PURPOSE: To obtain high gas exchange capacity by a method wherein a large number of hollow fiber membranes are arranged in a strip-like form and wound so as to cross each other at a definite angle to be formed into a hollow fiber bundle.
CONSTITUTION: A large number of hollow fiber membranes are arranged in a strip-like form and wound so as to cross each other at a definite angle to form a hollow fiber bundle 1. Blood is introduced from a blood inlet 5 to flow outside the hollow fiber membranes in a blood external perfusion type and discharged from a blood outlet 8 and, during this time, gas exchange is performed between the blood and the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the hollow parts of the hollow fiber membranes not only to add oxygen to the blood but also to remove carbon dioxide. By this constitution, the mutual twist of the hollow fiber membranes is eliminated and the reduction of an effective membrane area can be prevented and gas exchange capacity is enhanced and an oxygenator can be made compact.
YAMAGUCHI MASAHIKO
FUNAKUBO AKIO
