Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.

Travenol Laboratories, Inc.

Bert S Bodnar

William J Schnell

John L Center

John E Kling

Thomas C Thompson

John A Gula

An elongated, tubular casing contains a bundle of hollow fibers with closure members at both ends thereof. Each closure member comprises a cup-shaped member connected in sealing relation at its rim to the ends of the tubular casing. Each cup-shaped member also defines an extended cylindrical portion positioned remotely from the rim having an inner diameter less than the relatively enlarged, inner diameter portion, and the tubular casing carries a hollow, elongated member or potting boat during manufacture containing a curable liquid sealant, as a means for inserting the sealant into the ends of the tubular casing by centrifugation.

Method of potting the ends of a bundle of hollow fibers positioned in a

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.

A catheter insertion device utilizing a catheter wound inside a two-piece generally cylindrical dispenser and extending outwardly into a slotted needle secured to an outlet from the dispenser; a stiffener comprising a closely-wound wire helix which surrounds a central straight wire is positioned inside the catheter; the dispenser is composed of two relatively rotatable parts, one a relatively flat base having a slot communicating with the slotted needle, the other a receptacle having an inwardly-facing wall which engages the catheter; the receptacle is releasably and rotatably held to the base by a central spindle extending upwardly from the base member through a hole in the top of the receptacle; a flexible feed guide extends from the base adjacent the dispenser outlet and guides the catheter toward the outlet; the guide is engageable with a stop to positively prevent further rotation of the receptacle at a predetermined point when the proximal end of the catheter nears the outlet; the dispenser spindle is split into yieldable fingers at its outer end and provided with a circumferential detent which engages the receptacle; a cooperating release button positioned atop the spindle may be pressed to urge the fingers of the spindle together and assist in releasing the receptacle from the spindle detent after insertion.

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Park Ridge, IL, United States of America

Bert S Bodnar