Self-coiling hollow fibre membrane

A hollow fibre membrane having a coiled, a hemihelix, a helical or an undulated native form, in which the membrane can be stretched by up to 4-times its original length with no plastic deformation.

An array of vertically aligned, hollow fibre membranes having a coiled, a hemihelix, a helical or an undulated native form, or a combination thereof, in which the membrane can be stretched by up to 4-times its original length with no plastic deformation, and wherein the native form of the membrane is produced by the asymmetric flow of liquid polymer through an opening of a die or nozzle, wherein the membranes are attached at either end to a manifold, and wherein the lumen of the membrane is in communication with an inner space of the manifold and the manifold can be used to supply or remove liquid or gas to or from the lumen of the membrane.

A method of manufacturing the hollow fibre membrane having a coiled, a hemihelix, a helical or an undulated native form, in which the membrane can be stretched by up to 4-times its original length with no plastic deformation, and wherein the native form of the membrane is produced by the asymmetric flow of liquid polymer through an opening of a die or nozzle, the method comprising the steps of passing the liquid polymer through a die opening and around a needle which are asymmetrically aligned, wherein the opening produces an asymmetric flow of liquid polymer as its exits the die or the nozzle to produce a coiled, hemihelical, helical or undulated membrane.