Fluid transfer apparatus and method of fluid transfer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for blood dialysis. The device includes a plurality of semipermeable tubules for transporting blood therethrough. Distribution means are positioned adjacent the exterior of the tubules for admitting a dialysis solution which is passed along the outside of the tubules. The tubules are preferably arranged in a configuration such that the packing density of the tubules is between about 20% and about 50%, and preferably between about 25% and about 35%. This packing density insures adequate distribution of the dialysate solution as it is passed along the length of the tubules. The tubules may be wrapped and similarly curved; in a preferred embodiment they are spirally oriented. The configuration of the tubules allows for the movement of the tubule in a predetermined manner such that tubule masking is substantially prevented.

What is claimed is: .[. 
     
       1.  A method of waste containing blood flow dialysis comprising: tangentially admitting blood into a dialyzer blood inlet chamber;   passing said blood from said blood inlet chamber into and through a plurality of similarly spirally oriented semipermeable tubules packed between the dizlyzer housing and a central dialyzer core;   passing blood wastes through the walls of said tubules into said dialysate;   passing the treated blood from said tubules into a dialyzer blood outlet chamber;   longitudinally restraining said tubules between said dialyzer blood inlet chamber and said blood outlet chamber;   tangentially removing said treated blood from a dialyzer blood outlet chamber;   radially distributing a fresh dialysate about the exterior of said tubules;   passing in a generally spirally manner said dialysate along the exterior of said tubules; and   radially removing said dialysate and blood wastes from said dialyzer..]. .[.   
     
     
       2.  The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubules are further defined as having a packing density of between about 20% and 50%..]. 
     
     
       3. A .[.helical flow dialyzer.]. .Iadd.fluid transfer apparatus .Iaddend.comprising: a .[.dialyzer.]. housing disposed about a central core, said core including a tubular .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and a tubular .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.outlet, both said .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and outlet being provided with a plurality of apertures and being joined by a cylindrical section of said central core for preventing .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.flow through said cylindrical portion and for forcing .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and outlet;   an annular blood inlet chamber and an annular blood outlet chamber formed within said .[.dialyzer.]. housing about said tubular .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and outlet, respectively, said inlet chamber having a tangential inlet nozzle and said outlet chamber having a tangential outlet nozzle;   a belt made up of similarly .[.helically.]. oriented semipermeable tubules, .[.wrapped about.]. .Iadd.surrounding .Iaddend.said central core, opposed ends of said tubule belt being secured in an annular ring of potting compound formed about a portion of said .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and outlet such that said .[.dialysate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and outlet apertures are located within an enclosure formed by said .[.dialyzer.]. housing, said central core and said annular potting rings, said annular rings forming a portion of said blood inlet and blood outlet chambers, said ends of said hollow fibers passing through said annular rings for communication with said blood inlet and outlet chambers; and   a compression means positioned near the juncture of said .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and said central core cylindrical portion between said housing and said central core and about said tubules for increasing the packaging density of said tubules in the area adjacent said compression means.   
     
     
       4. The .[.helical flow dialyzer.]. .Iadd.fluid transfer apparatus .Iaddend.claimed in claim 3 wherein said tubules are further defined as having a packaging density of between about 20% and 50%.