Oxygenator Heat Exchanger Bundle Bonding for Stable Blood Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers for oxygenators face challenges during production, including contamination and damage risks due to knitting processes, which can lead to reduced flow areas and increased turbulence in blood flow, necessitating improved manufacturing methods.
Innovation Solution
The use of chemical and/or physical adhesive compounds to connect hose sections into a stable bundle, eliminating the need for knitting and reducing the risk of damage or contamination, while ensuring secure fixation and improved flow characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hose sections are joined by knitting with support threads, then the hose sections are connected to form a mat, but the support threads constrict the hose sections reducing flow area and causing turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the support threads from the connection process entirely. Instead of knitting hose sections together with support threads, the patent uses adhesive bonding to join hose sections directly, eliminating the constriction and turbulence caused by support threads while maintaining connection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical knitting system (needles, support threads, transverse seams) with a chemical adhesive bonding system. This substitution eliminates the physical constriction of hose sections by support threads, maintaining full flow area while achieving secure connection of hose sections
2Ease of manufacture
If hose sections are joined by knitting processes, then hose sections are connected, but contamination and damage risks increase during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical knitting process with a simpler adhesive bonding process. This substitution reduces the number of manufacturing steps and potential contamination points, while the adhesive creates a secure, contamination-resistant bond between hose sections
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the bonding mechanism from mechanical (knitting with threads) to chemical (adhesive bonding). This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces contamination risk, and eliminates damage to hose sections that can occur during knitting operations
3Ease of manufacture
If additional spacers and sealing rings are used to assemble heat exchanger, then housing assembly is completed, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the hose sections into a single bonded bundle unit before insertion into the housing. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate spacers and sealing rings, as the bonded bundle maintains its structure and positioning without additional components, simplifying the overall device
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive bonding serves multiple functions simultaneously: it connects hose sections together, provides structural support for the bundle, and eliminates the need for separate spacers and sealing rings. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components required in the heat exchanger assembly
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
This method simplifies production, reduces contamination, enhances flow stability, and increases the efficiency of the heat exchanger by maintaining a constant pressure and reducing blood damage, with improved handling and reduced scrap rates.
Implementation Method 1
The hose sections are joined together by joining, in particular by bonding, i.e. by joining using chemical and/or physical adhesive bonds
Implementation Method 2
Temperature regulation takes place in a heat exchanger within the oxygenator, through heat exchange between the blood and a heat exchanger medium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A heat exchanger for an oxygenator comprises multiple tube portions (3), respectively having a longitudinal tube axis (2), wherein the tube portions (3) are arranged in a bundle (4), having a longitudinal bundle axis (5), and the tube portions (3) are connected to one another in at least one connecting portion (6) of the bundle (4) by joining by means of chemical and/or physical adhesive bonds. A method for producing the heat exchanger is similarly provided.