US 6,113,782 A · Potting of tubular bundles in housing

Abstract

Tubular bundles are potted in a housing, such as in an oxygenator or a pheresis unit. Spacer material is placed into the housing to cover the first ends of the tubular elements. A layer of potting material is placed into the housing covering the spacer material, and then solidified in place to seal between each of the tubular elements and the housing. The spacer material is then removed from the housing to expose the first ends of the tubular elements. In the oxygenator, at least some of the tubes are gas exchange tubes having an interior lumen and a tube wall which is permeable for oxygen and carbon dioxide flow through the tube wall. The potting separates the housing into manifold chambers communicating with the interior of the tubes and a blood flow chamber sealed from the manifold chambers. Blood flows over the exterior surface of the tubes. Other tubes may be heat transfer tubes, such as for carrying a heat transfer fluid to control the temperature of the blood. Multiple pottings may be performed to provide separate sealed manifold chambers for each set of tubes.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for potting, a plurality of tubular elements within a housing, the method comprising:

providing a housing;
placing a plurality of tubular elements in an aligned array within the housing, each of the tubular elements having a first end at a first side of the aligned array;
placing spacer material into the housing to cover the first ends of the tubular elements, the spacer material being fluid at the time of placing, the spacer material forming a first surface intersecting each of the tubular elements;
placing a first layer of potting material into the housing and covering the first surface of the spacer material, the first layer of potting material being fluid at the time of placing;
solidifying the first layer of potting material to seal between each of the tubular elements;
and
substantially removing the spacer material from the housing to thereby define a first fluid manifold within the housing and to expose the first ends of the tubular elements, the first ends of the tubular elements being in fluid communication with the first fluid manifold.

4 more elements

A medical device for controlled transfer between a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow, the medical device comprising:

a housing having a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet;
a plurality of first tubular elements in an aligned array within the housing, each of the first tubular elements having a lumen for flow between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet, each of the first tubular elements having walls which permit controlled transfer therethrough, each of the first tubular elements having a first open end toward the first fluid inlet and a second open end toward the first fluid outlet;
a first layer of potting material sealing between each of the first tubular elements, each of the first open ends protruding through the first layer;
and
a second layer of potting material sealing between each of the first tubular elements, the second layer spaced from the first layer, with a second fluid flow channel defined between the first layer and the second layer, the second fluid flow channel extending from the second fluid inlet across the first tubular elements to the second fluid outlet, each of the second open ends protruding through the second layer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Potting of tubular bundles in housing

Life of this patent

Potting of tubular bundles in housing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30