BLOOD TREATMENT FILTER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
A configuration of a blood microtubular filter/dializer used in many kinds of renal replacement therapy systems is disclosed which may allow a straight thin-walled tube to be used for a majority of the structure of the housing and other benefits disclosed.
1 . A blood purification device, comprising:
a generally annular first cap having top and bottom axial ends that are open;
a straight tube within said first cap, sealingly affixed to said first cap and having an axial end terminating between said top and bottom axial ends;
a bundle of microtubular filter membranes, within said tube, terminating in a header aligned with said top axial end and lying between said top and bottom axial ends;
said first cap having a port and a manifold volume defined between a surface coinciding with an outside of said tube and an inner surface of said first cap, said manifold volume and said port being in fluid communication with external surfaces of said filter membranes and the interior of said tube, but fluidly isolated from interior surfaces of said filter membranes; a second cap sealingly affixed to said first cap;
said second cap having a port and defining a volume in fluid communication with said header and fluidly isolated from said tube interior.
2 . A device as in claim 1 , wherien said header extends raidally to surface of said first cap and defines an axial end of said manifold volume.
3 . A method of making a blood purification device, comprising the steps of:
sealingly affixing a generally annular first cap, which has a port and top and bottom axial ends that are open, to a straight tube inserted within said first cap so that an axial end of said tube terminates between said top and bottom axial ends;
providing a bundle of microtubular filter membranes inserted within said tube; potting the ends of said filter membranes to form a header by spinning said tube and said first cap as a unit and cutting solidified potting material off the end such that said first cap port is in fluid communication with a manifold volume defined between a surface coinciding with an outside of said tube and an inner surface of said first cap, said manifold volume and
said port being in fluid communication with external surfaces of said filter membranes and the interior of said tube, but fluidly isolated from interior surfaces of said filter membranes; sealingly affixing a second cap, having a port, to said first cap such that said second cap defines a volume in fluid communication with said header and fluidly isolated from said tube interior.
4 . A device as in claim 3 , wherein said step of cutting includes cutting a portion of said first cap.
5 . A method of making a blood purification device, comprising the steps of:
inserting a straight tube in a cylindrical end piece that has a portion toward a middle of the tube that fits snugly around the tube and a portion that has a portion of an inner surface that is radially larger than the outer surface of the tube;
the cylindrical end piece having a port in fluid communication with a first manifold volume bounded by said portion of said inner surface;
said end piece being configured to extend the length of the tube when the tube is inserted in said step of inserting;
putting filter media fibers inside the tube either before or after said step of inserting; potting said fibers at their ends so that potting material forms a header bounded by the inner surface of the end piece;
said step of potting being effective to fluidly isolate said first manifold volume from said header;
using an end cap with a port, capping the header to isolate a second manifold volume in fluid communication with said end cap port;
said step of potting leaving a gap between and end of said tube such that an interior of said tube is open to said first manifold volume.