Akzo N.v.

Akzo N.v. of Arnhem/nederland

Gustav Dunweg

Werner Henne

Michael Diamantoglou

Ulrich Baurmeister

Wolfgang Ansorge

Werner Bandel

Friedrich Lawitzki

Werner Schmitz

Raimund Pohle

Walter Brodowski

Michael Pelger

Helmut Schulze

Hans G Breidohr

Hans Georg Tilgner

Lothar Steinfeld

Thomas Rintelen

Lother Steinfeld

Uwe Stein

Hollow fiber for dialysis and process of manufacturing

A dialysis membrane for hemodialysis in the form of sheet films, tubular films, or hollow fibers is composed of a polysaccharide ether. The polysaccharide ether has a structure given by the formula ##STR1## in which cell is the skeleton of the unmodified cellulose molecule or of the chitin molecule, each with no hydroxyl groups, s is equal to 3 for the unmodified cellulose molecule and 2 for the chitin molecule, and x is the degree of etherification, which is in the range from 0.001 to 0.079, and R is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, and/or arylalkynyl group with 3 to 25 carbon atoms, and/or the radical of a heterocyclic compound with 3 to 25 carbon atoms, in which the carbon chain may be interrupted by oxygen or sulfur atoms.

Dialysis membrane composed of polysaccharide ether II

A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity is made of cellulose acetate or a cellulose acetate derivative. The hollow fiber is made by using a gas to form the internal hollow cavity. A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous hollow cavity may be made in a process using a spinning solution containing an organic carboxylic acid. Modification agents can be added to the solution and the solution extruded through a spinneret suitable for manufacturing hollow fibers, while an internal medium is introduced simultaneously into the internal cavity of the forming hollow fiber. The precipitation of the dialysis membrane thus formed and an ordinary further aftertreatment take place subsequently in a precipitation bath. The hollow fiber is made by using a gas as the internal medium to form the internal cavity.

Dialysis membrane made of cellulose acetate

A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity is made of cellulose acetate or a cellulose acetate derivative. The membrane has a maximum sieving coefficient of 0.04 for albumin with a molecular weight of 68,000. A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity may be made in a process using a spinning solution containing an organic carboxylic acid and a cavity-forming liquid. Modification agents and/or water are optionally added and the solution is extruded through a spinneret suitable for the manufacture of hollow fibers. The precipitation of the resultant dialysis membrane and the usual further aftertreatment take place in a precipitation bath. The organic carboxylic acid preferably is acetic acid and the precipitation bath preferably is a diluted acetic acid.

Cellulose acetate membranes

Dialysis membranes are disclosed, in the shape of hollow fibers composed of cellulose regenerated from copper-ammonia solution, having a continuous hollow cavity and a closed wall, wherein in any cross-section normal to the direction of the fiber axis the difference of the distance to the outer wall surface and the distance to the inner wall surface, each measured from the fiber midpoint, varies along the periphery, the fiber midpoint being the midpoint of the circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section, and the cross-section normal to the direction of the fiber axis possessing the shape of a circle, a deformed circle, an ellipse, a kidney-shaped deformed ellipse, or a deformed quadrangle. In one particular embodiment, the wall thickness of the hollow fiber along its periphery at least once continuously increases to a maximum thickness and decreases to a minimum thickness, the respective maximum and minimum thicknesses being spaced approximately equally about the periphery, with all portions of maximum thickness having the same maximum thickness and all portions of minimum thickness having the same minimum thickness.

Dialysis membrane of cellulose in the shape of a hollow fiber, and

A dialysis membrane used for hemodialysis having a structure comprised of flat films, blown films or tubular threads of substitution-modified cellulose, in which the effects of complement activation and leukopenia are clearly reduced. The average degree of substitution of the modified cellulose is 0.02 to 0.07. Dialysis membranes, which have proven successful within the scope of the invention, contain modified cellulose, having a structure represented by the formula cellulose-Z, wherein Z represents the group --R'--X--Y.

Dialysis membrane of modified cellulose with improved biocompatibility

A single or multilayer dialysis membrane, constructed as a flat film, a tubular foil or especially as hollow fibers, the membrane being made of a regenerated cuprammonium cellulose which may be unmodified or partly modified by alkyl, carboxyalkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups, and said membrane being characterized by an ultrafiltration capacity at 37.degree. C. of 7 to 30 ml/hr.multidot.m.sup.2.mmHg, an average molecular permeability, based upon vitamin B12, of about 3.multidot.10.sup.-3 to 12.multidot.10.sup.-3 cm/min, and a water retention value of more than 145%, calculated according to the German Industrial Standard (DIN) 53814. The new membrane is prepared by the known cuprammonium process but with the addition of a finely ground CuO with a maximum particle size of 20 microns to the standard cuprammonium solution. After casting, extruding or spinning this solution into a coagulating bath, e.g. an alkaline coagulating bath, the regenerated and shaped cellulosic film, foil or filament is given an acid treatment, preferably with sulfuric acid, sufficient to substantially remove the solid CuO particles and to provide a significantly higher pore volume content and other favorable properties in the final membrane.

Dialysis membrane and method of making

Dialysis membranes are described in which two or more hollow fibers of cellulose regenerated from cuoxam solution are spun together and connected to each other parallel to the fiber axis. The connection may be in the form of crosspieces, which should be between about 1 and 3 times the thickness of the hollow fiber walls. A novel process for preparation of the dialysis membrane hollow fibers is also disclosed.

Process for production of dialysis membrane hollow fiber chains

A multilayer cellulosic membrane for blood dialysis and a method for the production of said membrane by regeneration from separately extruded cuprammonium cellulose solutions brought together to form two or more permanently adhered layers, each layer forming a seal against blood penetration through the leakage points of an adjacent layer, the resulting multilayer membrane thus being substantially free of blood leakage over the total thickness of the membrane. Especially preferred membranes for blood dialysis are those in which the layer arranged on the blood side of the diaphragm contains a modified cellulose chemically bound with an antithrombogenic substance.

Cellulosic membrane for blood dialysis

A dialyzing membrane, especially for hemodialysis, formed as a hollow fiber, tubular foil or flat sheet by regeneration of cellulose from a cuprammonium solution, the membrane comprising at least two firmly adhered cellulosic layers including at least one dialyzing layer consisting essentially of a semipermeable regenerated cellulose and at least one adsorbent layer consisting of said regenerated cellulose containing embedded therein fine particles of an adsorbent material in an amount of up to 95% by weight with reference to the dry weight of the adsorbent layer, preferably 1 to 90% and especially 20 to 70% by weight, when the adsorbent layer is part of a hollow fiber structure. The dialyzing membrane of the invention is produced by a method requiring at least two cuprammonium cellulose solutions, one of which is free of adsorbent particles and another of which contains a suspension of adsorbent particles, the different solutions being spun from adjacent spinning slots for immediate layer to layer contact and then introduced over a short air gap into a coagulating or precipitating bath to entrap the adsorbent particles in the spun layer in which the particles were originally suspended. Isopropyl myristate is particularly advantageous as a liquid filler for the axial duct or canal of a hollow membrane.

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Wuppertal, Germany

Gustav Dunweg