APPARATUS FOR EXCHANGING IONS, MOLECULES, GAS, LIQUID AND/OR HEAT BETWEEN FLUIDS

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid and/or heat between a first fluid and at least one second fluid, particularly when treating blood, includes a rigid vessel (1) having a substantially circular cylindrical centre part (1a) and end parts (1b, 1c) connected thereto. Respective end parts taper gradually towards an axially extending first-fluid tubular inlet (2) at one end of the vessel and to an axially directed first-fluid tubular outlet (3) at the opposite end of the vessel. At least one bundle (4a-d) of hollow fibres is arranged within the vessel (1) and the opposite ends of the bundle are passed sealingly through the wall (5) of the vessel and open into a respective inlet chamber (6a-d) and outlet chamber (7a-d) for a second fluid outside the vessel wall (5). The bundle is spread substantially uniformly across the flow path of the first fluid through the vessel from the tubular inlet (2) to the tubular outlet (3). Different fibre bundles (4a-d) can be arranged in a similar manner in the vessel (1) but connected to separate inlet and outlet chambers (6a-d; 7a-d), so as to enable the bundles to conduct mutually different fluids and perform different types of exchange.

Description: Apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules,, gas, liquid and/or heat between fluids. The present invention relates to apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid and/or heat between fluids, particularly for medicinal or biotechnical use, where at least one of the fluids between which an exchange takes place is a biological fluid, such as blood for example. Exchange functions of this kind are widely used in the field of medicine. An example of such functions is found in blood oxygenators used for supplying oxygen (0~) to and removing carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) from blood in so-called heart-lung machines. Another example is found in so- called dialysis filters for removing liquid and waste salts from the blood in artificial kidneys. In exchangers of this kind the two fluids between which an exchange is to take place are separated by a membrane which is of a nature such as to enable the exchange desired to be effected therethrough. In the case of one large, principal group of such exchangers, the membrane consists of a very large number of capillary fibres, i.e. hollow fibres, through which one of the fluids passes while the other of said fluids flows around the outer surfaces of the fibres, the walls of the fibres having a nature such as to permit the desired exchange to take place. For example, the fibre walls of a blood oxygena- tor are permeable to gas, whereas the fibre walls of a dialysis filter are permeable to those salt ions which are to be removed from the blood. For instance, the nature of the fibre wall may be such as to allow liquid to pass therethrough under the influence of a difference in pressure across the fibre wall. The nature of the fibre wall is thus contingent upon or determined by the exchange desired between the two fluids, while the internal diameters of the fibres and the wall thick- nesses are contingent on the fluid which is intended to flow through the fibres. Several important requirements are placed on exchangers which operate with such capillary filter membranes and which are intended for use in medicinal techniques for treating primarily blood. 5 Thus, the total volume of blood in the apparatus should be the smallest possible; The passages through or along which the blood travels 10 shall be formed so that no eddy currencies or like turbulence flow will occur and so that no locations are found where blood could stand stationary and coagulate; The flow rate of the fluid which flows around the fibres should be as uniform as possible throughout the entire 15 volume occupied by the fibre bundle. Hitherto known'exchangers provided with capillary fibres do not fullfil all of these requirements in a satisfac¬ tory manner. 20 The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved exchanger of the kind disclosed in the pre-characterizing clause of Claim 1. 25 The characterizing features of the inventive exchanger are set forth in the following claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate ■3.0 a number of exemplifying embodiments of the invention and in which Figure 1 is a schematic axial sectional view of a first embodiment of an exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention; 35 Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the exchanger illustrated in Figure 1 , taken on the line II-II in said Figure; Figure 3 is a schematic, axial sectional view of a second second embodiment of an exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic axial sectional view of a third embodiment of an exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the exchanger illustrated in Figure 4, taken on the line V-V in said Figure. The exemplified inventive exchanger illustrated schema¬ tically in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a rigid container or vessel which is generally referenced 1 in the Figures and which has at one end thereof an axially directed tubular inlet 2 and at its other, opposite end an axially directed tubular outlet 3. The vessel 1 presents between said ends a centrally located part 1a which is essential¬ ly of circular-cylindrical configuration and on which there adjoins on one side thereof an inlet portion 1b which tapers gradually inwards from the central region of the vessel towards the tubular inlet and merges there¬ with. Correspondingly, an outlet portion 1c tapers gradu¬ ally from the other side of the centrally located part 1a towards the tubular outlet 3c, and merges therewith. The vessel 1 is intended to be throughpassed by one of the fluids between which an exchange is to take place. If the inventive exchanger is to be used to treat blood, the blood is preferably passed directly through the vessel 1. Extending through the central part 1a of the vessel is a bundle of capillary fibres 4 , which are spread sub¬ stantially uniformly throughout the whole of the through- flow area of the vessel 1 , as illustrated schematically in Figure 2. The two mutually opposite ends of the fibre bundle 4 are passed sealingly through the wall 5 of the central part 1a of the vessel 1 , this wall 5 com¬ prising a suitably moulded plastics material which sealingly embraces and firmly holds the respective ends of the hollow fibres or capillary fibres 4. It is, per se, well known to embody the ends of capillary fibre bundles in a plastics matrix in this way, in conjunction with exchangers which utilize capillary 5 fibre membranes. The respective opposite ends of the capillary fibres in the fibre bundle 4 open into an inlet chamber 6 and an outlet chamber 7 for the second fluid, these chambers being located externally of the central part 1a of the vessel 1 and having respectively TO an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 for the second fluid. The second fluid will therefore flow through the fibres of the fibre bundle 4, while at the same time the first fluid flows around the bundle of fibres in contact therewith. 15 An advantage is afforded when there is provided in the inlet part 1b of the vessel 1 a rigid body 10, which has arranged therein a large number of throughpassing divergent channels 11 and which covers the whole of the 20 throughflow area of the inlet part 1b and occupies the greater part of the volume thereof. The fluid flowing through the vessel 1 is in this way distributed very effectively over the entire cross-sectional area of the central vessel-part 1a, therewith utilizing the capil- 25 lary fibres effectively. Because the body 10 takes up a large volumetric part of the inlet part 1b of the vessel, the volume of first fluid present in the ex¬ changer is reduced commensurately, which is highly beneficial when the fluid concerned is blood. 30 The surface of the body 10 facing the fibre bundle 4 is preferably curved so as to be convex, as illustrated in Figure 1. This enables the fibres in the fibre bundle 4 to be spread more readily over the whole throughflow 35 area, which is beneficial with regard to the effective use of the fibres, and also ensures that the fibre bundle 4 will take up a significant part of the internal volume of the outlet part 1c of the vessel. This will further reduce the effective vessel volume available to the fluid flowing therethrough, which as before- mentioned is highly beneficial when this fluid is blood. The exchanger construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is generally characterized by a very smooth and uni¬ form flow through the vessel, in the absence of eddy currents or like turbulence and also in the absence of locations where fluid is stationary. Further characteris- tics reside in highly effective utilization of the bundle of capillary fibres 4 and the very small volume which is available to and need be filled by the fluid flowing through the vessel. All of these features are of extreme benefit when using the inventive exchanger for blood treatment purposes, in which the blood is caused to flow directly through the vessel 1 whereas the second fluid relative' to which an exchange or transfer is to take place from the blood flows through the capillary fibres 4, this second fluid being, for instance, a gas used in conjunction with a blood oxygenator or a liquid used in conjunction with a blood dialysis apparatus. There is also afforded in this regard the important advantage that the flow resistance and therewith the drop in pressure of the blood is very much lower than with the known blood treatment apparatus which utilize capillary fibres and with which the blood flows through the narrow capilla¬ ries. The exemplifying embodiment of an inventive exchanger illustrated in Figure 3 has in all essentials the same basic form as the exchanger illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The characteristics particular to the exchanger of the Figure 3 embodiment reside primarily in the inclusion of a plurality of capillary fibre bundles 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, the ends of which are connected to separate inlet chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and separate outlet chambers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d. Each of the separate fibre bundles 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d can thus be caused to conduct mutually different fluids in relation to which different types of exchanges shall be effected with the fluid flowing directly through the vessel 1. In 5 this regard, the wall structure and internal diameters of the fibres in respective bundles 4a-4d are, of course, adapted to the exchange function assigned to that fibre bundle through which a designated fluid shall pass. For example, when an exchanger arrangement of this kind is 10 used as a blood oxygenator, one fibre bundle can be used to conduct a fluid effective to remove carbon dioxide from the blood, a second fibre bundle can be used to conduct gas effective to supply oxygen to the blood, and 15 a third fibre bundle can be used to conduct • e.g. temperature-controlled water, the fibres of this third 'bundle having completely sealed or impervious walls so that solely an exchange of heat will take place between the water and blood. In the case of blood oxy- 20 genators there is normally a general desire to be able to influence the temperature of the throughpassing blood and to this end known blood oxygenators are used in conjunction with a separate heat exchanger unit. When using an exchanger arrangement of this form for blood 25 dialysis purposes, the fibres of one bundle may be caused to conduct, for instance, a liquid which is effective to produce the desired ion-exchange with the blood, the fibres of a second bundle may be caused to conduct water through the vessel for the purpose of 30 controlling the temperature of the blood, and the fibres of a third fibre bundle may be caused to conduct through the vessel 1 a liquid which has a pressure different to that of the pressure of the blood present in the vessel so as to obtain desired filtration of the 35 blood, i.e. a liquid reduction. It will be understood that many various fibre-bundle combinations and fluids conducted therethrough may be used, depending upon the use for which the exchanger is intended. It will also be understood that the number of fibre bundles incor¬ porated in the exchanger may vary from case to case. The fibre bundles 4a-4d need not, of course, extend parallel with one another, but can be orientated advan¬ tageously so as to extend through the central part 1a of the vessel 1 in mutually different, directions. This enables the uniform flow distribution of the fluid passing through the vessel to be further improved. Neither is it necessary for the various fibre bundles to lie in discrete layers, one upon t_he other, in accordance with the Figure 3 illustration, but the fibres of, for instance, two mutually different fibre bundles may be intermingled with one another in one and the same layer, in which case the fibres in the two mutually different fibre bundles will conveniently extend through the ve ' ssel 1 in mutually different directions, so as to facilitate connection of the various fibres to their assigned inlet chambers 6 and outlet chambers 7 respectively. A further advantage that is possibly afforded by such intermixing of mutually different fibres is that the fibres involved are able to serve as spacers therebetween, thereby enabling the fluid which passes directly through the vessel to flow more readily past the fibres. The exchanger arrangement of the Figure 3 embodiment also differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in that the flow distributing body 10 of the Figure 3 embodiment is somewhat smaller and takes up only a part of the vessel inlet part 1b. This enables an elastic, inflatable bladder 12 to be arranged in the inlet part 1b of the vessel. . . . In the illustrated embodiment, the inflatable bladder has the form of an annulus which encircles the orifice of the tubular inlet 2 and to which a varying gas or liquid pressure can be applied periodically, through a connector 13, so that the bladder 12 can be periodically inflated and deflated. When there is provided, at the same time, a suitably constructed and arranged check valve for preventing back-flow of the fluid flowing directly through the vessel 1 , such as the check valve 5 14, the periodically inflated and deflated bladder 12 will function as a pump which is both simple and effec¬ tive and which will drive the fluid through the vessel 1 from the tubular inlet 2 to the tubular outlet 3 thereof. Such a pumping facility is highly beneficial, 10 especially when the exchanger is used for blood treat¬ ment purposes. The inflatable elastic bladder may, of course, have other forms than that illustrated by way of example in Figure 3. 15 A pumping facility for pumping the fluid flowing directly through the vessel 1 can also be obtained by composing one of the fibre bundles from fibres, or extremely fine- bore tubes, which have impervious or sealed resilient walls and by passing through said fibres, or tubes, a 20 pulsating liquid or gas flow, such as to cause the fibres, or tubes, to expand and contract periodically. Furthermore, the flow distributing body 10 of the embodiment according to Figure 1 or 3 may also be hollow, 25 such as to form a chamber through which the channels 11 extend and through which temperature-controlled water can be passed for heat exchange with the fluid flowing through the channels 11. 30 The exemplifying embodiment illustrated schematically in Figures 4 and 5 also incorporates a rigid container or vessel 15, which is connected at one end thereof to an axially directed tubular inlet 16 and at its other, opposite end to an axially directed tubular outlet 17, for 35 one of the fluids between which exchange is to take place. In this embodiment the vessel 15 has arranged therein three different bundles 18a, 18b, 18c of capillary fibres which are positioned so as to surround a centrally located and axially extending space 19 in the interior of the vessel, this space forming an extension of the tubular inlet 16. It is proposed in respect of this embodiment that the fibre bundles 18a-18c are supported by means of a grid or net structure 20 which encircles the space 19 and around which the fibre bundles are spread in a manner to surround the space 19 concentri¬ cally therewith, as illustrated schematically in Figure 5. The ends of respective fibre bundles 18a-18c are drawn through and sealed in the lower, preferably conical end wall 23 of the vessel 15, in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figures 1, 2, so that the ends of the fibre bundles open into associated inlet chambers 21a, 21b, 21c and outlet chambers 22a, 22b, 22c located externally of the wall 23. An advantage is afforded when the fibre bundles 18a-18c are laid heli¬ cally around the central, axial space 19, as illustrated schematically in broken lines 27 in Figure 4. It will be seen that the fluid entering through the tubular inlet 16 will pass transversally through the fibre bundles 18a-18c, between respective fibres, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudi¬ nal axis of the fibres, whereafter the fluid is collec- ted externally of the outermost fibre bundle 18c and leaves the vessel 15 through the tubular outlet 17. One important advantage afforded by the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is that the fibre bundles will have a significant length extension within the vessel 15, therewith enhancing the effectiveness of the exchange function. In order to ensure that the flow distribution transver¬ sally of the fibre bundles 18a-18c is as uniform as possible over the whole length of the fibre bundles, a separate pump arrangement for the fluid flowing through the vessel 15 is located in the central, axial space 19. In the illustrated embodiment this pump arrangement comprises an axial tube 24, which extends up through the central space 19 and carries a plurality of elastic, inflatable bladders 25a, 25b, 25c which surround the axial tube 24 and communicate with the interior thereof. 5 The outer end 24a of the tube 24 is connected to a sour¬ ce of pressurized gas or pressurized liquid, with which the bladders 25a-25c are inflated sequentially, beginning from the bladder 25a, so that the fluid entering through the tubular inlet 16 is pressed past the fibres in the 10. fibre bundles 18a-18c in a direction towards the tubular outlet 17. It is presumed in this respect that a suitable check-valve arrangement 26 is provided for preventing the flow of fluid in the opposite direction. The bladders 25a-25c can thereafter be deflated, by disconnecting the 15 tube 24 from the source of pressurized gas or pressuri¬ zed liquid and connecting it to- an outlet instead. The bladders 25a-25c will, in this way, be deflated sequentially, beginning with the bladder 25a. Alternatively, the bladders 25a-25c can be deflated by 20 interrupting the supply of pressurized gas or pressuri¬ zed liquid to the tube 24 and opening, at the same time, a narrower ventilating or exhausting tube 28 located coaxially within the tube 24. In this case the bladders 25a-25c will be deflated sequentially with a start from 25 the bladder 25c. It will be understood that an exchanger embodiment according to Figures 4,5 may also be used with solely one fibre bundle, and also with a plurality of fibre 30 bundles, the nature and use of which can be adapted to the prevailing requirement, in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figure 3. Thus, one of the fibre bundles incorporated in the exchanger illustrated in Figures 4,5 can be used for heat exchanging purposes 35 with the fluid flowing through the vessel 15, or for pumping this fluid through the vessel. If so desired the temperature of the fluid flowing through 11 the vessel 15 can be controlled by arranging an outer jacket 29 around the vessel 15, as illustrated in Figures 4,5, this jacket being provided with an inlet 30 and an outlet 31, so as to allow a temperature-controlled liquid to flow through the space defined between the vessel and jacket so as to effect an exchange of heat with the fluid located within the vessel 15 through the wall of said vessel. Although it has been assumed in the aforegoing that when using one of the aforedescribed embodiments of an inven¬ tive exchanger for treating blood that the blood is passed through the rigid container and thus flows between the capillary fibres, it will be understood that there is nothing to prevent the blood from being conducted through one of the fibre bundles when using an exchanger constructed in ' accordance with the invention. In this case, however, the resistance to flow will be greater and therewith a greater pressure drop in the blood flow. It will be seen in other respects that many mutually different embodiments of and modifications to an exchan¬ ger constructed in accordance with the invention are conceivable within the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for exchanging ions, molecules, gas, liquid, and/or heat between at least two fluids, comprising a vessel (1; 15) having an inlet (2; 16) and an outlet (3; 17) for a first fluid and at least one bundle {4; 18) of hollow fibres which are connected at one end thereof with an inlet for a second fluid and at the other end thereof with an outlet for said second fluid and which are located at least partially within said vessel in a manner to permit the first fluid to flow around said fibres, the walls of the fibres forming a membrane which mutually separates the two fluids and which permits the desired exchange therebetween to take place, characterized in that the vessel (1; 15) has a substantially circular-cylindrical centre part (1a) and end parts (1b,1c) which adjoin the centre part (1a) and which respectively taper gradually from the centre part to an axially directed tubular inlet (2; 16) at one end of the vessel and to an axially directed tubular outlet (3; 17) at the opposite end of the vessel; and in that the mutually opposite ends of the at least one fibre bundle (4; 18) are passed sealingly through the wall (5; 23) of the vessel (1; 15) and open respectively into an inlet chamber (6; 21) and an outlet chamber (7; 22) for the second fluid located externally of the vessel wall; and in that said at least one fibre bundle (4; 18) located within the vessel (1; 15) extends so as to be substantially uniformly distributed over the whole of the through-flow area of the first fluid in the vessel. 2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fibre bundle (4) extends transversally through the centre part (1a) of the vessel (1) substantially across the whole cross-sectional area of said centre part; and in that the ends of the fibre bundle are passed sealingly through the wall (5) of the vessel centre part (1a) . 3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the vessel end-part (1b) connected to the tubular inlet (2) has located therein a rigid body (10) which covers the whole cross-sectional area of said end-part and which is provided with a large number of through¬ passing flow channels (11) intended for the first fluid and diverging mutually towards the vessel centre part (1a) so as to distribute said first fluid substantially uniformly over the cross-sectional area of the vessel centre part (1a) ,. the fibres of the fibre bundle (4) being substantially uniformly distributed over the sur¬ face of said body (10) facing the vessel centre part da). 4. An apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the surface of the body (10) facing the vessel centre part (1a) is a convex surface; and in that the fibres (4) extend through the vessel centre part (1a) in planes substantially parallel with said surface. 5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the convex surface of the body (10) is so curved that the fibres (4) occupy a significant portion of the end part (1c) of the vessel connected to the tubular outlet (3) . 6. An apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the surface of the body (10) facing the tubular inlet (2) is a concave surface; and in that the flow channels (11) located in the body (10) are directed sub¬ stantially perpendicular to said surfaces of said body. 7. An apparatus according to any of Claims 3-6, charac¬ terized in that the body (10) fills the predominant part of the vessel end part (1b) connected to the tubular inlet (2) . 8. An apparatus according to any of Claim 2-7, charac- terized in that the body (10) comprises a hollow struc¬ ture having impervious or sealed walls, such as to form a chamber through which the flow channels (11) extend and which is to be throughpassed by a liquid for heat 5 exchange with the first fluid flowing through the flow channels (11) so as to regulate the temperature of said first fluid. 9. An apparatus according to any of Claims 3-6, charac- 10 terized in that a periodically inflatable, elastic blad¬ der (12) is arranged in the vessel end part (1b) connec¬ ted to the tubular inlet (2) , between said body (10) and the tubular inlet (2) , and in that check-valve means (14) are provided for preventing the first fluid from 15 flowing in the vessel (1) in a direction from the tubular outlet (3) to the tubular inlet (2) . 10. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mutually opposite ends of the fibre bundle 20 (18) are passed sealingly through the substantially conical wall (23) of the end part connected to the tubular inlet (16) and open into an inlet chamber (21) and an outlet chamber (22) respectively for the second fluid located externally of the conical wall (23) ; and in 25 that the fibre bundle (18) located within the vessel (15) extends substantially along a U-shaped or hairpin- shaped path between its said, mutually opposite ends, in a manner such as to fully embrace an elongated, central, axial space (19) in the vessel (15) , said space 30 forming a direct axial extension of the tubular inlet -" (16) , and so that the outer surface of the fibre bundle (18) is spaced inwardly from the outer wall of the vessel (15) . 35 11. An apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that the elongated, central, axial space (19) accommo¬ dates one or more periodically inflatable, elastic bladders (25) ; and in that a check-valve means (26) is provided for preventing the first fluid from flowing in the vessel (15) in a direction from the tubular outlet (17) to the tubular inlet (16) . 12. An apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11, charac¬ terized in that the vessel (15) has located externally therearound an outer chamber (29) which is provided with an inlet (30) and an outlet (31) for a liquid intended for effecting an exchange of heat with the first fluid flowing through the vessel (15) and therewith regulate the temperature of said first fluid. 13. An apparatus according to any of Claims 1-12, charac¬ terized in that the apparatus incorporates a plurality of bundles (4a-4d; 18a-18c) of hollow fibres the ends of which are connected to mutually separated inlet chambers (6a-6d; 21a-21c) and outlet chambers (7a-7d; 22a-22c) respectively, such as to enable mutually different fluids to be passed through the different fibre bundles. 14. An apparatus according to Claim 13, characterized in that the fibres in the mutually different fibre bundles (4a-4d; 18a-18c) are adapted with regard to their respec¬ tive inner diameters and/or wall, properties to the fluid to be conducted through respective fibre bundles and the nature of the exchange to take place between said fluid and the first fluid flowing through the vessel (1 ; 15) . 15. An apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, charac¬ terized in that the different fibre bundles (4a-4d; I8a-18c) are arranged in various mutually adjacent layers. 16. An apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, charac- terized in that fibres belonging to different fibre bundles are intermixed with one another in a common layer within the vessel. 17. An apparatus according to any of Claims 13-16, characterized in that fibres belonging to different fibre bundles (4a-4d; 18a ' -18c) extend in mutually diffe¬ rent directions within the vessel (1; 15). 18. An apparatus according to any of Claims 13-17, characterized in that one of the fibre bundles comprises fibres having an elastic, impervious wall, and in that this fibre bundle is caused to conduct a fluid with pul- sating pressure in order to periodically dilate the fibres. 19. An apparatus according to any of Claims 13-18, characterized in that one of the fibre bundles comprises fibres having an impervious wall; and in that this fibre bundle is arranged to conduct a liquid for heat exchange with and temperature control of the first fluid flowing through the vessel (1; 15) .

Inventors: INACIO JORGE, NILSSON ERLING, INACIO, JORGE, NILSSON, ERLING
Applicants: DATA PROMEDITECH INC
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B01D13
IPC codes: A61M1, B01D63, F28F21