Dialyzers and dialysis devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a dialyzer (6; 6'; 6"; 6'") for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising: an elongated dialyzer housing (14; 14'; 14"; 14'"; 14""); and at least one dialysis membrane (30; 30'; 30"; 30"'; 30""), which divides the interior of the dialyzer housing (14; 14'; 14"; 14'"; 14"") into two zones with a dialysate supply connection and a dialysate supply connection. The dialyzer comprises a dialysate chamber (32; 32'; 32"; 32'"; 32"") having a dialysate supply connection (44; 44'; 44"; 44'"; 44"") and a dialysate discharge connection (46; 46"') and a blood chamber (38; 38'; 38"; 38"'; 38"") having a blood supply connection (40; 40'") and a blood discharge connection (42; 42'; 42"; 42'"; 42""). The dialyzer has an additional ventilation outlet (48; 48'; 48"; 48'"; 48"") for ventilating the blood chamber (38; 38'; 38"; 38"'; 38""), which is formed on the dialyzer housing (14; 14'; 14"; 14'"; 14"") or in the vicinity of its end surface. The further ventilation outlet (48; 48'; 48"; 48'"; 48"") is arranged in the blood discharge connection (42; 42'; 42"; 42"'; 42"") with respect to the blood flow direction (Bo; Bo'; Bo"; Bo'"; Bo""), between an outlet region (58; 58'; 58"; 58"'; 58"") of the blood discharge connection (42; 42'; 42"; 42"'; 42"") and the dialysate supply connection (44; 44'; 44"; 44'"; 44""). The present invention also relates to a corresponding dialysis device (2), having a ventilation outlet (48; 48'; 48"; 48'"; 48"") arranged on a dialyzer housing (14; 14'; 14"; 14"") or on a hose (62"") connected to the blood discharge connection (42"").

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dialyzer for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising: an elongated dialyzer housing; at least one dialyzer membrane, wherein the at least one dialyzer membrane divides the inner space of the dialyzer housing into a dialyzer chamber provided with two dialyzer ports and a blood chamber provided with two blood ports. The present invention also relates to a dialysis device comprising such a dialyzer. Background Art

[0002] Known dialyzers usually have four ports, via which they can be connected to the dialysis machine line system on the one hand and to the extracorporeal blood system connected to the patient on the other hand. The aforementioned ports are divided into two ports for connection to the extracorporeal blood system or blood circulation, via which blood to be purified is conveyed to and from the dialyzer, which ports are also referred to below as blood supply ports and blood discharge ports, and two ports for connection to the dialyzer, via which dialysate is conveyed to and from the dialyzer, which ports are also referred to below as dialysate supply ports and dialysate discharge ports.

[0003] Before starting the blood treatment method, the extracorporeal blood circuit including the dialyzer filter needs to be filled with liquid (so-called priming) in order to remove the air present in the extracorporeal circuit. Saline solution is mainly used for this purpose. Alternatively, ultrapure dialysate is also used, especially in so-called online machines with two dialysate filters and direct connection to a central dialysate supply. When filling with saline solution, a prefilled bag containing saline solution is manually connected to the end of the arterial blood hose. The blood pump of the dialysis machine then pumps the liquid through the extracorporeal blood circuit. The saline solution is finally discharged at the venous end of the blood hose. When a sufficient amount of liquid has circulated, the extracorporeal circuit is filled and is thus ready for blood treatment.

[0004] When filling the blood side of the dialyzer, the air must be replaced with dialysate or saline solution. During this process, many individual air bubbles escape, which must be flushed out from the fiber interior of the dialyzer. Various methods are used to remove this air. For example, the dialyzer can be turned manually, the dialyzer can be tapped, or pressure fluctuations can be generated in an automatic preparation procedure. The escaping air enters the outlet-side blood hose of the dialyzer and is only separated in the venous drip chamber, resulting in an undesirable drop in the liquid level. This drop in the liquid level must be corrected in a further step. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a dialyzer or a dialysis machine which allows simpler, faster and / or more reliable preparation of blood prior to treatment.

[0006] The dialyzer for extracorporeal blood treatment according to the present invention comprises an elongated, preferably cylindrical dialyzer housing and at least one dialyzer membrane. The dialyzer membrane divides the inner space of the dialyzer housing into a dialyzer chamber provided with two dialyzer ports (dialyzer supply port and dialyzer discharge port) and a blood chamber provided with two blood ports (blood supply port and blood discharge port). The dialyzer port is specially designed as a Hansen connector, and the blood port is specially designed as a Luer connector or is glued to a blood hose system.

[0007] The dialyzer also has another ventilation outlet for ventilating the blood chamber, and the other ventilation outlet is formed on the dialyzer housing or formed near its end face. Preferably, the ventilation outlet can be closed by a breathable ventilation membrane. Specifically, this ventilation membrane can be formed as waterproof (hydrophobic). When the blood chamber is filled with an aqueous liquid, the ventilation outlet or ventilation membrane allows the air previously present in the blood chamber to escape until the liquid completely fills the blood chamber. The ventilation membrane is realized by the size of the holes arranged in the ventilation membrane relative to the different permeability of air and aqueous liquid. Preferably, the diameter of these holes is less than or equal to 0.2 μm, so that the ventilation membrane is used as a sterile barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the blood at the same time. Specifically, the dialyzer can be configured so that a film is not set (specifically a dialysis membrane is not set). Specifically, the dialyzer can be designed so that a film (specifically a dialysis membrane) is not set (fluid mechanically or along a flow line) between another ventilation outlet and the blood chamber or between the ventilation membrane of another ventilation outlet and the blood chamber.

[0008] The provision of a ventilation outlet or ventilation membrane enables air to escape directly from the blood chamber into the environment of the dialyzer. This direct escape of air shortens the flow path of the escaping air, thereby reducing the likelihood that individual dissolved bubbles will adhere to other surface areas when flushing out. Furthermore, the shortened flow path results in a more rapid removal of air. Finally, the drop in the liquid level in the intravenous drip chamber is at least reduced, so that the correction of this liquid level will take at least less time.

[0009] The ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane is arranged between an outlet region of the blood discharge port and the dialysate supply port with respect to the blood flow direction in the blood discharge port.

[0010] When preparing a dialysis device for blood treatment, the blood circulation is first filled with liquid and the dialysate circulation is then filled with liquid. This means that during the filling of the blood flow, air can also escape from the blood circulation or the blood chamber into the dialysis circuit or the dialysate chamber via a semipermeable dialysis membrane, which is impermeable to larger protein molecules (such as albumin) but permeable to aqueous solutions and air. However, this is especially true for air or gas bubbles in the blood chamber between the blood supply port and the dialysate supply port. In order to also remove the gas bubbles between the outlet area of ​​the dialysate supply port and the blood discharge port as quickly and reliably as possible, it is advantageous to provide a ventilation outlet or a ventilation membrane in this area of ​​the blood chamber.

[0011] The dialyzer housing according to the present invention may have a dialyzer cap on which a ventilation outlet or a ventilation membrane is provided. A known dialyzer has a housing having a central hollow cylindrical portion and two dialyzer caps each arranged at the end of the hollow cylindrical portion. If the ventilation membrane is arranged on at least one of the dialyzer caps, it may be advantageous to continue to use the tool for making the hollow cylindrical portion. The dialyzer can also be easily adjusted by only changing the dialyzer cap according to the expected orientation of the dialyzer during operation in the dialysis device.

[0012] A ventilation outlet or a ventilation membrane may be provided at the blood discharge port. In other words, the ventilation outlet may branch from the nozzle of the blood discharge port. If a ventilation outlet or a ventilation membrane is provided at the end of the blood side of the dialyzer in the direction of blood flow, the air present in the blood chamber can be almost completely removed before filling.

[0013] The dialyzer housing can be provided with a ventilation nozzle, to which a closure for the airtight sealing of the ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane can be attached. With this ventilation nozzle, the position of the ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane can be advantageously displayed to the person installing the dialyzer on the dialysis device. By attaching a closure, for example in the form of a Luer cap, any pathogens can be prevented from entering after the dialysis device has been primed.

[0014] The ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane may be formed so as to annularly surround the blood discharge port.Therefore, regardless of the orientation of the dialyzer about the extension axis of the blood discharge port, it is ensured that a constant mass of air is removed from the dialyzer.

[0015] The ventilation membrane may have at least a double-layer design. A first layer of the ventilation membrane, in particular facing the blood chamber or the blood chamber interior, may be formed so as to be hydrophobic, and a second layer of the ventilation membrane, in particular facing away from the blood chamber or the environment, may be formed as a sterile barrier. In particular, the first layer may be spaced apart from the second layer. By means of this double design, the ventilation membrane can be easily optimized with respect to its water-tightness on the one hand and with respect to its sterile barrier properties on the other hand.

[0016] In particular, the first layer of the ventilating membrane may have larger pores and a smaller surface area than the second layer of the ventilating membrane. In other words, the surface area of ​​the second layer may be greater than the surface area of ​​the first layer. In particular, the pores of the first layer and the pores of the second layer may overlap. If the surface area of ​​the second layer used as a sterile barrier is formed to be greater than the first layer responsible for water impermeability, high pressure losses can be avoided despite the smaller pores in the second layer.

[0017] The invention further relates to a dialysis device provided with a dialyzer according to the invention.

[0018] The dialyzer is attachable to the dialysis device such that when the dialysis device is mounted ready for operation, the ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane is arranged so as to be at least partially located above the dialysate supply port in the direction of gravitational acceleration.

[0019] As mentioned above, the bubbles in the blood chamber between the blood supply port and the dialysate supply port before perfusion can also escape through the dialysis membrane. In order to also remove the bubbles between the outlet area of ​​the dialysate supply port and the blood discharge port, it is advantageous to set a ventilation membrane in this area of ​​the blood chamber.

[0020] The dialyzer is attachable to the dialysis device such that when the dialysis device is mounted ready for operation, the ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane is arranged so as to be at least partially located above the blood chamber in the direction of gravitational acceleration.

[0021] If the ventilation outlet or the ventilation membrane is positioned at least partially above the blood chamber, air can be removed at least almost completely from the blood chamber.

[0022] Alternatively, the dialysis device according to the present invention may also include a universal dialyzer for extracorporeal blood treatment, which is provided with an elongated, preferably cylindrical dialyzer housing; at least one dialysis membrane, which divides the internal space of the dialyzer housing into a dialysate chamber provided with a dialysate supply port and a dialysate discharge port and a blood chamber provided with a blood supply port and a blood discharge port. The dialysis device equipped in this way is characterized by a waterproof and breathable ventilation membrane, which forms at least a part of the surrounding wall of the blood drainage hose. Therefore, when the blood chamber is filled with liquid, the air that has previously been present in the blood chamber can escape through the ventilation membrane until the blood chamber is completely filled with liquid. The ventilation membrane of the dialysis device according to the present invention has holes with a diameter preferably less than or equal to 0.2 μm so that it can be used as a sterile barrier.

[0023] Improved ventilation of conventional dialyzers can be achieved if a ventilation membrane is located in the surrounding wall of a blood discharge hose connected to the dialyzer.

[0024] The dialysis device according to the present invention can be designed so that the corresponding dialyzer is attached to the dialysis device so that the liquid transmitted through the blood chamber flows diametrically opposite to the gravitational acceleration. In other words, the dialyzer can be attached to the dialysis device so that it extends in the vertical direction when the dialysis device is vertically mounted on a horizontal plane.

[0025] More reliable and faster air removal can be achieved if the air bubbles are removed by utilizing the buoyancy of the air bubbles in the blood chamber against water in the earth's gravitational field.

[0026] Alternatively, the dialyzer may also be attached to the dialysis device so that the liquid passing through the blood chamber flows perpendicular to the gravitational acceleration. In other words, the dialyzer may be attached to the dialysis device so that it extends in the horizontal direction when the dialysis device is vertically mounted on a horizontal plane. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention is described in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a generic dialysis apparatus with a vertically arranged dialyzer is shown;

[0029] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a dialyzer of the invention according to a first embodiment;

[0030] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A detailed view of the blood outlet side of the dialyzer is shown;

[0031] Figure 4 is according to the second embodiment according to which Figure 3 A detailed view of the blood outlet side of the dialyzer of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 is based on the corresponding Figure 3 A detailed view and a front view of the blood outlet side of the dialyzer of the present invention according to the third embodiment;

[0033] Figure 6 A schematic perspective view of a generic dialysis apparatus with a horizontally arranged dialyzer is shown;

[0034] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a dialyzer of the invention according to a fourth embodiment;

[0035] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A detailed view of the blood outlet side of the dialyzer is shown; and

[0036] Fig. 9is according to the fifth embodiment corresponding to Figure 3 Detailed view of the blood outlet side of the dialyzer of the present invention.

[0037] Identical or functionally equivalent features are provided with the same reference numerals in the various figures, wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments are labeled with ...', ...', ...' and ...'. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The universal dialysis device 2; 2'; 2"; 2"" has a peristaltic pump 4; 4'; 4"; 4"" on the front side for pumping blood and dialysate. A dialyzer 6; 6'; 6"'; 6"" is arranged near the pump 4; 4'; 4"; 4""". During operation, the dialyzer 6; 6'; 6"; 6"" is connected to the dialysis device 2; 2'; 2"; 2"" on the one hand and to the patient on the other hand via a hose (not shown). One of the pumps 4; 4'; 4"; 4"" delivers the blood to be purified to the dialyzer 6; 6'; 6"'; 6"". The other of the two pumps 4; 4'; 4"; 4"" delivers the dialysate to the dialyzer 6; 6'; 6"'; 6"". In order to be able to operate the dialysis device 2; 2'; 2"; 2"", a monitor 8; 8'; 8"; 8"" which is preferably realized as a touch screen is arranged on the front side of the dialysis device. In order to ensure that the dialysis device 2; 2'; 2"; 2"" has a stable and upright position on a horizontal plane, the dialysis device has a base part 10; 10'; 10"'; 10"" on the lower side. Also for easy transportation, castors 12; 12'; 12"; 12"" are provided on the lower side of the base part 10; 10'; 10"; 10"". Figure 1 The dialysis device 2; 2'; 2"; 2"" shown in the figure has a dialyzer 6; 6'; 6"; 6"" installed vertically. Figure 6 As shown, the dialysis machine 2'" can also be designed such that the dialyzers 6'" extend horizontally.

[0039] Figure 2 The dialyzer 6 has a dialyzer housing 14 which can be divided into a cap-shaped blood inlet dialyzer cap 16 , a substantially cylindrical, in particular circular cylindrical, dialysate section 18 and a likewise cap-shaped blood outlet dialyzer cap 20 .

[0040] The hollow fiber bundle segment 22 is embedded in the dialysate segment 18 of the dialyzer housing 14. The hollow fiber bundle segment 22 is formed by a first, specifically circular hollow fiber bundle mounting 24, in which one end of a hollow fiber 26 is potted, the hollow fiber bundle consisting of hollow fibers 26 arranged parallel to each other, and by a second, specifically circular hollow fiber bundle mounting 28, in which the other end of the hollow fiber 26 is potted. The hollow fiber filter module 22 is thus potted at the ends, mounted with potting material, and, if necessary, cut off at both ends after potting in order to make any accidentally blocked hollow fibers 26 accessible again. The surrounding wall of the individual hollow fibers 26 represents a dialysis membrane 30. The dialysis membrane 30 has pores whose size is suitable to make the dialysis membrane 30 permeable to water, but impermeable to larger protein molecules (such as albumin).

[0041] The dialysate segment 18 of the dialyzer housing 14 extends around the space spanning the hollow fiber bundle segment 22 between the two hollow fiber bundle mountings 24 and 28, and the dialysate segment 18 specifically has a shell-like cylindrical shape. The space between the hollow fibers 26 surrounded by the two hollow fiber bundle mountings 24 and 28 and the dialysate segment 18 of the dialyzer housing 4 corresponds to the dialysate chamber 32.

[0042] The cover-shaped blood inlet dialyzer cap 16 of the dialyzer housing 14 is arranged or attached to the first hollow fiber bundle mount 24 on its side facing away from the hollow fiber bundle segment 22 so that a blood distribution space 34 can be defined between the blood inlet dialyzer cap 16 and the first hollow fiber bundle mount 24 .

[0043] A cover-shaped blood outlet dialyzer cap 20 of the dialyzer housing 14 is arranged or attached to the second hollow fiber bundle mount 28 on its side facing away from the hollow fiber bundle segment 22 so that a blood collection space 36 can be defined between the blood outlet dialyzer cap 20 and the second hollow fiber bundle mount 28 .

[0044] The blood distribution space 34 , the space inside the hollow fibers 26 and the blood collection space 36 together correspond to a blood chamber 38 of the dialyzer 6 .

[0045] A blood supply port 40 for supplying blood (see Figure 2 The blood discharge port 42 (see arrow "Bi" in FIG. 1 ) is provided on the blood inlet dialyzer cap 16 of the dialyzer housing 14. A blood discharge port 42 (see FIG. 1 ) for discharging blood Figure 2 The dialysate supply port 44 (see arrow "Bo") in FIG. 1 is provided on the blood outlet dialyzer cap 20 of the dialyzer housing 14. Near the second hollow fiber bundle mounting member 28, a dialysate supply port 44 (see FIG. 11) for supplying dialysate to the dialysate chamber 32 is provided. Figure 2 The dialysate discharge port 46 (see arrow "Di") for discharging the dialysate is provided on the dialysate section 18 of the dialyzer housing 14. Near the first hollow fiber bundle mounting member 24, a dialysate discharge port 46 (see arrow "Di") for discharging the dialysate is provided. Figure 2 The arrow “Do” in FIG. 1 ) is arranged on the dialysate section 18 of the dialyzer housing 14 .

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown in more detail, the blood outlet dialyzer cap 20 has a ventilation outlet 48. The ventilation outlet 48 has the shape of a nozzle or a hollow cylinder and extends on an angled axis Ee inclined towards the blood discharge port 42 relative to the extension direction Ed of the dialyzer 6. The mouth 50 of the ventilation outlet 48 is adjacent to the mouth 52 of the blood discharge port 42. A ventilation membrane 54 is arranged inside the ventilation outlet 48, which closes a channel 56 extending inside the ventilation outlet 48 along its extension direction Ee in an air-permeable and waterproof manner.

[0047] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The dialyzer 6 shown in FIG. 5 is intended to be attached vertically to the dialysis device 2 in such a way that the blood supply port 40 is at the bottom and the blood discharge port 42 is at the top.

[0048] In order to remove the air present in the blood chamber 38 before blood processing, the blood discharge port 42 or a hose (not shown) attached to the blood discharge port 42 is closed or clamped, and a saline solution is supplied to the blood chamber 38 via the blood supply port 40. By filling the blood chamber 38 with the saline solution, the air previously present in the blood chamber 38 is gradually released from the blood chamber 38 via the ventilation outlet 48 (see FIG. Figure 2 Before reaching the second hollow fiber bundle 28, the air also moves mostly through the dialysis membrane 30 into the dialysate chamber 32. Once the level of the saline solution has reached the second hollow fiber bundle mount 28, most of the air is exhausted through the vent outlet 48. Once the level of the saline solution has exceeded the vent membrane 54, the air is no longer exhausted via displacement but only via diffusion.

[0049] In order to remove a larger portion of the air present in the blood chamber 38 via a faster displacement than in the first embodiment, Figure 4In the case of the dialyzer 6' of the second embodiment shown, the ventilation outlet 48' is arranged closer to the outlet area 58'. The mouth 50' of the ventilation outlet 48' is therefore only in contact with the channel 60' extending inside the blood discharge port 42. In order to make the longitudinal dimension of the dialyzer 6' according to the second embodiment not larger than the longitudinal dimension of the dialyzer 6 according to the first embodiment, the ventilation outlet 48' is designed to be in the form of a nozzle or a hollow cylinder, which extends on an axis Ee' arranged at right angles to the extension direction Ed' of the dialyzer 6'. Like the ventilation outlet 6 according to the first embodiment, the ventilation outlet 6" according to the second embodiment also has a ventilation membrane 54', which closes the channel 56' extending along its extension direction Ee' inside the ventilation outlet 48' in a breathable and waterproof manner.

[0050] according to Figure 5 In the third embodiment of the dialyzer 6″ shown, the ventilation outlet 48″ may be formed on the blood outlet dialyzer cap 20″ so that it extends annularly around the blood discharge port 42″. In order to ensure the structural integrity of the blood outlet dialyzer cap 20″, the annular ventilation outlet 48″ may also be formed by several ventilation outlets (not shown) arranged annularly around the blood discharge port 42', or a web (not shown) for bridging the corresponding annular grooves may be provided in the ventilation outlet 48″. A ventilation membrane 54″ is provided in the ventilation outlet 48″.

[0051] Figure 7 and Figure 8 A dialyzer 6'' according to a fourth embodiment is shown. The dialyzer 6''' is intended to be attached horizontally to the dialysis device 2, such as Figure 6 The ventilation outlet 48''' provided with a ventilation membrane 54''' is arranged at the edge of the blood outlet dialyzer cap 20''''. This ensures that the ventilation membrane 54''' is wetted as late as possible when the horizontally mounted dialyzer 6'''' is filled.

[0052] Fig. 9 A generic dialyzer 6"" is shown. A hose 62"" is connected to a blood discharge port 42"" of the dialyzer 6"" said hose having a vent outlet 48"" with a vent membrane 54"" adjacent to the blood discharge port 42"".

[0053] List of reference numbers

[0054] 2,2',2",2"',2"" Dialysis Device

[0055] 4,4',4“,4“',4““ Peristaltic pump

[0056] 6,6',6“,6“',6““ Dialyzer

[0057] 8,8',8“,8“',8““ Monitor

[0058] 10,10',10",10"',10"" Base

[0059] 12,12',12",12"',12"" Casters

[0060] 14,14',14“,14“',14““ Dialyzer housing

[0061] 16,16" Blood inlet dialyzer cap

[0062] 18,18',18",18"',18"" Dialysate section

[0063] 20,20',20",20"',20"" Blood outlet dialyzer cap

[0064] 22,22',22",22"',22"" Hollow fiber bundle section

[0065] 24,24"' First hollow fiber bundle mounting

[0066] 26,26',26“,26“',26““ Hollow Fiber

[0067] 28,28',28",28"',28"" Second hollow fiber bundle mounting piece

[0068] 30,30',30",30"',30"" dialysis membrane

[0069] 32,32',32“,32“',32““ Dialysis Fluid Room

[0070] 34,34"' Blood distribution space

[0071] 36,36',36",36"',36"" Blood collection space

[0072] 38,38',38",38"',38"" Blood Room

[0073] 40,40"' blood supply port

[0074] 42,42',42",42"',42"" Blood discharge port

[0075] 44,44',44“,44“',44““ Dialysate supply port

[0076] 46,46"' Dialysate drain port

[0077] 48,48',48“,48“',48““ Ventilation outlet

[0078] 50,50',50",50"',50"" Ventilation outlet opening

[0079] 52,52',52",52"',52"" Orifice of blood discharge port

[0080] 54,54',54“,54“',54““ Ventilation membrane

[0081] 56,56',56“,56“',56““ Passage in ventilation duct

[0082] 58,58',58",58"',58"" Outlet area of ​​blood discharge port

[0083] 60,60',60",60"',60"" Channel in blood discharge port

[0084] 62" hose connected to the drain port

[0085] Ao,Ao',Ao“,Ao“',Ao““ Airflow leaving the ventilation outlet

[0086] Bi,Bi"' Flow into the blood chamber

[0087] Bo,Bo',Bo“,Bo“',Bo““ Flow out of the blood chamber

[0088] Di,Di',Di",Di"',Di"" Flow into the dialysate chamber

[0089] Do,Do"' The flow leaving the dialysate chamber

[0090] Ed,Ed',Ed“,Ed“',Ed“ Extended axis of the dialyzer

[0091] Ee,Ee',Ee“',Ee““ Extension axis of ventilation outlet

[0092] G Direction of gravity acceleration

Claims

1. A dialyzer (6") for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising - an elongated dialyzer housing (14"), - at least one dialysis membrane (30"), said at least one dialysis membrane dividing the inner space of said dialyzer housing (14") into: a dialysate chamber (32"), said dialysate chamber being provided with a dialysate supply port (44") and a dialysate discharge port; and a blood chamber (38"), said blood chamber being provided with a blood supply port and a blood discharge port (42"), and - a further ventilation outlet (48"), which is intended for ventilating the blood chamber (38"), is formed on the dialyzer housing (14") or in the vicinity of an end face thereof and is closed, Features The further ventilation outlet (48") is arranged between an outlet region (58") of the blood discharge port (42") and the dialysate supply port (44") with respect to the blood flow direction (Bo") in the blood discharge port (42"), The further ventilation outlet (48") is formed so as to annularly surround the blood discharge port (42"), wherein The ventilation outlet is formed by a plurality of webs bridging corresponding annular grooves, and wherein The further ventilation outlet (48") is arranged at least partially above the dialysate supply port (44") in the direction of gravitational acceleration (G), and wherein The further ventilation opening (48") is closed by means of a ventilation membrane (54").

2. The dialyzer (6") according to claim 1, characterized in that The dialyzer housing (14") comprises a dialyzer cap (20"), on which the further ventilation outlet (48") is arranged.

3. The dialyzer (6") according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The ventilation membrane (54") has at least a two-layer design, a first layer of the ventilation membrane (54") being formed so as to be hydrophobic and a second layer of the ventilation membrane (54") being formed as a sterile barrier.

4. The dialyzer (6") according to claim 3, characterized in that The first layer of the vent membrane (54") has larger pores and a smaller surface area than the second layer of the vent membrane (54").

5. A dialysis device for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising a dialyzer (6") according to claim 1.

6. The dialysis device according to claim 5, characterized in that The dialyzer (6") is attached to the dialysis device such that when the dialysis device is mounted ready for operation, the further ventilation outlet (48") is arranged so as to be at least partially located above the dialysate supply port (44") in the direction of gravitational acceleration (G).

7. The dialysis device according to claim 5, characterized in that The dialyzer (6") is attached to the dialysis device such that when the dialysis device is mounted ready for operation, the ventilation outlet (48") is arranged so as to be at least partially located above the blood chamber (38") in the direction of gravitational acceleration (G).

8. The dialysis device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The dialyzer (6") is attached to the dialysis device such that the fluid passing through the blood chamber (38") flows along the diameter against the gravitational acceleration (G).

9. The dialysis device according to claim 5, characterized in that The dialyzer is attached to the dialysis device such that fluid passing through the blood chamber flows perpendicular to the acceleration of gravity (G).

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