# US 2014/0154137 A1 · Apparatus for mass- and/or energy-transfer between two media > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154137 A1 - Document ID: US20140154137A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/122,436 - Filed: 2011-05-31 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31 - Inventors: Ahmad Ali Kashefi Khorasani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154137A1 ## CPC - A61M 1/1698: {Blood oxygenators with or without heat-exchangers (intracorporal A61M1/1678; manufacturing of membranes therefor B01D67/00; semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi-permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00)} - A61M 1/267: {used for pumping} - A61M 60/113: in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines - A61M 60/279: Peristaltic pumps, e.g. roller pumps - A61M 60/37: Haemodialysis, haemofiltration or diafiltration - A61M 60/38: Blood oxygenation - A61M 60/43: using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling - A61M 60/851: Valves - B01D 61/28: Apparatus therefor - B01D 63/02: Hollow fibre modules - A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices - A61M 2240/00: Specially adapted for neonatal use - B01D 2313/20: Specific housing - B01D 2313/243: Pumps - B01D 2313/90: Additional auxiliary systems integrated with the module or apparatus - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for mass- and/or energy-transfer between two media, in particular between blood and a gas/gas mixture, having a chamber (1) through which a first medium, in particular blood, flows and in which a bundle of mass- and/or energy-permeable hollow fibres through which the second medium can flow and around which the first medium can flow is arranged transverse to the flow direction of the first medium, in which the chamber (1) is configured as an elastic shell (3) at least in a region which completely surrounds the bundle, where a rigid housing (6) is arranged around the elastic shell (3) and the inner wall of the housing contacts the shell (3) in a plurality of first regions (9) and the inner wall of the housing is not in contact with and is in particular at a spacing from the shell (3) in at least one second region (10), preferably a plurality of second regions (10) in the direction of the extension of the hollow fibres, where the one hollow space or at least one of the plurality of hollow spaces formed in the second regions (10) between shell (3) and housing (6) joins a fluid connection (11) passing through the wall of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for exchanging mass and/or energy between two fluids, comprising a chamber through which the first fluid flows and through which transversely to the direction of flow of the first fluid extends a bundle of mass and/or energy-permeable hollow fibers through which the second fluid can flow and the first fluid cannot flow, wherein the chamber is formed as an elastic shell in at least one region that completely surrounds the bundle, wherein a rigid housing is provided around the elastic shell having an inner wall that contacts the shell in several first regions and that is spaced from the shell in at least one second region toward the hollow fibers, one formed cavity or at least one of several cavities formed in the second regions between the shell and housing being open into a fluid connection through the housing wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein two first regions are provided, each being arranged at the axial end of the chamber and enclosing the chamber in the circumferential direction, with the second region between these two first regions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing inner wall contacts the shell in several first regions that each extend parallel to the hollow fibers, and the first and second regions surround the bundle angularly equispaced. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bundle and the shell have a substantially circular external cross section and the surrounding housing is of similar cross section and has in its inner housing wall several angularly equispaced recesses or offsets that form respective second regions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bundle with the shell has a substantially circular external cross section and the housing has a substantially polygonal internal cross section, the second regions being formed between corners of the housing inner wall and shell extending parallel to the hollow fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in two diametrally opposite second regions connections formed on the shell for supplying and withdrawing the first fluid extend through the housing inner wall through holes in the housing, with a one-way valve or an active valve in at least one of the connections pressing together and releasing the hose from the outside. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein, in two diametrally opposite second regions, the cavities formed between the shell and housing lead through the housing wall into a fluid connection that can be at subatmospheric and/or superatmospheric pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an even number of second regions is formed between the housing inner wall and the shell, the internal cross section of the housing perpendicular to the hollow fibers being polygonal with an even number of corners. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein projections err extending on the shell parallel to the hollow fibers are in the first regions and each fit in a positive manner, in a respective groove extending in the housing inner wall parallel to the hollow fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bundle of hollow fibers is wound on a core. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the core is hollow, has an outer surface facing toward the bundle, and has openings to the hollow core interior at least in areas that are sealed/covered by a flexible membrane, an interior of the core having a fluid connection via which the core interior can be pressurized or depressurized. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the core has a polygonal outside cross section perpendicular to the hollow fibers, openings being formed in flat surface areas between edges of the core that extend parallel to the hollow fibers, the core having a number of corners on its cross section that is equal to that of the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the core is formed by a flexible elastic shell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for operating an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one second region or the cavity formed by it is pressurized with periodic pressure pulses via the fluid connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 15) The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the pressure pulses are selected a) in the range from 10 to 120 pulses per minute, in order to pump the first fluid through the chamber or to assist heart function, or b) with a first low number of pulses per minute in the range from 10 to 120 pulses per minute, with a second pressure pulse of a higher number of pulses per minute and a lower amplitude 100 to 300 pulses per minute, being superposed over these pressure pulses, thus pumping the first fluid through the chamber as a result of the low-frequency pulses, and a secondary flow/mixing of the first fluid in the chamber being brought about as a result of the higher-frequency pulses, or c) in the range of greater than 100 pulses per minute in order to bring about a secondary flow/mixing of the first fluid in the chamber, the first fluid being pumped through the chamber by a separate externally arranged pump. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for exchanging heat or mass between a first fluid and a second fluid, the apparatus comprising: a rigid housing forming a chamber extending along an axis; a bundle of tubular fibers extending axially through the chamber and connected for axial throughflow of the first fluid through the fibers; an elastic tubular shell radially surrounding the bundle of fibers, having a first and a second region, and connected for flow of the second fluid transversely through the bundle between the fibers, whereby mass or heat can be exchanged between the fluids, the second region of the elastic shell forming with an inner surface of the housing a cavity and being deformable between an inner position bearing radially elastically inward on and compressing the bundle of fibers and an outer position pulled radially outwardly and decompressing the bundle of fibers; and means for pressurizing and depressurizing the cavity and thereby compressing and decompressing the bundle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heat/mass exchanger defined in claim 16, further comprising: a check valve for permitting flow of the second fluid only in one direction transversely through the bundle between the fibers, whereby alternate pressurization and depressurization of the cavity pumps the second fluid transversely through the bundle between the fibers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The heat/mass exchanger defined in claim 16, wherein the inner surface of the housing is of polygonal cross section with radially inwardly projecting and longitudinally extending corners, a plurality of the second regions being formed between the corners. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The heat/mass exchanger defined in claim 16, wherein the elastic shell is anchored to the inner surface of the housing to each side of the second region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The heat/mass exchanger defined in claim 16, wherein the means for pressurizing and depressurizing the cavity includes at least one through fitting in the housing.