Filter device

Abstract

A filter device for mass exchange between two media separated by a membrane providing a low-stress transfer of blood flow from the connection area of the filter device to the fibers of a hollow fiber bundle is disclosed. Relatively uniform utilization of the fibers is provided by a membrane in the form of a hollow fiber bundle whose fiber cavities form a first flow space, with at least one inflow or outflow chamber connected to the first flow space being provided for supplying a medium to the hollow fiber bundle or removing a medium from the hollow fiber bundle. The inflow or outflow chamber is adjacent to an essentially circular or semicircular channel which is designed to be open in the direction of the ends of the hollow fibers and is connected to an inlet or outlet of the filter device. The channel is arranged approximately centrally with the hollow fiber bundle and preferably has a cross-sectional area that decreases in the direction of flow, and also preferably has an outside diameter that is less than the diameter of the hollow fiber bundle. An end cap for a filter device is also provided which as an inflow or outflow chamber adjacent to an essentially circular or semicircular channel designed to be open in the direction of the ends of the hollow fibers of a hollow fiber bundle arranged in a filter device casing connectable to the end cap. The essentially circular or semicircular canal is connected to an inlet or outlet of the end cap, arranged approximately centrally with the hollow fiber bundle, has a cross-sectional area that decreases in the direction of flow, and has an outside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of the area of the end cap which holds the hollow fiber bundle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A filter device comprising: 
 a) a housing;    b) a first fluid flow path comprising a hollow fiber bundle contained in the housing;    c) a second fluid flow path located between the housing and the first fluid flow path;    d) a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path;    e) a curved channel in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and a first fluid flow path port.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved channel is selected from the group consisting of circular and semicircular channels.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved channel is arranged approximately in the center of the hollow fiber bundle.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow path port is an inlet and fluid flows into the inlet, through the curved channel, into the fluid chamber, and into the first fluid flow path.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein cross-sectional area of the curved channel decreases in the direction of fluid flow.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the curved channel decreases linearly in the direction of fluid flow.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the height of the curved channel decreases in the direction of fluid flow.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the width decreases of the curved channel in the direction of fluid flow.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the outside diameter of the curved channel is smaller than the outside diameter of the hollow fiber bundle.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein fluid flows from the curved channel to the fluid chamber with approximately uniform radial symmetry.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of the hollow fibers are held in a casting compound extending approximately parallel to the curved channel.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid port extends radially from the curved channel.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the curved channel is about 2 to about 4 times larger than the diameter of the fluid port.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the channel is about 2.5 to about 3.5 times larger than the diameter of the port.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the channel is less than about {fraction (9/16)} the diameter of the hollow fiber bundle.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the channel is about ⅜ the diameter of the hollow fiber bundle.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved channel includes guide elements constructed and arranged to influence the direction of fluid flow leaving the channel.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the guide elements are curved ribs.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the curved ribs are equidistant from one another circumferentially.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow fiber bundles extend over substantially over the entire cross-sectional area of the casting material.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow fiber bundles extend over only a portion of the cross-sectional area of the casting material.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fluid flow path port in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the first fluid flow path port, the second fluid flow path port, the curved channel, and the fluid chamber are provided in an end cap.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the end cap can be connected to the housing in a fluid-tight manner.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the first fluid flow path port and the second fluid flow path port are arranged radially on the end cap.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the center lines of the first fluid flow path port and the second fluid flow path port are parallel to one another.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the plane of the mouth of the first fluid flow path port and the plane of the mouth of the second fluid flow path port are parallel.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the mouth of the first fluid flow path port and the mouth of the second fluid flow path port lie in one plane.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the end cap is a plastic material manufactured by injection molding.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein an end cap is provided at each end of the housing.  
     
     
         31 . A filter device comprising: 
 a) a substantially cylindrical housing;    b) a first fluid flow path comprising a hollow fiber bundle contained in the housing;    c) a second fluid flow path located between the housing and the first fluid flow path;    d) an end cap comprising: 
 i) a first fluid flow path port;  
 ii) a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path; and  
 iii) a curved channel in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the first fluid flow path port;  
   wherein fluid flows into the first fluid flow path port, into and through the curved channel, into the fluid chamber, and into the first fluid flow path.    
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the curved channel is selected from the group consisting of circular and semicircular channels.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein fluid flows from the curved channel into the fluid chamber with approximately uniform radial symmetry.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein an end cap is provided at each end of the housing.  
     
     
         35 . An end cap for a filter device comprising: 
 a) a fluid port;    b) a curved channel in fluid communication with the fluid port; and    c) a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the curved channel;    wherein the end cap may be connected in fluid tight fashion to a housing containing a fluid flow path comprising a hollow fiber bundle such that fluid flows in the port, into and through the curved channel, into the fluid chamber, and into the fluid flow path.    
     
     
         36 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the curved channel is selected from the group consisting of circular and semicircular channels.  
     
     
         37 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the curved channel decreases in the direction of fluid flow.  
     
     
         38 . The end cap of  claim 4 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the curved channel decreases linearly in the direction of fluid flow.  
     
     
         39 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the outside diameter of the curved channel is smaller than the outside diameter of the hollow fiber bundle.  
     
     
         40 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein fluid flows from the curved channel to the fluid chamber with approximately uniform radial symmetry.  
     
     
         41 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the fluid port extends radially from the curved channel.  
     
     
         42 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the diameter of the curved channel is about 2 to about 4 times larger than the diameter of the fluid port.  
     
     
         43 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the diameter of the channel is about 2.5 to about 3.5 times larger than the diameter of the port.  
     
     
         44 . The end cap of  claim 35 , wherein the curved channel includes guide elements constructed and arranged to influence the direction of fluid flow leaving the channel.  
     
     
         45 . The end cap of  claim 32 , wherein the guide elements are curved ribs.  
     
     
         46 . The end cap of  claim 41 , wherein the curved ribs are equidistant from one another circumferentially.  
     
     
         47 . The end cap of  claim 31 , further comprising a second fluid port and wherein the fluid port and the second fluid outlet port are arranged radially on the end cap.  
     
     
         48 . The end cap of  claim 31 , wherein the center lines of the fluid port and the second fluid port are parallel to one another.  
     
     
         49 . The end cap of  claim 31 , wherein the plane of the mouth of the fluid port and the plane of the mouth of the second fluid port are parallel.  
     
     
         50 . The end cap of  claim 31 , wherein the mouth of the fluid port and the mouth of the second fluid port lie in one plane.  
     
     
         51 . The end cap of  claim 31 , wherein the cap is a plastic material manufactured by injection molding.  
     
     
         52 . A method of filtering blood comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing blood to a first fluid flow path of a filter device comprising: 
 i) a housing;  
 ii) the first fluid flow path comprising a hollow fiber bundle contained in the housing;  
 iii) a second fluid flow path located between the housing and the first fluid flow path;  
 iv) a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path; and  
 v) a curved channel in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and a first fluid flow path port;  
   b) flowing the blood into the first fluid flow path port, into and through the curved channel, into the fluid chamber with approximately uniform radial symmetry, and into the hollow fiber bundle; and    c) flowing dialysis fluid through the second fluid flow path.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein there is substantially uniform flow of blood into the hollow fiber bundle provides substantially uniform utilization of the hollow fiber bundle.  
     
     
         54 . A method of filtering blood comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing blood to a first fluid flow path of a filter device comprising: 
 i) a housing;  
 ii) the first fluid flow path comprising a hollow fiber bundle contained in the housing;  
 iii) a second fluid flow path located between the housing and the first fluid flow path;  
 iv) a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path; and  
 v) a curved channel in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and a first fluid flow path port;  
   b) flowing the blood into the first fluid flow path port, into and through the curved channel, into the fluid chamber with approximately uniform radial symmetry, and into the hollow fiber bundle; and    wherein ultrafiltrate from the blood flows into the second fluid flow path.