JPS6337972Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane oxygenator that artificially performs blood gas exchange using a hollow fiber membrane.

As is well known, hollow fiber membrane oxygenators exhibit gas exchange properties when made of a membrane made of silicone rubber, etc.
A large number of tube-shaped hollow fibers made of a biocompatible material such as silicone rubber, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, fluororesin, etc. are bundled together, and blood is allowed to flow inside or outside of these hollow fibers. Flowing gas for gas exchange outside or inside these hollow fibers,
This device performs blood gas exchange through the hollow fiber membrane.

Basically, this type of hollow fiber membrane oxygenator is
As shown in Fig. 1, a gas exchange unit is formed by fixing both ends of a large number of bundled hollow fibers 1 with potting materials 2 and 3 such as polyurethane resin so that the opening of each hollow fiber 1 is exposed to the outside. 4
Then, the outer periphery of this gas exchange unit 4 or multiple gas exchange units 4 arranged in parallel is integrally airtight.
A casing (not shown) for liquid-tight covering, and a funnel-shaped (not shown) fitted to the gas exchange unit 4 so as to cover the end faces 2a, 3a of the potting materials 2, 3 (opening faces of the hollow fibers 1). It consists of a connecting lid. An introduction hole and an outlet for introducing and discharging gas or blood into the casing are formed in the side of the casing, and in the center of each of the connecting lids, blood or gas is formed in each of the hollow fibers 1. A distribution port has been formed to introduce and derive the information. Note that fixing of the hollow fibers 1 to a large number of holes using the potting materials 2 and 3 is actually done by immersing a large number of hollow fibers 1 in a molten (liquid) potting material, and hardening the potting material in this state. Finally, the ends of the cured potting material are cut off to open the ends of the hollow fibers 1 to complete the process. Therefore,
In the above structure, for example, the patient's blood is introduced into each hollow fiber 1 through the communication port of one of the connecting lids, and is returned to the patient through the communication port of the other connecting lid,
If the configuration is such that gas is introduced into the casing through the introduction hole of the casing, and the gas that has passed between the hollow fibers 1 is discharged to the outside from the outlet, gas exchange of the patient's blood can be performed artificially. I can do it.

By the way, the hollow fiber membrane oxygenator having the above structure has the following drawbacks in its gas exchange unit 4, and a solution to these problems is desired.

That is, in the potting materials 2 and 3 at both ends of the gas exchange unit 4, a large number of hollow fibers 1, which are supposed to be evenly bundled and fixed at a predetermined interval, are formed into a large number of hollow fibers in the molten potting material. Due to the cohesive force generated when the fibers 1 are immersed, they are further concentrated into several groups, and in the potting materials 2 and 3, the areas where the hollow fibers 1... are densely gathered and the hollow fibers 1... are only sparsely concentrated. An area has been created that does not exist. Therefore, for example, although the blood sent through the connection lid should normally be distributed evenly within each hollow fiber 1, the blood is not evenly distributed to each hollow fiber 1.
The blood flow becomes uneven in the hollow fibers 1 of the gas exchange unit 4, and the overall processing performance of the hollow fiber membrane oxygenator is reduced. Furthermore, the potting material may not be able to penetrate sufficiently into the overcrowded area where the hollow fibers have gathered, making it impossible to seal the area.

The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive research to develop a hollow fiber membrane oxygenator that can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and efficiently perform gas exchange, and have come to the following findings.

That is, by embedding a plurality of small diameter pins in the potting material so as to penetrate the potting material, intersect perpendicularly to a large number of hollow fibers, and intersect with each other in a lattice pattern, the pins can be embedded in the potting material. It has been found that the plurality of hollow fibers are evenly dispersed in the potting material by the pins, and as a result, the hollow fibers can be maintained at desired intervals from each other.

This idea was made based on the above findings. That is, this invention is characterized in that a plurality of small-diameter pins are buried in the potting material in such a manner that they intersect with each other in a lattice pattern, and a plurality of hollow fibers are inserted approximately evenly through each of these lattices. It is something to do.

This invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of this invention, and parts in common with those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals to simplify the explanation. Reference numeral 5 in the figure indicates a support pin, and this support pin 5 is made of, for example, stainless steel and has a diameter of about 3 mm.
It is formed with the following dimensions. The above support pin 5...
are embedded in the potting materials 2 and 3 so as to penetrate through the potting materials 2 and 3.
m) are perpendicular to 1... and intersect with each other in a grid pattern. These support pins 5 are buried at a predetermined distance L (for example, 50 mm or less) from the end surfaces 2a and 3a of the potting materials 2 and 3, as shown in FIG.
The support pins 5 are located at separate positions, and the distance d between the support pins 5 is, for example, 5 mm to 30 mm. These support pins 5 are attached to the gas exchange unit 4.
In manufacturing, first, the hollow fibers 1 are intersected with each other in a lattice pattern, and a large number of hollow fibers 1 are evenly distributed between each lattice. This is done by filling the potting materials 2 and 3 into the container and solidifying them. Therefore, a large number of hollow fibers 1 are connected to the potting material 2,
It is evenly distributed among the three. The distance from the buried position of the support pin 5 to the opening of the hollow fiber 1 is set within a length range (50 mm (below), the hollow fibers 1 are evenly distributed on each end surface 2a, 3a of the potting materials 2, 3, and as a result, there is no adverse effect on the circulation of blood or gas. Furthermore, the support pins 5 combined in a lattice shape have the effect of increasing the strength of the potting materials 2 and 3.

As explained above, in the hollow fiber membrane oxygenator according to this invention, in the potting material that fixes both ends of a large number of bundled hollow fibers, a plurality of small diameter pins are inserted through the potting material, and a large number of small diameter pins are inserted through the potting material. Since the hollow fibers are embedded in the potting material in such a manner that they are perpendicular to the hollow fibers and intersect with each other in a lattice pattern, a large number of hollow fibers are not planted in the potting material in a dense manner. There is no delay in the flow of blood or gas flowing through the system, resulting in improved processing performance.
Furthermore, it has the excellent advantage that the strength of the potting material can be improved by embedding the pins.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gas exchange unit constituting a conventionally known hollow fiber membrane oxygenator, and Figs. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of this invention. Side view of the main parts of the gas exchange unit,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 2. 1... Hollow fiber, 2, 3... Potting material, 4
...Gas exchange unit, 5...Support pin.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A gas exchange unit has a gas exchange unit in which a large number of hollow fibers are bundled at regular intervals, and both ends of the hollow fibers are fixed with a potting material. In a hollow fiber membrane oxygenator, which performs blood gas exchange by circulating blood internally or externally and also circulating gas for gas exchange externally or internally through the same number of hollow fibers, a plurality of support pins are connected to each other in a lattice. A hollow fiber membrane type oxygenator, characterized in that a plurality of hollow fibers are embedded in the potting material with the hollow fibers intersecting each other in a shape and passing through each of these lattices almost equally.