Gas / fluid mass exchange apparatus
Inventors
Johns, William Richard • Brown, Stephen Warwick James • Phillips, Richard • Rogers, Dale
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9669146-B2
Publication Date
2017-06-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A gas/fluid mass exchange apparatus includes a gas permeable membrane which is arranged to separate a first region for receiving a gas flow, from a second region for receiving a fluid flow. The apparatus further a support element which is arranged to maintain the shape and orientation of the membrane.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a gas/fluid mass exchange apparatus in which first and second membranes are permeable to a gas and not permeable to the fluid. A frame surrounds an open center, and the first membrane extends over the open center to define a front face while the second membrane extends over the open center on an opposite side of the frame to define a back face. The frame is configured to maintain a predetermined shape and orientation of the membranes while the membranes introduce gas into the flowing fluid and exhaust the gas through the open center.
A strip of material is disposed along left and right side portions of the front face such that, when two apparatuses are placed front face to back face, a gap is formed between the strips between adjacent apparatuses. The fluid passable into the gap at the upper side portion and out of the gap at the lower side portion does not require a change in flow direction of the fluid, and the gas introduced from the open center passes through a permeable membrane into the flowing fluid without requiring a change in fluid flow direction.
Described embodiments address support of gas-permeable, fluid-impermeable membrane arrangements to reduce membrane flexing and prevent adjacent membrane contact, including support means such as wire sections or tensioning/frame elements. Additional embodiments include stacked substantially planar membrane units with sealed interior spaces, resin strips or spacers forming fluid channels, groove-defined gas inlet and outlet regions, inlet and outlet manifolds, housing-based tubular gas-permeable flow ducts held in spaced relation with resin blocks or manifolds to create a substantially uniform fluid flow region, and a substantially planar, increased-porosity loosely woven porous sheet with membranes sealed to its periphery.
Claims Coverage
The partial set contains two independent claims. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on selectively permeable membranes held in a frame over an open center, with gas inlet and outlet arrangements and a gap-driven fluid path that avoids changing fluid flow direction while enabling gas introduction to flowing fluid through the permeable membranes.
Selectively permeable front and back membranes over an open center
First and second membranes are permeable to the gas or first fluid and not permeable to the fluid or second fluid, with the first membrane extending over the open center to define a front face and the second membrane extending over the open center on an opposite side of the frame to define a back face.
Frame maintaining predetermined membrane shape and orientation
A frame defines left, right, top and bottom side portions surrounding an open center, and is configured to maintain a predetermined shape and orientation of the first and second membranes.
Gas inlet and gas exhaust outlet through the open center and between membranes
An inlet into the open center and between the first and second membranes introduces the gas or first fluid, and an outlet from the open center exhausts the gas or first fluid.
Upper-to-lower gap flow without changing fluid flow direction
A strip of material disposed along the left and right side portions of the front face forms a gap between strips when apparatuses are placed front face to back face, and the fluid or second fluid passes into the gap at an upper side portion and out of the gap at a lower side portion without a requirement of changing a flow direction of the fluid or second fluid, whereby the introduced gas or first fluid is introduced to the flowing fluid or second fluid from the open center through the permeable membranes.
Stacked subunits with front-to-back face gaps for introducing the first fluid
A plurality of stacked subunits are arranged front face to back face, each subunit including first and second membranes over an open center and a strip of material forming a gap between adjacent first and second faces, with the second fluid passable into the gap between adjacent stacked subunits at an upper side portion and out of the gap at the lower side portion without changing a flow direction of the second fluid.
Both independent claims center on selectively permeable first and second membranes supported by a frame over an open center, with gas or first fluid introduced through an inlet and exhausted through an outlet. In both cases, the strip or strips and stacked front-to-back arrangement create a gap-based fluid path that passes at an upper side portion and exits at a lower side portion without changing the fluid flow direction, enabling the introduced gas or first fluid to enter the flowing fluid through the permeable membranes.
Stated Advantages
Reduces blood clot risk.
Reduces blood residence time.
Maintains laminar-like flow and minimizes pressure drop.
Increases effective exchange area by close packing of planar membranes.
Documented Applications
Oxygenating deoxygenated blood, with oxygen transfer into blood and carbon dioxide transfer from blood to gas.
Controlling transfer rates and limiting CO2 stripping by optionally including an inert gas.
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