Method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers positioned in a casing
First Claim
1. The method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers positioned in a casing, which comprises:
- inserting said bundle of hollow fibers into said casing through an open end thereof;
sealingly closing the ends of said casing by attaching casing closure member means to said casing;
attaching opposed, side-mounted outlet ports of a hollow, elongated potting boat member to side apertures positioned in fluid communication with said casing;
placing curable liquid sealant into said hollow, elongated member; and
spinning said casing ends about an axis of rotation extending through a central portion of said casing;
whereby said liquid sealant migrates by the centrifugal force of said spinning to the interior ends of said casing through said side apertures to pot the ends of the fiber bundle within the casing; and
, after said liquid sealant has cured, removing said casing ends and cutting through said sealant and hollow fibers at each casing end to expose the bores of said hollow fibers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers positioned in a casing is provided, for example, in the manufacture of hollow fiber artificial kidneys. The bundle is inserted into the casing through an open end thereof and the casing ends are enclosed with sealed casing closure member means. The casing ends are spun, while curable liquid sealant is inserted through side apertures in the casing. Accordingly, the liquid sealant migrates by the centrifugal force of the spinning to the interior sealed ends of the casing. After the liquid sealant has cured, the closure member means, sealant, and hollow fibers are cut through at each casing end to expose the bores of the hollow fibers. Alternatively, the closure means can be removed prior to the cutting step.
115 Citations
9 Claims
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1. The method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers positioned in a casing, which comprises:
inserting said bundle of hollow fibers into said casing through an open end thereof;
sealingly closing the ends of said casing by attaching casing closure member means to said casing;
attaching opposed, side-mounted outlet ports of a hollow, elongated potting boat member to side apertures positioned in fluid communication with said casing;
placing curable liquid sealant into said hollow, elongated member; and
spinning said casing ends about an axis of rotation extending through a central portion of said casing;
whereby said liquid sealant migrates by the centrifugal force of said spinning to the interior ends of said casing through said side apertures to pot the ends of the fiber bundle within the casing; and
, after said liquid sealant has cured, removing said casing ends and cutting through said sealant and hollow fibers at each casing end to expose the bores of said hollow fibers.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Specification