Hollow Fiber Membrane Coating Coverage via Dyed End-Surface Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for evaluating the formation of a silicone compound coating on the inner surface of a hollow fiber membrane are complex and time-consuming, requiring intricate equipment and long periods, and there is a need for a simpler method to assess the coverage of the coating layer effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method involving dissolving a silicone compound and a dyeing agent in an organic solvent to form a coating solution, passing it through the hollow fiber membrane to create a coating layer, and observing the dyed states of the membrane ends to evaluate the coverage of the silicone compound or its crosslinked product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silicone coating is performed by moving the hollow fiber membrane in a silicone monomer gas during blood plasma discharge in a high vacuum, then blood plasma leakage resistance is improved, but the coating step requires intricate equipment and long periods of time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood plasma leakage resistanceVSAvoidcoating equipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A porous hollow fiber membrane made of a hydrophobic polymer is introduced as an intermediary carrier to apply silicone coating. The membrane serves as a mediator between the coating material and the oxygenator components, enabling simplified coating application without requiring complex vacuum equipment. The hydrophobic polymer membrane naturally repels water while allowing oxygen permeation, and the silicone coating on its surface provides blood plasma leakage resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The porous hollow fiber membrane is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. Instead of using expensive and complex vacuum equipment for coating, a simple hydrophobic polymer membrane with silicone coating is used as a single-use element. This disposable approach eliminates the need for intricate coating equipment while maintaining blood plasma leakage resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood plasma leakage resistanceVSAvoidcoating process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The silicone coating is pre-applied to the porous hollow fiber membrane during its manufacturing process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site coating procedures. The pre-coated membrane is then directly installed into the oxygenator, significantly reducing the overall processing time while ensuring consistent blood plasma leakage resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By using a disposable pre-coated membrane, the time-consuming vacuum coating process is eliminated entirely. The membrane is manufactured with silicone coating in advance, allowing for rapid deployment without requiring lengthy coating procedures or complex equipment operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If a coating layer containing silicone compound is formed on the inner surface of hollow fiber membrane, then blood plasma leakage resistance is improved, but there is no simple method to evaluate the formation state of the coating layer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood plasma leakage resistanceVSAvoidcoating layer evaluation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes color changes to evaluate the coating layer formation. By incorporating a dye or using the natural color difference between the silicone coating and the underlying membrane, the coating coverage can be visually assessed. This simple color-based method allows for quick and easy evaluation of coating uniformity and completeness without requiring complex measurement equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy evaluation of the coating layer's formation on the entire lumen of the hollow fiber membrane, ensuring effective blood plasma leakage resistance and reducing wet lung phenomena by observing dyeing patterns on the membrane ends.

Implementation Method 1

causing the coating solution to pass through an inner surface of a hollow fiber membrane to form a coating layer containing the silicone compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a coating layer containing the silicone compound and/or a crosslinked product of the silicone compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS12465892B2Method for evaluating covering state of silicone compound

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 TERUMO KK

AI summary

A covering state of a coating layer containing a silicone compound on an inner surface of hollow fiber membranes is evaluated by dissolving the silicone compound and a dyeing agent in an organic solvent and causing the coating solution to pass through the hollow fiber membranes. The covering state of the silicone compound or a crosslinked product is determined by observing a dyed state of a hollow fiber membrane end surface on a coating solution passing start side and a dyed state of a hollow fiber membrane end surface on a coating solution passing end side of the hollow fiber membrane on which the coating layer is formed.