MEMBRANOXYGENATOR.

摘要

A membrane oxygenator (10) designed to provide blood flow evenly across a gas permeable membrane (32) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gas permeable membrane (32). In particular, the present invention is directed to a membrane oxygenator (10) wherein the blood is distributed substantially evenly and at a substantially constant velocity, in a cross-wise direction across the gas permeable membrane (32). In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a bundle of gas permeable hollow fiber (32) with the blood being distributed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the individual hollow fiber membranes (32).