Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland Gmbh

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.

Fresenius Medical Care Ag & Co Kgaa

Roland Sander

Torsten Keller

Igor Raiko

Klaus Heilmann

Steffen Fritzsche

Rainer Fislage

Michael Paul

Gerhard Breith

Christian Finkler

Peter Kotanko

Stefan Weiss

Sebastian Meisinger

Holger Lichau

James Kennedy

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle from a plurality of polysulfone and PVP-based hollow fiber membranes which encompasses the providing of a spinning solution comprising a polysulfone-based material, in particular polysulfone, a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer, in particular polyvinylpyrrolidone, an aprotic solvent, in particular dimethylacetamide, providing a coagulant liquid comprising water and an aprotic solvent, in particular dimethylacetamide, co-extruding the spinning solution and the coagulant liquid through a concentric annular spinneret into a hollow strand, whereby the cavity of the strand is filled with coagulant liquid, conducting the strand through a precipitation gap, introducing the strand into a precipitating bath comprised substantially of water so as to obtain a hollow fiber membrane, conducting the hollow fiber membranes through at least one rinsing bath and drying the hollow fiber membrane obtained, arranging the resulting hollow fiber membranes into a hollow fiber membrane bundle, and treating the hollow fiber membrane bundle with water vapor.

Hollow fibre membrane with improved separating efficiency, and production of a hollow fibre membrane with improved separating efficiency

The present teachings generally include parabiotic dialysis systems and techniques. For example, the present disclosure includes parabiotic liver dialysis, e.g., for use in settings with limited resources. To this end, a parabiotic liver dialysis system may include a device having a semipermeable membrane with an average pore size that allows for the passage of albumin therethrough. In such a system, a first extracorporeal circuit may connect the device to the vascular system of a first animal (e.g., a liver patient), and a second extracorporeal circuit may connect the device to the vascular system of a second animal (e.g., a human with normal liver function), where the exchange of albumin therebetween is facilitated through the device. The present disclosure also includes various safety measures for parabiotic dialysis systems and techniques, such as biometric verification systems and techniques.

Parabiotic dialysis systems and techniques

The invention relates to an undulated thermostable hollow fiber membrane of reduced wall thickness, wherein the wall thickness amounts to 20 &#x3bc;m or greater and 30 &#x3bc;m or less and the waveform of the hollow fiber membrane exhibits a wavelength in the range of from more than 1 mm and less than 5 mm. In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing an undulated thermostable hollow fiber membrane of lower wall thickness.

Hollow fiber membrane having improved diffusion properties

The present invention relates to a membrane, in particular to a hollow fiber membrane comprising a membrane, comprising at least two layers, wherein the at least two layers each comprise at least one layer forming material comprising at least one polymer and the at least two layers differ from each other with respect to the layer forming material, wherein the at least two layers are at least partly covalently and delamination free bonded to each other. The present invention relates furthermore to a method of production of the said membrane as well as to its use.

Delamination free membrane

A hollow fiber membrane made of two coextruded layers A and B, wherein layer B has a non-woven type structure having a mesh size of 0.1 to 10 &#x3bc;m and layer A has a porous structure. A method for producing a membrane according to the invention and the use thereof is also disclosed.

Hollow fiber capillary membrane and method for the production thereof

A hollow fiber filter device for dialysis having a housing and an end cap is described. The end cap is attached to an axial end of the housing, and has a curved channel in fluid communication with a fluid port, a fluid chamber having a flow path defined by a plurality of curved members connected to an upper interior surface. The distance between circumferentially adjacent curved members may decrease in a radially outward flow direction.

Filter device

A filter device for mass exchange between two media separated by a membrane is disclosed. The device provides for low-stress transfer of blood flow from the connection area of the filter device to the fibers of a hollow fiber bundle. Relatively uniform utilization of the fibers is provided by a membrane in the form of a hollow fiber bundle whose fiber cavities form a first flow space. At least one inflow or outflow chamber is connected to the first flow space for supplying a medium to the hollow fiber bundle or removing a medium from the hollow fiber bundle. The inflow or outflow chamber is adjacent to an essentially circular or semicircular channel which is designed to be open in the direction of the ends of the hollow fibers and is connected to an inlet or outlet of the filter device. The channel is arranged approximately centrally with the hollow fiber bundle.

Growing community of inventors

St. Wendel, Germany

Roland Sander