Filter device having a hollow fiber bundle and associated sealing devices

A dialysis filter comprising a housing, a first fluid flow path contained in said housing, a molding compound adjacent the ends of the first fluid flow path, a first fluid port for fluid inflow and outflow from said first fluid flow path, a first cap joined in a fluid-tight manner to said molding compound and the first fluid port, a second cap connected to said housing in a fluid tight manner and overlapping said first cap, a second fluid flow path located between said first and second caps and further located in a space between the housing and the first fluid flow path, said housing widened at one or both ends such that the portion of the housing connected to said second cap has a diameter greater than the remainder of said housing, a second fluid port providing fluid inflow and outflow from the second fluid flow path, a ring having projections and having axial notches, the margins of said projections being bound in said molding compound such that a portion of said notches is free of molding compound, the portion of said notches free of molding compound being in fluid communication with said second fluid flow path.

A method of filtering a fluid comprising the step of providing a filter device comprising a housing, a first fluid flow path contained in said housing, a molding compound adjacent the ends of the first fluid flow path, a first fluid port for fluid inflow and outflow from said first fluid flow path, a first cap joined to said molding compound and the first fluid port, a second cap connected to said housing and overlapping said first cap, a second fluid flow path between said first and second caps and in a space between the housing and the first fluid flow path, a second fluid port providing fluid inflow and outflow from the second fluid flow path, a ring having projections and having axial notches in fluid communication with said second fluid flow path, and further comprising the steps of flowing a first fluid through the first fluid flow path and flowing a second fluid through the second fluid flow path, impurities from said first fluid diffusing into and said second fluid, said second fluid with said impurities flowing out of said second fluid flow path through said second fluid port.

A filter device comprising a housing, a first fluid flow path comprising a hollow fiber bundle contained in the housing, a molding compound adjacent the ends of the first fluid flow path, a second fluid flow path located between the housing and the first fluid flow path, a first fluid port in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path, a second fluid port in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path, the second fluid port oriented such that, during use, no air bubbles may collect in the second fluid flow path, a cap provided at each end of the housing and joined to the housing in a fluid-tight manner, and an annular space in fluid communication with said second fluid flow path and said second fluid port wherein the device further comprises a ring having projections and axial notches in fluid communication with said annular space.