JP2004105483A - Humor treater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humor treater for allowing humors to uniformly flow in through an opening part (the whole opening cross section) of a hollow thread membrane. <P>SOLUTION: In humor treaters 1 and 1A, a core material 6 is arranged in the lengthwise direction of a housing 2 in the housing 2; a hollow thread membrane bundle 5 is arranged on the outer periphery of the core material 6; the hollow thread membrane bundle 5 and an end part of the core material 6 are fixed to the housing 2 by using a fixing material 8; ports 3 and 4 having humor inflow-outflow ports 9 and 10 are installed in an end part of the housing 2; inclined faces 6a and 6b are projected in the end part of the core material 6; the inclined faces 6a and 6b are arranged in a space in the ports 3 and 4; the humor inflow-outflow ports 9 and 10 are arranged on the lengthwise directional center line of the housing 2 of the core material 6; and a wall surface of a side part of the ports 3 and 4 is formed as inclined faces 3a and 4b having a shape corresponding to a shape of the inclined faces 6a and 6b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in a body fluid treatment device in which a hollow fiber membrane and a core material are loaded inside a housing. According to the present invention, by improving the shapes of the core material and the port, (a) the body fluid can be made to flow in uniformly from the openings (all opening cross sections) of the hollow fiber membrane, and (b) the blood in the port. (C) the hollow fiber membrane can be uniformly fixed in the housing, and (d) the contact efficiency between the body fluid treatment liquid (dialysate) and the hollow fiber membrane can be improved. And (e) a body fluid treatment device capable of maintaining a uniform flow rate and pressure distribution of the body fluid flowing into the body fluid treatment device and improving the treatment efficiency of the body fluid.
[0002]
2. Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Hereinafter, an example of a body fluid treatment device for an artificial kidney will be described. In the current body fluid treatment device, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are bundled in a straight line and loaded in a cylindrical housing.
Depending on the purpose of dialysis (such as for adults or children), it depends on the size (diameter) of the housing in which the hollow fiber membrane is loaded, the length of the hollow fiber membrane, and the filling rate (the number of hollow fiber membranes filled in the housing). Since there is no support between the hollow fiber membrane and the housing, when the fixing material (also called a potting compound) is filled into the end of the housing and centrifuged to fix the end of the hollow fiber membrane to the housing, In some cases, the hollow fiber membrane is twisted, and the end of the hollow fiber membrane is fixed to be shifted from the center of the housing. For this reason, the distance between the body fluid inflow / outlet port and the opening of the hollow fiber membrane is not uniform, and the body fluid cannot flow uniformly into the opening of the hollow fiber membrane.
Further, due to the twist of the hollow fiber membrane, a large gap may be formed between the hollow fiber membranes, and the contact efficiency between the dialysate and the hollow fiber membrane may be reduced.
Further, the hollow fiber membranes partially clumped, and a body fluid treatment solution (dialysis solution) could not contact these hollow fiber membranes, which eventually caused a reduction in dialysis efficiency.
Although the hollow fiber membrane is loaded on the entire area of the cross section of the cylindrical housing, the portion of the hollow fiber membrane that comes into contact with the dialysate is located outside the center. For this reason, the flow rate, pressure distribution, and the like of the dialysate between the center and the end of the housing cross section are not constant, which causes a reduction in dialysis efficiency.
[0003]
Therefore, in order to uniformly fix the end of the hollow fiber membrane to the housing, a ring is disposed at the inner end of the housing, and the invention of a blood processing apparatus in which the outer periphery of the end of the hollow fiber membrane is pressed and fixed by the inner surface of the ring is disclosed. However, the invention does not disclose or suggest that the core is loaded into the housing (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
A body fluid treatment device loaded with a hollow fiber membrane and a core material has been filed by the present applicant (see Patent Document 3). In the invention of the body fluid treatment device, the end of the core material is formed on the slope, but the length of the slope is short, and the body fluid is uniformly distributed along the slope of the core material at the opening of the hollow fiber membrane. It was difficult to flow into.
In addition, since the wall surface of the port is formed at a substantially right angle, the distance between the body fluid outflow port of the port and the opening of the hollow fiber membrane becomes farther from the center to the end of the hollow fiber membrane, and becomes closer to the body fluid inlet of the port. Since the distances to the openings of all the hollow fiber membranes were not uniform, it was difficult to uniformly flow into the openings of the hollow fiber membranes.
In addition, the bodily fluid tends to stay near the substantially right angle portion of the port wall surface, and the design of the port is not preferable.
[0004]
Also, in order to prevent drift, stagnation, etc. in the port, an invention in which the wall surface is formed long and the wall surface is curved inward is disclosed, but the invention does not describe or suggest a core material at all. (For example, see Patent Document 4).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-56-168807 (FIG. 2-4)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-10-165777 (FIG. 1-3)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-8-299435 (FIGS. 1 to 3)
[Patent Document 4]
JP-A-4-305229 (FIG. 1)
[0006]
In each of the documents, the port and the shape of the core material are improved so that (a) the body fluid can flow uniformly from the openings (all opening cross sections) of the hollow fiber membrane, and (b) the inside of the port (C) the hollow fiber membrane can be uniformly fixed in the housing, and (d) the contact efficiency between the body fluid treatment liquid (dialysate) and the hollow fiber membrane can be reduced. (E) No description or suggestion of an invention of a body fluid treatment device capable of improving the treatment efficiency of body fluid by maintaining a uniform flow rate and pressure distribution of the body fluid flowing into the body fluid treatment device. It has not been.
[0007]
The inventor of the present invention has made intensive studies and, as a result, has arrived at the invention of a bodily fluid treatment device having all the performances of (a) to (e) by improving the shapes of the port and the core material.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[1] According to the present invention, a core material (6) is arranged in a housing (2) along the length direction of the housing (2), and a hollow fiber membrane bundle (5) is provided on the outer periphery of the core material (6). ) Is arranged, and the ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle (5) and the core material (6) are fixed to the housing (2) with a fixing material (8);
At the end of the housing (2), ports (3, 4) having body fluid outflow ports (9, 10) are mounted,
A slope (6a, 6b) protrudes from an end of the core material (6), and the slope (6a, 6b) is arranged in a space in the port (3, 4).
Disposing the bodily fluid outflow ports (9, 10) on a longitudinal center line (C) of the housing (2) of the core material (6);
A body fluid treatment device (1, 1A) is provided in which side wall surfaces of the ports (3, 4) are formed on slopes (3a, 4b) having shapes corresponding to the shapes of the slopes (6a, 6b).
[2] According to the present invention, (a) the slope (6a) and the slope (3a) are formed in mutually curved shapes, or (b) a part of the slope (6b) is curved outward. The body fluid treatment device (1, 1A) according to [1], wherein the body fluid treatment device (1) is formed in a curved shape, and a part of the slope (4b) is formed in a shape curved outward.
[3] In the present invention, when the total length (6aL, 6bL) of the slopes (6a, 6b) is 100,
The body fluid treatment device (1, 1A) according to [1] or [2], wherein the entire length (3aL, 4bL) of the slope (3a, 4b) is formed from 100 to 200.
[4] According to the present invention, assuming that the total length of the slopes (6a, 6b) protruding into the space of the ports (3, 4) is 100, the total length of the ports (3, 4) is 100. To a body fluid treatment device (1, 1A) according to [1] to [3], which is formed in the range from 1 to 200.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic views showing an example of the body fluid treatment devices 1 and 1A of the present invention.
In the body fluid treatment devices 1 and 1A, a core material 6 is arranged in the housing 2 along the length direction of the housing 2, and a hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 is arranged on the outer periphery of the core material 6.
The ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 and the core 6 are fixed to the housing 2 by a fixing member 8.
Ports 3 and 4 having body fluid outflow ports 9 and 10 are attached to the end of the housing 2.
Slopes 6a and 6b are protruded from the end of the core material 6, and the slopes 6a and 6b are arranged in the spaces inside the ports 3 and 4.
The body fluid outflow ports 9 and 10 are arranged on a center line C of the core member 6 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2.
The wall surfaces on the side of the ports 3 and 4 were formed as slopes 3a and 4b having shapes corresponding to the shapes of the slopes 6a and 6b.
[0010]
The slopes 3a, 4b of the ports 3, 4 and the slopes 6a, 6b of the core 6 are, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, if the slope 6a is curved inward, the slope 3a If the inclined surface 6b is also curved outward, the inclined surface 4b is also formed in a combination of at least partially curved outward. In the example of FIG. 2, the slope 6 b is formed in a combination of an outwardly curved shape (near the bodily fluid outflow / inlet 10) and an inwardly curved shape (near the opening of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5). 4b is also formed in a combination of an outwardly curved shape (near the body fluid outflow / inlet 10) and an inwardly curved shape (near the opening of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5).
Further, assuming that the total lengths 6aL and 6bL of the slopes 6a and 6b are 100, the total lengths 3aL and 4bL of the slopes 3a and 4b are preferably 100 to 200, and more preferably 100 to 150.
The lengths 3aL and 4bL mean the lengths from the bending start points 3I and 4I to the bending end points 3E and 4E of the slopes 3a and 4b.
The lengths 6aL and 6bL mean the lengths from the bending start point 6I to the bending end point 6E of the slopes 6a and 6b.
If 3aL and 4bL are less than 100, the slopes 6a and 6b do not fit in the space of the ports 3 and 4, which is not preferable.
On the other hand, when 3aL and 4bL exceed 200, the lengths of the ports 3 and 4 occupying the whole body fluid treatment devices 1 and 1A are formed longer than necessary, which is not preferable.
The total length of the ports 3 and 4 in the housing direction is 2 to 7 cm, and the total length of the slopes 6 a and 6 b protruding into the space of the ports 3 and 4 is 1.5 to 6 cm. Is good.
Assuming that the entire length of the slopes 6a and 6b is 100, the entire length of the ports 3 and 4 is preferably 100 to 200, and more preferably 100 to 150.
If the total length of the ports 3 and 4 exceeds 200, the length of the ports 3 and 4 occupying the whole body fluid treatment devices 1 and 1A is formed longer than necessary, which is not preferable.
On the other hand, if it is less than 100, the slopes 6a and 6b do not fit in the space of the ports 3 and 4, which is not preferable.
[0011]
The core material 6 can be formed of, for example, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or the like. The core material 6 may be a single piece or a plurality of pieces may be bundled and arranged.
The core material 6 only needs to be closed at least at its end and have the slopes 6a and 6b formed thereon. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slopes 6 a and 6 b and the core 6 main body (tubular or rod-shaped portion) may be formed as separate parts, and the slopes 6 a and 6 b may be attached to the core 6 main body. Alternatively, the slopes 6a, 6b and the core member 6 main body may be integrally formed. Further, the inside of the core material 6 may be hollow, or may be formed in an overall shape without providing a space inside. When a hollow is provided inside, the core material 6 can be easily manufactured by blow molding or the like, and when the completed body fluid treatment device is subjected to high-pressure steam sterilization, the air inside expands and the core material 6 ruptures. In order to prevent this, an air pressure escape hole 6c can be formed.
In addition, a support can be formed on the outer periphery of the core member 6 so that the core member 6 can be fixed to the inner surface of the housing 2. The support is, for example, a bar-shaped, plate-shaped, or ring-shaped support extending from the outer periphery of the core member 6 toward the inner wall surface of the housing 2.
[0012]
The body fluid treatment devices 1 and 1A of the present invention can be assembled, for example, as follows.
(1) The hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 is loaded into the housing 2, and the core material 6 is arranged at the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5. The core material 6 loaded in the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 may be loaded in the housing 2.
(2) A cap for filling the fixing material is attached to the end of the housing 2, and centrifugal force is applied while the fixing material 8 is injected from the outflow ports 11 and 12 of the body fluid treatment liquid.
(3) The cap is removed, the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 fixed with the fixing material 8 is cut, and the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 is opened.
(4) The ports 3 and 4 are welded to the end of the housing 5 by ultrasonic waves.
[0013]
Since the part of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 that comes into contact with the dialysate is located outside the center, even if the central core 6 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 is arranged as in the present invention (the hollow fiber Even if the membrane bundle 5 is replaced with the core material 6), the dialysis efficiency is not affected, and the improvement of the dialysis efficiency is expected.
In a state where the core material 6 is arranged inside the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5, a centrifugal force is applied while injecting the fixing material 8, so that the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 is formed between the outer periphery of the core material 6 and the inner wall surface of the housing 2. Since all the five bundles of hollow fiber membranes are supported, they are arranged almost linearly in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2, and the ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundles 5 are uniformly fixed to the housing 2 around the core 6. Can be.
Therefore, the contact efficiency between the blood inside the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 and the flow of the dialysate outside the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 can be kept uniform. Further, the blood flow rate and the pressure distribution in the body fluid treatment device can be uniformly adjusted.
Furthermore, regardless of the diameter of the core material 6, the filling density of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 loaded in the space between the core material 6 and the housing 2 can be uniformly adjusted, and the diameter of the core material 6 can be changed. Thereby, the body fluid treatment area (dialysis, filtration area) of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 5 can be appropriately adjusted according to the treatment purpose. This makes it possible to provide a bodily fluid treatment device according to the treatment purpose only by changing the diameter of the core material 6 without changing the diameter of the housing and the number of filled hollow fiber membranes as in the related art according to the treatment purpose. it can.
[0014]
Operation and Effect of the Invention
The present invention, by improving the shape of the core material and the port,
(1) The distance between the body fluid outflow / inlet and the opening end of the hollow fiber membrane is made as uniform as possible, so that the body fluid can be made to flow in uniformly from the openings (all opening cross sections) of the hollow fiber membrane.
(2) The stagnation of blood in the port and residual blood can be prevented.
(3) The hollow fiber membrane can be uniformly fixed in the housing.
(4) According to (3), the contact efficiency between the body fluid treatment liquid (dialysis liquid) and the hollow fiber membrane can be improved.
(5) The flow rate and pressure distribution of the bodily fluid flowing into the bodily fluid processor can be maintained uniform, and the bodily fluid processing efficiency can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a body fluid processor of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a body fluid processor of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body fluid processor 2 Housing 3 Port 4 Port 5 Hollow fiber membrane bundle 6 Core material 6a, 6b Slope 6c Pressure relief hole 8 Fixing material 9, 10 Body fluid outflow port 11, 12 Outflow port of body fluid processing liquid

Claims (4)

A core (6) is arranged in the housing (2) along the length direction of the housing (2), and a hollow fiber membrane bundle (5) is arranged on the outer periphery of the core (6).
Fixing the ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle (5) and the core material (6) to the housing (2) with a fixing material (8);
At the end of the housing (2), ports (3, 4) having body fluid outflow ports (9, 10) are mounted,
A slope (6a, 6b) protrudes from an end of the core material (6), and the slope (6a, 6b) is arranged in a space in the port (3, 4).
The bodily fluid outflow ports (9, 10) are arranged on a center line (C) in the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) of the core material (6);
The body fluid treatment device (1, 1A), wherein a side wall surface of the port (3, 4) is formed on a slope (3a, 4b) having a shape corresponding to the shape of the slope (6a, 6b). ). (A) the slope (6a) and the slope (3a) are formed in a shape curved inwardly to each other, or (b) a part of the slope (6b) is formed in a shape curved outward. The body fluid treatment device (1, 1A) according to claim 1, wherein a part of the slope (4b) is formed in a shape curved outward. If the total length (6aL, 6bL) of the slopes (6a, 6b) is 100,
The body fluid treating device (1, 1A) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entire length (3aL, 4bL) of the slope (3a, 4b) is formed from 100 to 200. Assuming that the total length of the slopes (6a, 6b) projecting into the space of the ports (3, 4) is 100, the total length of the ports (3, 4) is formed from 100 to 200. The body fluid treating device (1, 1A) according to claim 1, wherein the body fluid treating device (1, 1A) is provided.

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