GB1564959A - Connector for coil dialyzer - Google Patents

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION

( 21) Application No 2414/79 ( 22) F ( 62) Divided Out of No 1 564 957 ( 31) Convention Application Nos 620 619 620 618 620 541 620 542 620 546 620 543 620 617 620 616 620 614 620 613 ( 33) ( 44) ( 51) ( 52) Fill ed 7 Oct 1976 ( 19) ( 32) Filed 8 Oct 1975 in United States of America (US)

Complete Specification published 16 April 1980

INT CL 3 A 61 M 1/03 B Ol D 13/00 Index at acceptance Bl X 6 B 4 6 B 5 6 F 6 6 GX 6 J 7 ( 54) CONNECTOR FOR COIL DIALYZER ( 71) We, BAXTER TRAVENOL LABORATORIES INC, a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, of One Baxter Parkway, Deerfield, Illinois 60015,

United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described statement:-

This invention relates to connectors for coil dialyzers of the type which include a semipermeable membrane; and more particularly, to dialyzers of the type used in artificial kidney systems.

Artificial kidney systems are used to treat a patient's blood so as to remove waste products therefrom One type of dialyzer used in such systems is commonly referred to as a coil dialyzer It includes a flattened, tubularly-shaped, semipermeable membrane of a material, such as Cellophane (Registered Trade Mark) or polycarbonate, which along with an appropriate support member, is wound or coiled about a center core and enclosed in a cylindrical housing Blood from a patient enters the dialyzer through an inlet in the core, flows through the dialyzer inside the membrane and exits the dialyzer through an outlet Dialysis solution flows in a crosswise direction through the housing and between the wound support and membrane.

The dialysis solution contacts the membrane, and due to the difference in waste product concentration between the blood and the dialysis solution, the waste products, such as urea and creatinine, diffuse from the blood through the membrane and into the dialysis solution.

During treatment of blood in a dialyzer, water is removed from the blood by virtue of a process known as ultrafiltration The amount of water which is removed is related to the difference in blood pressure and dialysis solution pressure on opposite sides of the membrane Existing dialyzers operate at relatively high blood pressure levels which is related to the size and shape of the membrane and the membrane support This high pressure may result in undesirably high and/ or variable levels of water removal.

In existing dialyzers the conduits which carry blood to and from the dialyzer may become kinked where they enter and exit the dialyzer Further, in existing constructions dialysis solution exits from the top of the dialyzer This results in an aesthetically displeasing "sloshing" sound.

The Cellophane (R T M) membrane is relatively fragile and may rupture or tear during assembly of the dialyzer when the membrane is sealed and is connected to the blood conduits.

Furthermore, existing dialyzers are relatively expensive to manufacture.

The dialyzer described hereafter avoids or reduces these problems.

The present invention provides a connector assembly for use in a dialyzer for connecting at least one external fluid conduit to c flattened tubular semipermeable membrane; said assembly comprising a jack member for securance to a body of said dialyzer, said jack member defining at least one passageway therethrough; conduit connecting means associated with one end of said jack member passageway for coupling said conduit in fluid communication with said passageway; and membrane connecting means associated with the other end of said jack member passageway and co-operable with a connecting aper( 11) 1 564 959 1,564,959 ture in the membrane for coupling said membrane to said passageway; said membrane connecting means and conduit connecting means being independent of each other and securable to said jack member such that fluid can flow from the membrane into the passageway or vice versa and into the conduit without forces being imposed on said conduit being transferred to said membrane.

The invention also resides in a dialyzer having a core portion, at least one end cap member, an external fluid conduit, a flattened tubular semipermeable membrane wound around the core portion and having at least one connecting aperture in the wall thereof, and a connector assembly to protect the membrane from forces imposed on said conduit, said assembly being constructed as defined in the above paragraph.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dialyzer made in accordance with the invention:

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an inlet jack assembly for use in the dialyzer; Figure 5 is a top plan view of a blood button connector for use with the inlet jack assembly; Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an exploded, fragmentary sectional view showing the connection between the inlet jack assembly and semipermeable membrane; Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a support member and a membrane for use in the dialyzer; Figure 9 is a sectional view of the support member taken substantially along line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8 but showing an alternative support member configuration; Figure 11 is a plan view of a support member of the type shown in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of Figure 8, Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of an outlet iack assembly for use in the di.

alyzer showing the inner side of the outle.

jack:

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the oute.

side of the outlet jack; Figure 15 is a transverse cross-sectiona view taken substantially along line 15-15 of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a perspective view of a top cap for use in the dialyzer; Figure 17 is a fragmentary and exploded perspective view showing a portion of the dialyzer housing and core assembly; and Figure 18 is a perspective view of a bottom cap for use in the dialyzer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 75

EMBODIMENT GENERAL Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly Figures 1-3, there is shown a dialyzer 10 having an outer casing which 80 includes a hollow, elongated, pear-shaped, transparent, plastics housing 12, an upper or top end cap 14 and a lower or bottom end cap 16 The dialyzer also includes: a centrally-positioned, cylindrical, core assembly 85 18; an elongated plastics support member 20 and an elongated membrane 22, which are wound about the core assembly; and an outlet jack assembly 24 An inner centrallypositioned, flexible, plastics blood inlet tube 90 26 extends through the upper cap 14 and cooperates in directing blood entering the dialyzer into the membrane 22 An outer blood outlet tube 28 extends through the upper cap and directs blood exiting the mem 95 brane to a point outside the dialyzer The lower end cap 16 also includes a dialysis solution inlet 30 and a dialysis solution outlet 32.

Generally speaking, blood from a patient 100 who is being treated enters the dialyzer through the blood inlet tube 26, flows through the coiled tubular membrane 22, and exits the dialyzer through blood outlet tube 28 The dialysis solution enters the 105 dialyzer through the inlet port 30, flows upwardly between the windings of the memand the membrane support, contacts the membrane so as to receive metabolic waste products and water from the blood, and exits 110 the dialyzer through the outlet 32.

THE CORE ASSEMBLY The inner core assembly 18, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 17, includes an elongated, 115 C-shaped core 34, which is extruded from a plastics, such as polystyrene, and a separate inlet jack assembly 35 The core 34 is shaped to provide an offset somewhat U-shaped membrane retaining slot 36 and a smaller 120 offset support member retaining slot 38 Both of these slots extend inwardly toward the center of the core and open outwardly toward the outside of the core The facing edges 40 and 42 of the core each includes 125 a semicircular jack-receiving slot 44 or 46 and define an elongated inlet-jack-receiving gap.

The inlet jack assembly 35, as shown in 1,564,959 Figures 3, 4 and 7, includes the blood inlet tube 26, an inlet elbow 48, and an elongated molded inlet jack member 50 The jack member is constructed to fit within the gap defined by the core edges 40 and 42 and be bonded to the core 34 The jack member has a curved central body portion 52 and a pair of side flanges 54 and 56, which slidably and sealingly engage the jack-receiving slots 44 and 46 The outer surface of the central body portion of the jack is curved in a manner complementary to the curvature of the core so as to form a generally cylindrical core assembly.

A short, integral, boss-like structure 58 is centrally positioned between the ends of the jack member on the back side thereof and extends toward the center of the core assembly A tapered passageway 60 extends transversely through the body portion 56 and through the boss 58 An integrally-molded, countersunk, 0-ring-receiving, recess 62 is formed in the body portion 56 and surrounds the outer terminal end of the passageway 60 and a plurality of molded blood distribution grooves, such as 63 and 64, extend radially from the 0-ring recess A tapered internal, annular snap-lock shoulder 65 extends inwardly into the passageway adjacent the other end of the passageway.

The elbow 48 is bonded to outlet end of the blood inlet tube 26 and also telescopically engages and is bonded to the boss 58 so as to direct incoming blood flow from the tube 26 into the passageway 60.

THE MEMBRANE AND THE SUPPORT MEMBER Referring now to Figures 3, 8-12 and 17, the membrane 22 is an elongated, flattened tube of a semipermeable material, such as Cellophane (R T M) or a cellulose derivative sold under the Registered Trade Mark Cuprophan The membrfane is coiled or wound about the core assembly and serves as a conduit for the passage of blood through the dialyzer from the core assembly 18 to the outlet jack assembly 24 This membrane separates the blood and dialysis solution but permits blood waste products and water to pass from the blood into the dialysis solution contacting the membrane It also permits preselected substances placed in the dialysis solution to pass through it and into the blood.

The support member is longer and wider than the membrane and may be of the conventional open mesh screen type as disclosed in U S Reissue Patent No 27,510 or of an embossed type, such as is disclosed in U S.

Patent No 3,687,293 Such an embossed support includes an imperforate center web having equal-height, membrane-engaging ribs on each side of the web.

The member 20 shown in Figure 9 and 1 C is embossed and is wound about the core along with the membrane 22 so as to space the convolutions or windings of the membrane from each other to assure that dialysis solution flows between the convolutions, and that the solution contacts the membrane walls or surfaces The support member 20 70 as shown herein is a fluid impermeable sheet of an appropriate material which has been embossed, on both sides, with an appropriate pattern of supporting and channel forming ribs The support member 20 includes a 75 central web 66 having, on each side, a plurality of elongated ribs, such as 68, 70, 72, 74, 76 and 78, that extend angularly across the web from one longitudinal edge to the other 80 The ribs on each side form an acute angle of about 60 degrees to the longitudinal edge of the web However, the ribs on opposite sides extend in opposite directions This causes the ribs to overlap in a diamond-like 85 pattern, where the obtuse or included angle formed is preferably about 120 degrees However, that angle may be between about 60 degrees and 140 degrees The rib patterns on each side of the member are identical, except 90 for direction, and repeat in a pattern of one large rib and four smaller rounded-tip ribs.

The preferred support member 20, as shown in Figure 8, is fabricated of a soft, low-modulus-of-elasticity material, such as 95 medium density polyethylene In the preferred rib pattern, the larger or high ribs 68 and 78 are flat-topped,( have a trapezoidal cross-section, are spaced about 0 323 inches apart and are about 021 inches tall The 100 smaller or low ribs 70, 72, 74 and 76 are triangularly-shaped, have rounded membraneengaging tips, are each about 012 inches tall, and are substantially equally spaced between the high ribs The total thickness of the 105 support member is about 047 inches The rib height and spacing have been selected to form an appropriate blood path in the membrane which assures a low blood pressure and substantially equal dialysis solution flow 110 rates in the channels defined by the ribs and membrane.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown an alternative support member 80, which has a different rib pattern or configuration In 115 this support member all of the ribs 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 are triangularly shaped and have slightly rounded membrane-engaging tips The two large or high ribs 82 and 92 are each about 023 inches tall and are 120 spaced apart, on centers, about 323 inches.

The ribs 84 and 90 which are adjacent the high ribs are each about 016 inches high and the innermost ribs 86 and 88 are about 012 inches tall The lower ribs are substantially 125 equally spaced between the high ribs 82 and 92 The total thickness of the member 80 is about 050 inches This particular member is fabricated from a stiffer, higher modulus material, such as high density polyethylene 130 1,564,959 As can be seen, the rib configuration can be varied so as to provide multi-rib levels which permit a wide range of control over blood path geometry.

From Figure 12 it will be seen that when wound, the support member engages the membrane on opposite sides and due to the angular attitude of the supporting ribs, the large ribs, such as 68 and 78, overlap so as to form substantially a plurality of point contacts which grasp and hold the membrane therebetween Since the ribs are angularly disposed, the overlapping ribs cannot interfit between one another (otherwise known as interdigitation) which could prevent or inhibit flow of blood and/or dialysis solution.

The angle ribs in either of the support members provide a clear flow channel for the dialysis solution to flow angularly from one longitudinal edge of the support member to the other The shorter supporting ribs engage the membrane in a manner so as to define substantially equal flow channels and to prevent the membrane from contacting the web.

The inner end of the support member 20 is secured to the core assembly by fitting its inner transverse edge into the support member receiving slot 38.

MEMBRANE END SEAL The membrane 22 is a flattened tubular member which must be sealed at each end in order to provide a leak-free conduit between the blood inlet tube 26 and blood outlet tube 28 Referring to Figures 3, 8 and 17, a particularly effective end seal is achieved by forming end flaps, such as 22 a, and folding the flaps against the body of the membrane Such a fold forms a transverse fold line 22 b which extends from one longitudinal edge of the membrane to the other longitudinal edge thereof Preferably the fold line is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the membrane.

At the core assembly end, the membrane 22 is folded so as to form the flap 22 a which is folded outwardly onto the membrane body so as to form the inner fold line 22 b The fold is then positioned in the wedge-receiving groove 36 for maintaining the fold line An elongated wedge 94 is pressed into the groove 36 so as to securely retain the fold and to secure the membrane end in position on the core as it is wound.

The wedge 94 matingly fits within the groove and includes a shaped outer surface 94 a, which conforms to the outer configuration of the core.

BLOOD Bu Tro N CONNECTOR A molded plastics inlet blood button connector 100 (as shown in Figures 4-7), connects the inlet jack passageway 60 with the membrane interior for directing blood entering the dialyzer into the membrane The inlet blood button connector 100 is a hollow, rivet-shaped member having a convex crown or cap portion 102 and a tapered body or barrel portion 104 having a bore or passage 70 which extends through the barrel and cap The barrel includes a reduced diameter section or recess 106 and a tapered retaining lip 108 adjacent the end of the barrel opposite the cap The lip and reduced dia 75 meter section define a snap-lock groove which cooperates with the inlet jack aperture shoulder 65 for snappingly engaging and securing the blood button connector to the inlet jack 80 Six radial blood distributing grooves, such as 110 and 112, are provided in the cap for cooperation with the membrane in distributing blood radially outwardly from the passageway 105 85 An 0-ring seal 114 is seated in the recess or groove 62 surrounding the passageway 60.

The 0-ring 114 is an elastomeric sealing member which cooperates in providing a leak-free connection between the passageway 90 and membrane and which is compressed when assembled so as to resiliently engage:

the membrane adjacent the underside of the blood button cap 102 and hold it against the cap: the jack; and the blood button barrel 95 104 The 0-ring 114 is of a non-aging, resilient, creep-resistant, elastomeric material, such as silicone, which minimizes seal leakage.

In order to install the inlet blood button 100 connector 100, a small, round aperture 116, is cut into a side wall of the membrane 22 adjacent the inner end thereof and approximately centered between the membrane edges The blood button is then slipped 105 into the membrane from an open end, before the end is sealed, and the barrel 104 is inserted through the aperture 116 so that the cap 102 is positioned against the inside wall of the membrane 22 and the barrel extends 110 outwardly therefrom The blood button is then urged inwardly and snap-locks with the shoulder 65 in the jack bore The blood button cap firmly holds the portion of the membrane contacting the underside of the cap 115 against the inlet jack and against the 0-ring so as to minimize seal leakage.

With the end seal secured by the inlet jack wedge 94, a substantially leak-free seal and conduit system is provided for blood flow 120 ing through the inlet tube 26, the inlet elbow 48, the inlet jack passageway 60 and the blood button connector 100.

An advantage to the connector 100 is that the membrane 22 is held against the core 125 assembly 18 and any force applied to the inlet tube is transmitted to the core assembly 18 rather than directly to the membrane 22.

With the membrane end sealed, the blood button 100 secured to the inlet jack 50, and 130 1,564,959 the support member 20 positioned in the support member recess 38, the member 20 and membrane 22 are wound together about the core until the predetermined length of the support member and membrane are exhausted Normally, the support member 20 is both longer and wider than membrane 22.

The support member 20 and membrane 22 are then secured to the outlet jack assembly 24 Furthermore with both the membrane and support secured to the core assembly, relative movement between the membrane and member is reduced which further minimizes possible damage to the membrane.

OUTLET JACK ASSEMBLY The outlet jack assembly 24, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, includes an elongated molded outlet jack member 120, as shown in Figures 13-15 The jack has a concave inner face 122, which is constructed to fit against the outermost winding of the membrane 22 The inner face includes several longitudinally extending sections for cooperation with the membrane which it contacts.

The first section 124 is a blood inlet path defining section which includes a plurality of spaced parallel ribs, such as 126 and 128, which extend inwardly from the leading edge of the jack These ribs 126 and 128 serve to direct blood flow in the membrane further along the inner face of the outlet jack.

A recessed blood flow collection path or channel 130 is positioned adjacent the blood path section 124 and extends for the full length of the jack A blood button receiving bore and blood flow passageway 132 is centrally positioned in the blood flow channel.

A countersunk O-ring receiving recess 136 surrounds the bore and faces toward the inside of the dialyzer The bore 132 extends through an outwardly extending boss 134 on the back side of the outlet jack An elbow 138, which is bonded to the inlet end of the outlet tube 28, telescopically engages and is bonded to the boss 134, and directs blood flowing from the passageway 132 to the blood outlet tube 28.

An inwardly facing fold-retaining and wedge-receiving groove 140 is positioned on the side of the blood flow channel 130 opposite the blood directing ribs 126 and 128.

The bottom end of the jack is defined by a bottom fin or plate 142, which extends rearwardly or outwardly from the inner face 122.

A top plate or fin 144 extends across the top of the jack, but it will be noted that the top plate is recessed at a position above the boss 134 for cooperation in positioning the blood outlet tube 28 A pair of elongated rigidifying ribs 146 and 148 on the outer side of the jack connect the top and bottom fins Top and bottom locating pins 150 and 152 proiect from the fins 144 and 142, respectively.

The membrane 22 is connected to the outlet jack 24 with an outlet blood button connector 154, which is substantially identical with the previously described inner blood button connector 100.

An O-ring 156, similar to the O-ring used with the inlet jack assembly, is positioned in the O-ring groove 136 and the outlet blood button connector is snap-locked to the outlet jack to hold the membrane to the outlet jack in the same manner as the inlet jack.

The membrane is end-sealed by a fold seal of the type described in connection with the inlet jack with the main difference being that the outer flap is positioned on the inner side of the membrane The outlet jack wedge 157 retains and holds the end seal in position In the assembly, the outer end of the support member thereof is positioned back behind the inner face of the outlet jack.

HOUSING AND ASSEMBLY As seen in Figures 2-3 and 16-18, once the core assembly 18, support member 20 and membrane 22 and outlet jack 24 are as 90 sembled, the housing 12 is slipped over the assembly so as to retain it in position over the outlet jack positioned within the protruding portion 12 a which extends along the side of the housing 12 The top and bottom caps 95 14 and 16 are mounted to and sealingly engage the ends of the housing.

The top cap 14 is molded so as to provide a centrally positioned blood inlet tube aperture 170 and an offset blood outlet tube aper 100 ture 172 The blood inlet tube 26 extends through and sealingly engages the inlet aperture 170, and the blood outlet tube 28 passes through and sealingly engages the outlet aperture 172 The cap 14 also includes the 105 spaced parallel outer and inner walls 174 and 176, which define a groove 178 therebetween for sealingly engaging the top edge of the housing 12.

Three cap ribs 180, 182 and 184 extend 110 inwardly from the cylindrical portion of inner wall 176 toward the blood inlet tube aperture 170 Each of the ribs includes a tapered and notched inner edge or shoulder 186, which is adapted to engage the top edge 115 of the core assembly for centrally positioning the core assembly in the housing The lower surface, such as 181, of each rib engages the top edge of the wound membrane and support so as to prevent telescoping or 120 upward movement of the membrane and support.

A small curved, outlet-jack engaging wall 188 is molded across the protruding portion of the cap for general alignment with the 125 inner face 122 of the outlet jack A pinreceiving socket 190 is also molded adjacent the wall and is for receiving the top pin 150 on the top end of the outlet jack.

The bottom cap 16 includes parallel outer 130 1,564,959 and inner peripheral walls 192 and 194, which together define a peripheral groove 196 for cooperative sealing engagement with the bottom edge of the housing 12 A small, curved outlet jack engaging wall 198 is molded across the protruding portion of the cap and is generally shaped to conform to the inner face of the outlet jack An outlet jack pin-receiving socket 200 is molded along the wall for receiving the outlet jack bottom pin 152.

A tubular inlet 202 is molded to the outer and underside of the bottom cap and includes a bore 204 which communicates with the inlet 30 The outlet 32 is formed by a large aperture in the cap The aperture is surrounded by a core assembly locating and receiving shoulder 206 and collar 208 It should be noted that the inlet bore 204 is positioned between the collar 208 and wall 198.

With the housing 12 in place, the inlet tube 26 and outlet tube 28 are then passed through the upper cap and the upper cap is fitted downwardly against the top edge of the housing, the top of the core assembly and the top of the outlet jack In a similar manner, the bottom cap is fitted against the bottom edge of the housing and against the core assembly and the outlet jack It will be noted that with such an assembly both the blood inlet tube 26 and blood outlet tube 28 extend in a generally parallel and axial arrangement whereby kinking and bending of the tubes are minimized.

Once the core assembly 18 and outlet jack assembly 24 are fixed in position in the housing by the top cap 14 and bottom cap 16, any forces applied to the tubes 26 or 28 are transmitted through the core or iack assemblies to the caps and housing Thus, those forces are not applied directly to the membrane and membrane rupture is reduced.

OPERATION As seen in Figure 2, incoming dialysis solution flows, as indicated by arrow 210, upwardly through the inlet 30 The dialysis solution then flows around the core assembly locating collar and upwardly through the wound membrane and support member into the center of the core assembly 18 as indicated by arrows 216 and 218 From there the dialysis solution flows downwardly and exits the dialyzer through the outlet 32 Thus the dialysis solution flow path forms a generally inverted U-shape.

Blood entering the dialyzer through the tube 26 flows downwardly through tube 26, as indicated by arrow 220, through the elbow into the inlet jack and through the blood button bore into the membrane 22 Blood then flows inside the membrane in a spiral path around the core until it reaches the outlet jack assembly 24 At the outlet jack assembly, the blood is directed by the blood directing ribs, such as 126 and 128, into the blood flow channel 130 and hence to the blood button connector 154 Blood entering the blood button connector 154 flows through the outlet jack passageway 132 into the outlet elbow 138 and from there through the tube 28.

The blood is prevented from flowing out of the end seals by virtue of the folded-andlocked end seal arrangements, both at the inlet jack and outlet jack The possibilies of blood leak have been minimized by the selection of the support materials and rib structure Dialysis solution flow into the outlet jack area is minimized by the engagement of the arcuate walls 188 and 198 with the outlet jack However, some dialysis solution flow into the outlet jack area can be tolerated.

Performance of the invention described above involves use of the invention as described and claimed in patent specifications nos 41683/76 (Serial No 1,564,957); 7902413 (Serial No 1,564,958) and 7902415 (Serial No 1,564,960).

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS -

1 A connector assembly for use in a dialyzer for connecting at least one external 95 fluid conduit to a flattened tubular semipermeable membrane, said assembly comprising a jack member for securance to a body of the dialyzer, said jack member having at least one passageway therethrough; 100 conduit connecting means associated with one end of said jack member passageway for coupling said conduit in fluid communication with said passageway; and membrane connecting means associated with the other end 105 of said jack member passageway and cooperable with a connecting aperture in the membrane for coupling said membrane to said passageway; said membrane connecting means and conduit connecting means being 110 independent of each other and securable to said jack member such that fluid can flow from the membrane into the passageway or vice versa and into the conduit without forces being imposed on said conduit being trans 115 ferred to said membrane.

2 A connector assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said membrane connecting means comprises a button-type connector for co-operation with the other end of said jack 120 member passageway and a connecting aperture in said membrane for connecting said passageway and said tubular membrane, said connector including a cap and a barrel and having a passageway extending through said 125 cap and barrel.

3 A connector assembly as in Claim 2, wherein said connector passageway is a bore extending axially through said cap and barrel 130 1,564,959

4 A connector assembly as in Claim 3, wherein said cap is adapted to engage the inner surface of said membrane surrounding said aperture and said barrel is adapted to extend outwardly through said membrane aperture and co-operate with said jack member passageway for providing fluid communication therewith.

A connector assembly as in Claim 4, wherein said barrel is adapted to fit within and sealingly engage said jack member passageway.

6 A connector assembly according to Claim 5 including elastomeric sealing means for sealingly engaging said jack member at a position surrounding said other end of said passageway, for sealingly engaging said connector barrel, and for sealingly engaging the outside surface of said membrane adjacent said cap.

7 A connector assembly as in Claim 6, wherein said jack member has a recess surrounding said other end of said passageway and receiving said elastomeric sealing means.

8 A connector assembly as in Claim 7, wherein said elastomeric sealing means is an O-ring.

9 A connector assembly as in any one of Claims 2 to 8, wherein said connector and said jack member each includes means for co-operation in securing said tubular connector to said jack member.

A connector assembly as in any one ef Claims 2 to 9, wherein said cap includes means defining a plurality of radially extending fluid distribution grooves which extend radially outwardly from said connector passageway.

11 A connector assembly as in any one of Claim 2 to 10, wherein said jack member passageway and said barrel are co-operatively tapered for sealing engagement.

12 A connector assembly as in any one of Claims 2 to 11 wherein said cap is crowned.

13 A connector assembly according to any one of Claims 2 to 12, wherein said barrel has a snap-lock groove adjacent the end of the barrel, and said jack member includes a snap-lock shoulder for releasable locking co-operation with said snap-lock groove.

14 A dialyzer having a core portion, at least one end cap member, an external fluid conduit, a flattened tubular semipermeable membrane wound around the core portion and having at least one connecting aperture in the wall thereof, and a connector assembly to protect said membrane from forces imposed on said conduit, said assembly being constructed according to any one of Claims 1 to 13.

A dialyzer according to Claim 14, wherein the jack member is elongate and substantially rigid and is secured within said dialyzer to said end cap member.

ERIC POTTER & CLARKSON, Chartered Patent Agents, 14 Oxford Street, Nottingham.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon), Ltd -1980.

Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.