Method for cleaning and drying hollow fibers

Abstract

The removal of manufacturing oils from a pre-potted, wound bundle of hollow fibers used in dialysis equipment, is rapidly accomplished by subjecting the fiber assembly to centrifugal forces acting longitudinally of the fibers. Wicking pads may be used at the outer ends of the fibers during the centrifuging step if desired to counteract the capillary action of the fibers. Following the centrifuging, the fibers are repeatedly immersed, in a vertical direction, in a solvent into which any oil trapped in the pores of the fiber walls diffuses. The repeated rise and fall of the solvent in the fiber lumen continually re-introduces fresh solvent into the lumen to leach oil out of the pores at a rapid rate. In the same manner, moisture is then removed from the fibers by alternately evacuating the fiber lumens in a vacuum chamber and refilling them with warm, very dry air to rapidly remove any moisture contained in the cellulose of the fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.