Method of manufacturing of hollow fiber cartridge with porous ring

Abstract

A method of sealingly coupling a hollow fiber bundle having first and seconds ends to a porous collar having first and second peripheral edges, at least one of which is coupled to the inner ledge of a casing for encasing said bundle of hollow fibers is disclosed. The method broadly includes providing a porous collar having first and second outer peripheral edges; providing a casing having first and second longitudinal ends, the casing defining a central chamber, the chamber having first and second open ends wherein the longitudinal ends of the casing each include an inner lip proximal to the open end; coupling the first outer peripheral edge of the porous collar to the inner lip of the casing; retaining a bundle of hollow fibers having first and second longitudinal ends within the chamber; permeating the longitudinal ends of the hollow fiber bundle with a fluid impermeable material; joining the porous collar to the fluid impermeable material by penetration of the material into the porous collar; and curing the fluid impermeable material. The method provides a fluid impermeable seal between the casing and the individual hollow fibers. The seal prevents the unfiltered fluid from coming into contact with filtrate and provides a strong bond that is impervious to dry heat and steam sterilization at temperatures ranging from 100.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. and pressures from 10 psi to 60 psi.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.