Non-uniform cross-sectional area hollow fibers
AssigneeExtracorporeal Medical Specialites, Inc.
InventorsChristopher H. Porter, John A. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hollow fibers, particularly useful as semipermeable membranes in separatory devices such as blood dialyzers, having a non-uniform cross-sectional area along the length thereof. The fibers have recurring points of maximum outside diameter and minimum outside diameter and such points may recur on a regular basis or at random. Fiber wall thicknesses may be substantially uniform or non-uniform. Methods and apparatus for making the fibers are disclosed.
Claims12
A semipermeable hollow fiber comprising cuprammonium regenerated cellulose, said fiber having a hollow core extending continuously throughout the length thereof and having a non-uniform wall thickness and a non-uniform cross-sectional area, said fiber having along its length a first plurality of points of maximum outside diameter and a second plurality of points of minimum outside diameter, said maximum outside diameters ranging from about twenty microns to about one thousand microns and said minimum outside diameters ranging from about 0.25 times the maximum outside diameter to about 0.9 times the maximum outside diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.