Patent ID: 6638479
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: A61M,B01D

Abstract:
A blood oxygenator, comprising:a) a substantially cylindrical core having a central axis defining a longitudinal direction; b) a substantially cylindrical housing having a curved, cylindrical wall with a blood outlet at a first, longitudinally extending side portion thereof and a second longitudinally extending side portion having no blood outlet; and c) a substantially cylindrical bundle of packed criss-cross wound layers of hollow fibers disposed between said core and housing substantially coaxially therewith and having an outer side adjacent the curved, cylindrical wall of the housing; d) the packing density of said hollow fibers varying in the fiber bundle such that the packing density is greater on a portion of the fiber bundle adjacent the first longitudinally extending side portion of the curved, cylindrical wall than on a portion of the fiber bundle adjacent the second longitudinally extending portion of the curved, cylindrical side wall such that the blood flows less freely through the portion of the fiber bundle adjacent the first side portion of the curved, cylindrical wall than through the portion of the fiber bundle adjacent the second longitudinally extending side portion of the curved, cylindrical wall.