Hollow fiber membrane fluid processor

Abstract

A hollow fiber membrane fluid processing apparatus comprising a housing, a fluid processing hollow fiber membrane bundle in the housing, partitions fluid tightly securing the opposed ends of the fiber bundle to the housing ends, a space being defined by the hollow fiber membrane outer surface, the housing inner surface, and the partitions, inlet and outlet ports for a first fluid disposed in the housing adjacent the opposed ends thereof in fluid communication with the space, and inlet and outlet ports for a second fluid disposed at the housing ends in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fiber membranes is characterized in that the portion of the hollow fiber membranes in contact with each partition swells little upon contact with water-containing fluid. When contacted with physiological saline for priming and the second fluid for processing, the partition-contacting portion of the hollow fiber membranes does not absorb substantial water or expand in wall thickness, that is, maintains the inner diameter unchanged, avoiding any deleterious effect on second fluid flow and an increase of pressure loss.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.