LEAK PREVENTION IN BLOOD OXYGENATORS

摘要

A tight seal is achieved in a blood oxygenator (10) between the potting of the heat exchanger fibers (22) and the rim (42) of the heat exchanger container (14) by extending the potting material (26) over the rim (42) and down, so that when the potting material (26) shrinks during cure, the potting (26) will become prestressed in the sealing direction against an outwardly facing wall of the container (14). The invention also provides a ring (50) coextensive with the rim (42) and spaced therefrom. The potting (26) extends into the ring (50). This forms an air gap (62) between the rim (42) and the ring (50) through which potting (26) can extend. As a result, there is no possible leakage path between the blood and the heat-exchange medium. Any leak that does occur discharges to atmosphere outside the container (14).