprises a cup-shaped member (16) which is attached with its edge close to the ends of the tubular housing, that a portion (24) of the cup-shaped member near the edge is widened with respect to the tubular housing Has diameter that each cup-shaped member has an elongated cylindrical portion (26) which is located remote from the edge and whose diameter is smaller than the portion (24) with the enlarged diameter and receives one end of the fiber bundle (12). 10. Elongated, tubular housing according to claim 9, characterized in that the pair of lateral connecting pieces (22 (a) near the opposite ends of the housing (10) and are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 909939/0850 11. Elongated, tubular housing according to claim 10, characterized in that a hollow, elongated element (casting ship 30) is carried by the elongated, tubular housing (10), that the hollow, elongated member forms outlet ports (32) which are connected to the lateral connecting pieces (22) of the housing (10) are attached and that the elongated element contains a hardenable liquid sealing compound. 12. Elongated, tubular housing according to claim 11, characterized in that each tubular cylindrical section (26) of the fixed housing closure member (16) is cut through with a circumferential channel (incision 39) and that the extended cylindrical section is filled with hardened casting compound, which surrounds and encloses the fiber bundle. 13. Elongated, tubular housing and attached hollow elongated element according to claim 12, characterized in that the hollow elongated element consists of a thin-walled plastic casing which has outlet connections (32) at its opposite ends. 14. Elongated, tubular housing according to claim 9, characterized in that the cup-shaped fixed housing closure member (55) has screw threads (56) on its inner edges and the ends of the tubular housing form screw threads (54) at their outer ends and that the cup-shaped housing closure members (55) can be removably and tightly held tightly by the interaction of the screw threads (54, 56) at the ends of the housing closure member (I6a). 15. Elongated, tubular housing according to claim 9, characterized in that each cup-shaped housing 909839 / 085Ö closure member with its edge at one end of the tubular housing (10) is attached as an integral part. 909839/0850