Hollow fiber treatment apparatus and membrane oxygenator

A woven hollow fiber membrane fluid treatment apparatus disposed within a housing for the transfer of mass or energy through a membrane comprising:

• hollow fiber membranes of a biocompatible material extending substantially longitudinally within the housing;
• first inlet and outlet means communicating with opposing ends of the hollow fiber membranes for directing a first fluid therethrough;
• conduit means disposed within the housing and having second inlet and outlet means in fluid communication with the hollow fiber membranes for directing a second fluid over exteriors of the hollow fiber membranes generally transverse to the hollow fiber membranes;
• first inert fibers of a biocompatible monofilament spaced between adjacent ones of said hollow fiber membranes so that the first inert fibers and the hollow fiber membranes form a warp consisting of alternating hollow fiber membranes and first inert fibers, the first inert fibers positioned substantially parallel to the orientation of the hollow fiber membranes;
• and
• second inert fibers of a biocompatible monofilament extending generally transverse to and contiguous with the hollow fiber membranes, and the fist inert fibers every other second inert fiber passing over the hollow fiber membranes and under the first inert fibers and the remaining second inert fibers passing under the hollow fiber membranes and over the first inert fibers in an alternating pattern to form a weft with the hollow fiber membranes and the first inert fibers.

A membrane oxygenator comprising apparatus for the transfer of oxygen to the blood, said apparatus having a blood inlet and outlet and a gas inlet and outlet and defining at least one channel having a base and forming a first conduit for the flow of blood from the blood inlet to the blood outlet, the at least one channel containing:

• hollow fiber membranes formed of a biocompatible material extending substantially lengthwise through the at least one channel to form a second conduit for gas flow, each hollow fiber membrane having a first end in fluid communication with the gas inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the gas outlet for flowing gases therethrough, the blood inlet arranged to flow blood longitudinally along exteriors of the hollow fiber membranes and the at least one channel to the blood outlet;
• first inert fibers spaced between adjacent one of the hollow fiber membranes and extending substantially parallel to the hollow fiber membranes, the hollow fiber membranes and the first inert fibers comprising a warp consisting of alternating first inert fibers and hollow fiber membranes;
• and
• second inert fibers extending transversely to and contiguously with the hollow fiber membranes and the fist inert fibers, every other second inert fiber passing over the hollow fiber membranes and under the first inert fibers and the remaining second inert fibers passing under the hollow fiber membranes and over the first inert fibers in an alternating pattern to form a weft with the hollow fiber membranes and the first inert fibers.

A blood oxygenator and heat exchange device comprising:

• body means for defining a plurality of pathways through which blood can be passed, with each of the pathways comprising opposing ends and having disposed therein a hollow fiber membrane fluid transfer apparatus and means for defining a heat exchange surface;
• each of the fluid transfer apparatus comprising:
• hollow fiber membranes of a biocompatible material extending substantially longitudinally within the pathways;
• first inlet and outlet means disposed at opposing ends of the pathways and communicating with opposing ends of the hollow fiber membranes for directing a first fluid therethrough;
• conduit means disposed within the pathways and having second inlet and outlet means for directing a second fluid over exteriors of the hollow fiber membranes generally transverse to the hollow fiber membranes;
• first inert fibers of a biocompatible monofilament spaced between adjacent ones of said hollow fiber membranes so that the first inert fibers and the hollow fiber membranes form a warp consisting of alternating hollow fiber membranes and first inert fibers, the first inert fibers positioned substantially parallel to the orientation of the hollow fiber membranes;
• and
• second inert fibers of a biocompatible monofilament extending generally transverse to and contiguous with the hollow fiber membranes, and the first inert fibers, every other second inert fiber passing over the hollow fiber membranes and under the the first inert fibers and the remaining second inert fibers passing under the hollow fiber membranes and over the first inert fibers in an alternating pattern to form a weft with the hollow fiber membranes and the first inert fibers.