Transition manifold for blood oxygenator apparatus

A transition manifold for use in association with the upper end of a generally cylindrical heat exchanger fiber bundle having a plurality of vertically extending conduits with open upper ends terminating in substantially co-planar fashion, comprising:

• a generally conical wall member defining a surface extending at a relatively flat angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to a vertical central axis of the heat exchanger fiber bundle and diverging away from the upper end of the heat exchanger fiber bundle in a direction moving radially outwardly from the central axis for redirecting blood flowing vertically upwardly from the open upper ends of the conduits of the heat exchanger fiber bundle in a radially outward direction substantially uniformly around an upper portion of a generally cylindrical oxygenator fiber bundle surrounding the heat exchanger fiber bundle;
• a hub projecting downwardly from a center of the conical wall member and configured to substantially eliminate a stagnant blood flow region that would otherwise exist above a center of the upper end of the heat exchanger fiber bundle;
• a housing connected to the conical wall member for supporting the conical wall member centrally above the upper end of the heat exchanger fiber bundle;
• and
• a circular flange joined to, and extending downwardly from, an upper end of the housing for mating with an inner heat exchanger housing.