Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A material transfer apparatus of hollow fiber type for transferring a certain material between first and second fluids, comprising a tubular housing, a bundle of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes axially extending through the housing and allowing the material to migrate thereacross, a first fluid chamber defined by the outer surface of said hollow fibers and the inner surface of said housing, a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet both provided on the housing in fluid communication with said first fluid chamber for passing the first material transfer fluid into and out of the first chamber, partitions supporting the opposite ends of said hollow fibers and isolating the fiber ends from said first fluid chamber, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet both in fluid communication with the interior space of said hollow fibers for passing the second material transfer fluid into and out of the fiber interior space, a first flowpath forming member having the second fluid inlet mounted on one end of the housing,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A material transfer apparatus of hollow fiber type for transferring a certain material between first and second fluids, comprising a tubular housing, a bundle of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes axially extending through the housing and allowing the material to migrate thereacross, a first fluid chamber defined by the outer surface of said hollow fibers and the inner surface of said housing, a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet both provided on the housing in fluid communication with said first fluid chamber for passing the first material transfer fluid into and out of the first chamber, partitions supporting the opposite ends of said hollow fibers and isolating the fiber ends from said first fluid chamber, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet both in fluid communication with the interior space of said hollow fibers for passing the second material transfer fluid into and out of the fiber interior space, a first flowpath forming member having the second fluid inlet mounted on one end of the housing,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
a second flowpath forming member having the second fluid outlet mounted on the other end of the housing, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
a second flowpath forming member having the second fluid outlet mounted on the other end of the housing, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
an elastomeric annular member integrally molded to each said flowpath forming member on its inner surface, wherein the elastomeric member is secured in pressure contact to the partition by the flowpath forming member to provide a fluid-tight seal between the partition and the flowpath forming member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
an elastomeric annular member integrally molded to each said flowpath forming member on its inner surface, wherein the elastomeric member is secured in pressure contact to the partition by the flowpath forming member to provide a fluid-tight seal between the partition and the flowpath forming member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric annular member is in contact with a peripheral portion of the partition that surrounds the hollow fiber bundle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
186 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first flowpath forming member includes a leading portion of a reduced diameter to form the second fluid inlet, an intermediate portion continuously extending and dilating from the inner surface of the fluid inlet to define a flowpath for distributing the second fluid substantially over the partition, and an attachment portion continuously extending from the intermediate portion and adapted to be attached to one end of the housing, a first elastomeric annular member is joined to the flowpath forming member near the boundary between the intermediate and the attachment portions, said second flowpath forming member includes a leading portion of a reduced diameter to form the second fluid outlet, an intermediate portion continuously extending and dilating from the inner surface of the fluid outlet to define a flowpath for collecting the second fluid, and an attachment portion continuously extending from the intermediate portion and adapted to be attached to the other end of the housing, and a second elastomeric annular member is joined to the flowpath forming member near the boundary between the intermediate and the attachment portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 3 wherein the elastomeric annular member is in full contact with the inner boundary surfaces of the intermediate and attachment portions of the flowpath forming member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 3 wherein an annular space is defined between the elastomeric annular member and the inner surface of the attachment portion of the flowpath forming member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment portion of the flowpath forming member is electronically heat sealed to the housing end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flowpath forming member and the elastomeric annular member are integrally molded by two-color injection molding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flowpath forming member is molded from a polyolefin and the elastomeric annular member is molded from a polyolefin elastomer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The material transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material transfer apparatus constitutes a dialyzer.