JP6602302B2 - Method for producing hollow fiber membrane bundle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle.

  Conventionally, an artificial lung having a hollow fiber membrane bundle composed of a large number of hollow fiber membranes is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The hollow fiber membrane bundle described in Patent Document 1 is obtained by arranging a large number of hollow fiber membranes almost in parallel to form weft yarns, which are connected by warp yarns to form a hook shape. Then, such a saddle-shaped hollow fiber sheet can be folded to form a hollow fiber membrane bundle whose outer shape is a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape.

  In the hollow fiber membrane bundle having such a configuration, gas exchange or heat exchange may be insufficient in a portion where the weft yarn (hollow fiber membrane) and the warp yarn (warp yarn) overlap. In addition, blood tends to stay in the portion where the weft and warp overlap, and there is a risk of blood clots.

  In order to solve the above, it is preferable that each hollow fiber membrane is wound around the outer periphery of a round bar body, for example, around the central axis in a multiple manner to form a hollow hollow fiber membrane bundle.

  By the way, when the hollow fiber membrane is wound around the round bar body, the applied tension of the hollow fiber membrane may differ depending on the position where the round bar body is wound. For example, a hollow fiber membrane wound in an excessively tensioned state may change the shape of the pores formed in the wall portion. Depending on the degree of change in the shape of the pores, plasma may flow into the pores or the gas exchange function may be insufficient.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,846

  The objective of this invention is providing the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle which can wind up a hollow fiber membrane with appropriate tension | tensile_strength and can prevent or suppress a deformation | transformation of a hollow fiber membrane.

Such an object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to ( 4 ) below.
(1) A method for producing a cylindrical hollow fiber membrane bundle by winding a hollow fiber membrane having a hollow portion through which a fluid passes, used for an artificial lung,
An unwinding step of unwinding the hollow fiber membrane;
A winding step of winding the hollow fiber membrane drawn out by the drawing step;
Possess a tension adjusting step of adjusting the tension during winding of the hollow fiber membrane,
In the tension adjusting step, a calibration curve obtained by detecting in advance the relationship between the rotation speed of the winding portion for winding the hollow fiber membrane and the elapsed time since the winding of the hollow fiber membrane was started. A method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle, wherein the tension is adjusted by relatively changing a rotation speed of the winding portion and a rotation speed of the feeding portion .

( 2 ) In the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle according to ( 1 ) above,
In the tension adjusting step, a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle in which the tension is detected and the rotational speed of the winding unit and the rotational speed of the feeding unit are relatively changed as needed based on the detection result. .

( 3 ) In the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle according to (1) or (2 ) above,
In the tension adjusting step, a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing method in which the rotation speed of the winding section is constant and the rotation speed of the feeding section is changed.

( 4 ) In the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle according to any one of (1) to (3 ) above,
In the tension adjusting step, a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing method in which the tension is adjusted by moving the hollow fiber membrane in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction according to the magnitude relationship of the tension.

  According to the present invention, when winding a hollow fiber membrane into a hollow fiber membrane bundle, the tension applied to the hollow fiber membrane can be wound while maintaining an appropriate magnitude. Thereby, for example, the shape of the hollow fiber membrane due to excessive tension, in particular, deformation of the pores formed in the hollow fiber membrane can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the gas exchange function from being lowered due to the fluid such as plasma flowing into the pores due to the deformation of the pore shape.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an artificial lung to which a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufactured by the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention (first embodiment) is applied. FIG. 2 is a view of the oxygenator shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a hollow fiber membrane bundle production apparatus used in the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram viewed from the direction of arrow F in FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 10 (a) is a graph showing the relationship between the winding speed and the elapsed time when the hollow fiber membrane is wound with the rotational speed of the winding section and the rotational speed of the feeding section being constant. (B) is a graph which shows the relationship between the correction amount of the rotational speed of a drawing | feeding-out part, and elapsed time. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a control program of the hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention (second embodiment). FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention (third embodiment).

  Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of this invention is demonstrated in detail based on suitable embodiment shown to an accompanying drawing.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an artificial lung to which a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufactured by the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention (first embodiment) is applied. FIG. 2 is a view of the oxygenator shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a hollow fiber membrane bundle production apparatus used in the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram viewed from the direction of arrow F in FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 10 (a) is a graph showing the relationship between the winding speed and the elapsed time when the hollow fiber membrane is wound with the rotational speed of the winding section and the rotational speed of the feeding section being constant. (B) is a graph which shows the relationship between the correction amount of the rotational speed of a drawing | feeding-out part, and elapsed time. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a control program of the hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus.

  1, 3, 4, and 7, the left side is referred to as “left” or “left (one)”, and the right side is referred to as “right” or “right (other)”. 1 to 6, the inside of the oxygenator will be described as “blood inflow side” or “upstream side”, and the outside will be described as “blood outflow side” or “downstream side”. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 8 (the same applies to FIGS. 12 and 13), the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are illustrated as three axes orthogonal to each other.

  First, an artificial lung to which a hollow fiber membrane bundle produced by the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention is applied will be described.

  The artificial lung 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. The oxygenator 10 is provided on the inner side, and a heat exchanger 10B that exchanges heat with blood, and an oxygenator that is provided on the outer periphery of the heat exchanger 10B and serves as a gas exchanger that exchanges gas with blood. It is an artificial lung with a heat exchanger provided with 10A. The artificial lung 10 is used by being installed in a blood extracorporeal circuit, for example.

  The oxygenator 10 has a housing 2A, and an oxygenator 10A and a heat exchanger 10B are accommodated in the housing 2A.

  The housing 2A includes a cylindrical housing body 21A, a dish-shaped first lid 22A that seals the left end opening of the cylindrical housing body 21A, and a dish-shaped first lid that seals the right end opening of the cylindrical housing body 21A. 2 lids 23A.

  The cylindrical housing body 21A, the first lid body 22A, and the second lid body 23A are made of a resin material. The first lid body 22A and the second lid body 23A are fixed to the cylindrical housing body 21A by a method such as fusion or bonding with an adhesive.

  A tubular blood outlet port 28 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical housing body 21A. The blood outflow port 28 protrudes in a substantially tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing body 21A (see FIG. 5).

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the tubular purge port 205 is protrudingly formed in the outer peripheral part of 21 A of cylindrical housing main bodies. The purge port 205 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical housing main body 21A so that the central axis thereof intersects the central axis of the cylindrical housing main body 21A.
A tubular gas outflow port 27 protrudes from the first lid 22A.

  Moreover, the blood inflow port 201 protrudes from the end surface of the first lid 22A so that the central axis is decentered with respect to the center of the first lid 22A.

  The gas outflow port 27 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the first lid 22A so that the central axis thereof intersects the center of the first lid 22A (see FIG. 2).

  A tubular gas inflow port 26, a heat medium inflow port 202, and a heat medium outflow port 203 are formed on the second lid 23A so as to protrude. The gas inflow port 26 is formed at the edge of the end surface of the second lid 23A. The heat medium inflow port 202 and the heat medium outflow port 203 are each formed at substantially the center of the end surface of the second lid 23A. The center lines of the heat medium inflow port 202 and the heat medium outflow port 203 are slightly inclined with respect to the center line of the second lid body 23A.

  In the present invention, the entire shape of the housing 2A does not necessarily have a complete columnar shape, and may be, for example, a shape in which a part is missing or a shape in which a deformed part is added.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a cylindrical oxygenator 10 </ b> A is accommodated inside the housing 2 </ b> A along the inner peripheral surface thereof. The artificial lung portion 10A includes a cylindrical hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A and a filter member 41A as bubble removing means 4A provided on the outer peripheral side of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A. The hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A and the filter member 41A are arranged in the order of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A and the filter member 41A from the blood inflow side.

  A cylindrical heat exchanging portion 10B is installed along the inner peripheral surface of the artificial lung portion 10A. The heat exchange unit 10B has a hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each of the hollow fiber membrane bundles 3A and 3B is composed of a large number of hollow fiber membranes 31, and these hollow fiber membranes 31 are stacked and laminated in layers. The number of stacked layers is not particularly limited, but for example, 3 to 40 layers are preferable. Each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A has a gas exchange function. On the other hand, each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B has a function of performing heat exchange.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hollow fiber membrane bundles 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B are collectively fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical housing main body 21 </ b> A by partition walls 8 and 9, respectively. The partition walls 8 and 9 are made of, for example, a potting material such as polyurethane or silicone rubber, an adhesive, or the like. Further, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3 </ b> B has an inner peripheral portion engaged with an uneven portion 244 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the first cylindrical member 241. By this engagement and the fixing by the partition walls 8 and 9, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B is securely fixed to the cylindrical housing main body 21A, and therefore the positional deviation of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B occurs during use of the artificial lung 10. It can be surely prevented. Moreover, the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 244 functions also as a flow path for circulating the blood B to the whole hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B.

As shown in FIG. 5, the maximum outer diameter φD1 _max of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A is preferably 20 mm to 200 mm, and more preferably 40 mm to 150 mm. The maximum outer diameter φD2 _max of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B is preferably 10 mm to 150 mm, and more preferably 20 mm to 100 mm. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the length L along the central axis direction of the hollow fiber membrane bundles 3A and 3A is preferably 30 mm to 250 mm, and more preferably 50 mm to 200 mm. By having such conditions, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A has an excellent gas exchange function, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B has an excellent heat exchange function.

  A blood flow in which blood B flows from the upper side to the lower side in FIG. 6 is outside the hollow fiber membranes 31 between the partition walls 8 and 9 in the housing 2A, that is, in the gaps between the hollow fiber membranes 31. A path 33 is formed.

  On the upstream side of the blood flow path 33, a blood inflow side space 24A communicating with the blood inflow port 201 is formed as a blood inflow portion of the blood B flowing in from the blood inflow port 201 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). .

  The blood inflow side space 24A includes a first cylindrical member 241 having a cylindrical shape, and a plate piece 242 that is disposed inside the first cylindrical member 241 and is opposed to a part of the inner peripheral portion thereof. It is a defined space. The blood B that has flowed into the blood inflow side space 24 </ b> A can flow down over the entire blood flow path 33 through the plurality of side holes 243 formed in the first cylindrical member 241.

  A second cylindrical member 245 disposed concentrically with the first cylindrical member 241 is disposed inside the first cylindrical member 241. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat medium H such as water flowing from the heat medium inflow port 202 flows through each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3 </ b> B on the outer peripheral side of the first cylindrical member 241. It passes through the path (hollow part) 32 and the inside of the second cylindrical member 245 in this order, and is discharged from the heat medium outlet port 203. Further, when the heat medium H passes through the flow path 32 of each hollow fiber membrane 31, heat exchange (heating or cooling) is performed between the blood flow path 33 and the blood B in contact with the hollow fiber membrane 31. Done.

  On the downstream side of the blood flow path 33, a filter member 41A having a function of capturing bubbles present in the blood B flowing through the blood flow path 33 is disposed.

  The filter member 41A is configured by a substantially rectangular sheet-like member (hereinafter also simply referred to as “sheet”), and is formed by winding the sheet along the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A. Both ends of the filter member 41A are also fixed by partition walls 8 and 9, respectively, thereby being fixed to the housing 2A (see FIG. 3). The filter member 41A preferably has an inner peripheral surface provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A and covers almost the entire outer peripheral surface.

  Moreover, even if a bubble exists in the blood flowing through the blood flow path 33, the filter member 41A can capture the bubble (see FIG. 6). Further, the air bubbles captured by the filter member 41A are pushed into the hollow fiber membranes 31 in the vicinity of the filter member 41A by the blood flow and are removed from the blood flow path 33 as a result.

  Further, a cylindrical gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the filter member 41A and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing body 21A, and this gap forms a blood outflow side space 25A. The blood outflow portion is constituted by the blood outflow side space 25A and the blood outflow port 28 communicating with the blood outflow side space 25A. Since the blood outflow part has the blood outflow side space 25A, a space where the blood B that has passed through the filter member 41A flows toward the blood outflow port 28 is secured, and the blood B can be discharged smoothly.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a ring-shaped rib 291 is formed to protrude inside the first lid 22 </ b> A. A first chamber 221a is defined by the first lid 22A, the rib 291 and the partition wall 8. The first chamber 221a is a gas outflow chamber from which the gas G flows out. The left end opening of each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A opens to and communicates with the first chamber 221a. In the oxygenator 10, a gas outflow portion is configured by the gas outflow port 27 and the first chamber 221a. On the other hand, an annular rib 292 is formed so as to protrude inside the second lid body 23A. A second chamber 231 a is defined by the second lid body 23 </ b> A, the rib 292, and the partition wall 9. The second chamber 231a is a gas inflow chamber into which the gas G flows. The right end opening of each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A opens to and communicates with the second chamber 231a. In the oxygenator 10, a gas inflow portion is constituted by the gas inflow port 26 and the second chamber 231a.

Here, the blood flow in the oxygenator 10 of this embodiment will be described.
In the oxygenator 10, the blood B that has flowed in from the blood inflow port 201 sequentially passes through the blood inflow side space 24A and the side hole 243, and flows into the heat exchange unit 10B. In the heat exchange unit 10B, the blood B flows through the blood flow path 33 in the downstream direction, and contacts the surface of each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the heat exchange unit 10B to exchange heat (warming or cooling). . The blood B thus heat-exchanged flows into the artificial lung 10A.

  In the oxygenator 10A, the blood B flows further in the downstream direction through the blood channel 33. On the other hand, the gas (gas containing oxygen) supplied from the gas inflow port 26 is distributed from the second chamber 231a to the flow channels 32 of the hollow fiber membranes 31 of the oxygenator 10A and flows through the flow channels 32. Thereafter, the gas is accumulated in the first chamber 221 a and discharged from the gas outflow port 27. The blood B flowing through the blood flow path 33 contacts the surface of each hollow fiber membrane 31 of the oxygenator 10A, and is exchanged with the gas G flowing through the flow path 32, that is, oxygenated and decarboxylated. The

  When bubbles are mixed in the blood B that has undergone gas exchange, the bubbles are captured by the filter member 41A and are prevented from flowing out downstream of the filter member 41A.

  As described above, heat exchange and gas exchange are sequentially performed, and blood B from which bubbles are further removed flows out from the blood outflow port 28.

  As described above, each of the hollow fiber membrane bundles 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B is composed of a large number of hollow fiber membranes 31. Since the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B have substantially the same hollow fiber membrane 31 except that their uses are different, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A will be representatively described below. The hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A has pores formed on the tube wall, and the hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B omits the pores. The hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A and the hollow fiber membrane 31 of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3B have substantially the same configuration.

The hollow fiber membrane 31 is composed of a porous gas exchange membrane, and the inner diameter φd ₁ is preferably 50 μm to 700 μm, and more preferably 70 μm to 600 μm (see FIG. 6). The outer diameter φd ₂ of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is preferably 100 μm to 1000 μm, and more preferably 120 μm to 800 μm (see FIG. 6). Further, the inner diameter .phi.d ₁ and the ratio φd ₁ / φd ₂ of the outer diameter .phi.d ₂ is preferably some 0.5 to 0.9, and more preferably 0.6 to 0.8. In each hollow fiber membrane 31 having such conditions, the pressure loss when the gas G is allowed to flow through the flow path 32 that is the hollow portion of the hollow fiber membrane 31 can be made relatively small while maintaining its own strength. In addition, it contributes to maintaining the wound state of the hollow fiber membrane 31. For example, when the inner diameter φd ₁ is larger than the upper limit value, the thickness of the hollow fiber membrane 31 becomes thin, and the strength is lowered depending on other conditions. If the inner diameter φd ₁ is smaller than the lower limit value, pressure loss when the gas G flows through the hollow fiber membrane 31 increases depending on other conditions.

  Further, the pore diameter of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is preferably 0.01 μm to 5 μm, and more preferably 0.01 μm to 1 μm.

The distance of the hollow fiber membranes 31 and adjacent, and more preferably of 1 / 10~1 / 1 φd _2.

  As such a hollow fiber membrane 31, a hydrophobic polymer material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile, polytetrafluoroethylene, and cellulose acetate is used. Polyolefin resins are preferred, and polypropylene is particularly preferred. Moreover, the micropores of the hollow fiber membrane 31 can be formed by, for example, a stretching method or a solid-liquid phase separation method.

  Next, the winding device (hollow fiber membrane bundle production device) 60 for producing the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the winding device 60 executes the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention, and includes a cylindrical core rotating means (winding portion) 601 and a winder device (feeding-out). Part) 602, a fixing device 600, a roller group 90, and a control unit (tension adjusting mechanism) 100 that controls driving thereof. With the above configuration, the winding device 60 is realized while synchronizing the feeding process, the winding process, and the tension adjusting process in the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle.

  The cylindrical core rotating means 601 is responsible for executing the winding process, the winder device 602 is responsible for executing the feeding process, and the control unit 100 is responsible for executing the tension adjusting process. .

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cylindrical core rotating means 601 includes a motor 603, a motor shaft 604, and a core attachment member 605 fixed to the motor shaft 604. The first cylindrical member 241 that is a part of the housing 2 </ b> A of the oxygenator 10 is attached to the core attachment member 605 and rotated by the motor 603. The motor 603 is electrically connected to the control unit 100, and driving is controlled by the control unit 100.

  The winder device 602 includes a main body 606 provided with a storage portion for storing the hollow fiber membrane 31 therein, and a discharge unit that discharges the hollow fiber membrane 31 and moves in the axial direction of the main body 606 (the left-right direction in FIG. 7). 705. Further, the main body 606 is fixed to a linear table 608 and a ball nut member 704 that move on the linear rail 607. The ball nut member 704 is movable in parallel with the axial direction of the main body 606 by rotating the ball screw shaft 609 by driving the motor 703. The motor 703 can rotate forward and backward, and the drive is controlled by the control unit 100.

  The fixing device 600 includes a main body 706 including a storage unit that stores a fixing thread (linear body) 11 that fixes the hollow fiber membrane 31 wound around the first cylindrical member 241, and the first cylindrical member 241. And a discharge portion 707 that discharges the fixing yarn 11 toward both end portions. When the fixing yarn 11 is fixed to the hollow fiber membrane 31, the fixing yarn 11 discharged from the discharge portion 707 is wound around the hollow fiber membrane 31 on the rotating first cylindrical member 241. Is fixed. After the fixing, the fixing thread 11 provided for the fixing is cut from the fixing device 600 by a cutter (not shown).

  The hollow fiber membrane 31 discharged and discharged from the discharge unit 705 is wound around the first cylindrical member 241 that rotates by the operation of the motor 603 (a feeding step and a winding step). By discharging the hollow fiber membrane 31 while the discharge part 705 is moving, for example, the winding of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is started from one end of the first cylindrical member 241 and when the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound to the other end, it is folded. The hollow fiber membrane 31 can be wound toward one end. By repeating such winding many times, a base material of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A having a cylindrical shape can be obtained. The base material of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A is used as the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A by cutting the portion where the hollow fiber membrane 31 is fixed by the fixing yarns 11 at both ends.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the roller group 90 is movable in the Z-axis direction with three fixed rollers 91, 92, 93 provided between the cylindrical core rotating means 601 and the winder device 602. And a movable roller (detection unit) 94.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the fixed roller 91 is provided on the + Z axis side of the winder device 602. The fixed roller 92 is provided on the −X axis side of the fixed roller 91. The fixed roller 93 is provided on the −X axis side of the fixed roller 92. In the winding device 60, the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound around fixed rollers 91, 92, 93.

  The movable roller 94 is located between the fixed rollers 92 and 93 and on the −Z-axis side with respect to the fixed rollers 92 and 93. Both ends of the movable roller 94 are free ends, and are supported by the hollow fiber membrane 31 between the fixed rollers 92 and 93. For this reason, in the winding device 60, the movable roller 94 is in a state in which a tension T is applied to the hollow fiber membrane 31 by its own weight.

  The tension T is such a magnitude that the hollow fiber membrane bundle 3A obtained by winding the hollow fiber membrane 31 can sufficiently exhibit its original function (hereinafter also referred to as “appropriate size”). ). The tension T can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the weight of the movable roller 94 or by urging the movable roller 94 to the + Z-axis side or the −Z-axis side with an urging member or the like.

  The movable roller 94 is movable in the Z-axis direction according to the magnitude relationship of the tension T. When the tension T becomes larger than the illustrated configuration, the hollow fiber membrane 31 moves to the + Z-axis side (in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 8). On the other hand, when the tension T becomes smaller than the illustrated configuration, the hollow fiber membrane 31 moves to the −Z axis side (in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 8).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the movable roller 94 is electrically connected to the control unit 100, and a position detection unit 941 for detecting the position (height) is provided. The control unit 100 can detect the position of the movable roller 94 based on the signal from the position detection unit 941 and calculate the magnitude of the tension T of the hollow fiber membrane 31 according to the position.

In the winding device 60, a hollow fiber membrane bundle 3 </ b> A wound with an appropriate tension is obtained by preliminarily applying an appropriate magnitude of tension T to the hollow fiber membrane 31 and winding the hollow fiber membrane 31 in that state. Can be obtained. In the present embodiment, an upper limit value _Tmax and a lower limit value _Tmin are set as an allowable range of the tension T having an appropriate magnitude. If the lower limit value T _min ≦ the tension T ≦ the upper limit value T _max is satisfied, the tension T is determined to be an appropriate magnitude.

The upper limit value T _max is, for example, 10 gf when the outer diameter of the hollow fiber membrane 31 made of polypropylene is 170 μm and the inner diameter is 120 μm, and 24 gf when the outer diameter is 300 μm and the inner diameter is 200 μm. The lower limit value T _min can be set to, for example, 1 gf as a size that does not allow the hollow fiber membrane 31 to be loosened.

  However, the allowable range of the tension often depends on the material of the hollow fiber membrane and is not limited to this depending on the selection of the material.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 100 is electrically connected to the motor 603 of the cylindrical core rotating means 601, the motor 703 of the winder device 602, and the position detection unit 941 of the movable roller 94. It has a function to control the operation. The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 and a storage unit 102.

The CPU 101 executes various processing programs.
The storage unit 102 includes, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) which is a kind of nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and can store various programs.

In addition, information such as an upper limit value T _max and a lower limit value T _{min of} an appropriate magnitude of the tension T of the hollow fiber membrane 31 described above is stored in the storage unit 102.

Here, FIG. 10A is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time t from the start of winding and the winding speed v of the hollow fiber membrane 31. “Winding speed v” refers to the length of the hollow fiber membrane 31 actually wound up per unit time. This graph, with the rotation speed V _b of the rotational speed V _a and the motor 703 of the motor 603 fixed respectively, is obtained by measuring in advance experimentally.

As shown in FIG. 10 (a), until the elapsed time _t 1 ~t _2, seen that take-up speed v is changed (decreased) is. Then, from the elapsed time t _2, further certain period of time, again, shows a similar behavior. These behaviors appear when the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound around the end of the first cylindrical member 241 when the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound, that is, when the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound around the end.

  Therefore, the storage unit 102 stores a calibration curve for canceling the change in the winding speed v based on the relationship between the winding speed v and the elapsed time t shown in FIG. This calibration curve is stored as an arithmetic expression or a table, for example.

FIG. 10B is a graph in which the calibration curve is represented by the correction amount U of the rotational speed _Vb of the motor 703 on the vertical axis and the elapsed time t on the horizontal axis. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), the correction amount U of the rotation speed _{V b} is the elapsed time _t 1 ~t _2, with a decrease in the winding speed v, the linear graph shown in FIG. 10 (a) It is changing like a mountain that is reversed.

  Next, a control program of the control unit 100 (a tension adjusting step in the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention) will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8, the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound around the fixed rollers 91, 92, 93 and the movable roller 94 from the winder device 602, and the motor 603 and the first cylindrical member 241 are fixed. The motor 703 is rotated (step S101). Thereby, winding of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is started.

At this time, the rotation speed V _a of the motor 603 is the speed V _a1 , and the rotation speed V _b of the motor 703 is the speed V _b1 . In the present embodiment, the rotational speed V _a of the motor 603, regardless of the elapsed time t, is constant.

  Simultaneously with the driving of the motors 603 and 703, the tension T of the hollow fiber membrane 31 between the cylindrical core rotating means 601 and the winder device 602 is detected based on the signal from the position detecting unit 941 of the movable roller 94. Start (step S102).

  Further, simultaneously with the driving of the motors 603 and 703, the timer is operated to measure the elapsed time t from the start of winding (step S103).

Then, in step S104, it is determined whether a time elapsed t = _{t 1.}
In step S104, if it is determined that not yet become the elapsed time t = _{t 1} determines whether or not the tension T ≧ _{T min} (step S105). If it is determined in step S105 that the tension T ≧ _Tmin , it is next determined whether or not the tension T ≦ _Tmax (step S106). If it is determined in step S106 that the tension T ≦ _Tmax , the tension T is an appropriate magnitude, and the process returns to step S104 again.

Here, if it is determined in step S105 that the tension T <the lower limit value T _min , the rotational speed V _b of the motor 703 is decreased below V _b1 so that the tension T ≧ T _min (step S107). . If it is determined in step S106 that the tension T> _Tmax , the rotational speed _Vb of the motor 703 is increased above _Vb1 to _satisfy the tension T ≦ _Tmax (step S108).
Step S105~S108 is repeated until the elapsed time t = _{t 1.}

Then, in step S104, if it is determined that it is the elapsed time t = _{t 1,} reduce the rotational speed _{V b} of the motor 703 causes (change) (step S109). At this time, the rotational speed _Vb is changed based on the calibration curve shown in FIG. Thereby, the change of the tension T resulting from the reduction of the winding speed v can be effectively prevented or suppressed. Therefore, the hollow fiber membrane 31 can be wound while keeping the tension T as appropriate as possible.

Then, in step S110, it is determined whether a time elapsed t = _{t 2.} In step S110, when it is determined that it is not yet elapsed time t = _{t 2} performs steps S111 to S114. Since these steps S111 to S114 are the same as steps S105 to S108 described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

In step S110, when it is determined that the elapsed time t = t ₂ determines whether winding of the hollow fiber membrane 31 has been completed (step S115). This determination is made based on, for example, the total number of revolutions of the motors 603 and 703, the elapsed time t, the remaining amount of the hollow fiber membrane 31, and the like.

When the winding of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is determined not to be completed in step S115, to change the rotational speed _{V b} of the motor 703 to _{V b1} (step S116), the flow returns to step S103.

  The above control is repeated until it is determined in step S115 that the winding of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is completed.

As described above, in the tension adjustment step of this embodiment, the rotational speed _Vb of the motor 703 is adjusted as needed based on the calibration curve of the elapsed time t and the winding speed v. Thereby, it can wind, maintaining the tension | tensile_strength T of the hollow fiber membrane 31 to an appropriate magnitude | size.

Further, in the tension adjusting step of the present embodiment, the tension T is detected as needed while the lower limit value T _min ≦ the tension T ≦ the upper limit value T _max is detected. As a result, the winding can be performed while the tension T of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is effectively effectively maintained at an appropriate magnitude.

As described above, in the present invention, the hollow fiber membrane bundles 3A and 3B obtained by winding while adjusting the tension T of the hollow fiber membrane 31 surely have excellent original gas exchange function and heat exchange function. It can be demonstrated. In particular, the present invention is more effective when winding a relatively thin hollow fiber membrane (for example, an inner diameter φd ₁ of 90 μm to 150 μm) that can be influenced by a change in tension. Further, in applying the thin hollow fiber membrane as described above to the artificial lung, it is conceivable to reduce the twill angle (not shown) in order to avoid an increase in the pressure loss of the fluid passing through the hollow fiber membrane. . At this time, although the amount of change in tension during winding increases due to the reduction in the twill angle, the present invention can cope with finer changes in tension than in the past, so the hollow fiber membrane bundle as described above (for example, the twill angle is 30 °). Even in the production of ˜60 °, it has the effect of suppressing the change in shape. The twill angle here refers to the central axis of the hollow fiber membrane when the hollow fiber membrane bundle is produced by winding the hollow fiber membrane many times around the central axis along the central axis direction of the first cylindrical member 241. The inclination angle with respect to.

In the tension adjusting step of the present embodiment, the lower limit value _Tmin and the upper limit value _Tmax are set as appropriate magnitudes of the tension T of the hollow fiber membrane 31, but the value of the lower limit value _Tmin is actually It is preferable to set the upper limit value _Tmax slightly lower than the upper limit value of the actual tension T, and it is preferable to set the upper limit value _Tmax to be slightly lower than the lower limit value. As a result, the hollow fiber membrane 31 can be wound while maintaining the tension T at an appropriate magnitude more reliably.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention (second embodiment).

Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the description will focus on differences from the above-described embodiment, and the description of the same matters will be omitted. To do.
The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that an engaging portion is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a tension adjusting roller (engaging portion) 95 as a tension adjusting mechanism is provided between the cylindrical core rotating means 601 and the fixed roller 93. The tension adjusting roller 95 is provided with a roller main body 951 that comes into contact with the hollow fiber membrane 31 and a biasing portion 952 that biases the roller main body 951 in the X-axis direction.

  Moreover, the urging | biasing part 952 is comprised, for example with the coil spring, and the hollow fiber membrane 31 is wound around by the tension | pulling state currently pulled rather than the natural state. For this reason, the hollow fiber membrane 31 is pulled by the roller body 951 to the −X axis side (direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane 31).

  When the tension T increases, the hollow fiber membrane 31 moves the roller body 951 to the + X axis side (position indicated by the roller body 951a in the drawing) against the urging force of the urging portion 952. At this time, the hollow fiber membrane 31 between the fixed roller 93 and the cylindrical core rotating means 601 approaches a linear shape as compared with the state indicated by the solid line in the figure, and can suppress or prevent the tension T from increasing. .

  On the other hand, when the tension T decreases, the hollow fiber membrane 31 is pulled and moved by the urging portion 952 together with the roller main body 951 to the −X axis side (position indicated by the roller main body 951b in the drawing). Thereby, the hollow fiber membrane 31 between the fixed roller 93 and the cylindrical core rotating means 601 is pulled by the biasing portion 952 rather than the state shown by the solid line in the drawing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent the tension T from decreasing.

  Thus, in addition to the control unit in the first embodiment, the tension adjusting roller 95 adjusts the tension closer to the winding unit than the movable roller 94, so that the tension is higher than that in the first embodiment. Since it is possible to cope with changes more quickly, it is possible to reliably prevent or suppress the tension of the hollow fiber membrane 31 from changing.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus used in the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention (third embodiment).

  Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the description will focus on the differences from the above-described embodiment, and the description of the same matters will be omitted. To do.

  The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the position of the cylindrical core rotating means is different.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the cylindrical core rotating means 601 is located on the −Z axis side from the position in each of the above embodiments. For this reason, the length L1 of the hollow fiber membrane 31 between the fixed roller 93 and the cylindrical core rotating means 601 is the hollow fiber membrane between the fixed roller 93 and the cylindrical core rotating means 601 in the first embodiment. It is longer than 31 length.

The length L1 is preferably 500 mm to 5000 mm, and more preferably 1000 mm to 3000 mm. The length L is preferably 10 to 200 times the outer diameter φd ₃ of the first cylindrical member 241, and more preferably 15 to 150 times.

  According to this embodiment, even if the tension T is changed and the length of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is slightly changed, it is ensured that the change amount can be sufficiently ignored. Can do. Therefore, the same effects as those in the above embodiments can be obtained.

  As mentioned above, although the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of this invention was demonstrated about embodiment of illustration, this invention is not limited to this, The manufacturing method of a hollow fiber membrane bundle adds arbitrary processes. It may be. Moreover, each part which comprises a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing apparatus can be substituted with the thing of the arbitrary structures which can exhibit the same function. Moreover, arbitrary components may be added.

  Moreover, the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of this invention may combine the arbitrary 2 or more structures (features) in each said embodiment.

  In each of the above embodiments, the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle for an artificial lung part has been shown as a representative. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, as a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle for a heat exchange part. As an effect, it is possible to suppress or prevent a change (stretching or the like) in the shape of the hollow fiber membrane used in the heat exchange part. In the embodiment, the oxygenator and the heat exchanger are arranged inside and the oxygenator is arranged outside. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the oxygenator is arranged inside. The heat exchange part may be arranged outside. In this case, blood flows down from the outside toward the inside.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the tension of the wound hollow fiber membrane is adjusted by keeping the rotation speed of the winding part constant and adjusting the rotation speed of the feeding part. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotation speed of the feeding section may be constant and the rotation speed of the winding section may be adjusted. Moreover, you may adjust the rotational speed of both a winding-up part and a delivery part.

  In the second embodiment, the engaging portion (contact portion) is configured to be movable by the urging portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the urging portion is omitted and the control portion is omitted. The engaging portion may be configured to be movable by the control.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, the judgment whether the winding of the hollow fiber membrane was completed may be performed at any time, and may be performed for every fixed time. Further, when it is determined that the winding of the hollow fiber membrane is completed, the winding may be stopped immediately, or the winding may be stopped after winding to the end of the first cylindrical member.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, you may provide a biasing part in a detection part. In this case, the detection unit can exhibit the same function as the engagement unit.

  Further, as described above, the tension adjusting mechanism is preferably configured to move in different directions when having a plurality of engaging portions. Thereby, it can prevent that the tension | tensile_strength of a hollow fiber membrane changes more effectively.

  Moreover, in the said 2nd Embodiment, although the urging | biasing part is comprised with the coil spring, it is not limited to this in this invention, For example, what has urging | biasing force, such as a leaf | plate spring and a disc spring, should just be used.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the urging portion functions as a tension spring in which the hollow fiber membrane is wound in a tension state in which the urging portion is tensioned more than in a natural state, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the hollow fiber membrane may be wound around in a compressed state compressed more than a natural state. In this case, the coil spring functions as a pressing spring.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although only one hollow fiber membrane is illustrated, it cannot be overemphasized that many hollow fiber membranes may be simultaneously wound around the same cylindrical member in this invention.

  The method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle according to the present invention is a method for producing a cylindrical hollow fiber membrane bundle by winding a hollow fiber membrane having a hollow part through which a fluid passes, which is used for an artificial lung. It has a drawing-out process for drawing out the hollow fiber membrane, a winding-up process for winding up the hollow-fiber membrane drawn out by the drawing-out process, and a tension adjusting process for adjusting the tension at the time of winding the hollow fiber membrane. And Therefore, the hollow fiber membrane can be wound with an appropriate tension, and deformation of the hollow fiber membrane can be prevented or suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Artificial lung 10A Artificial lung part 10B Heat exchange part 2A Housing 21A Cylindrical housing main body 22A 1st cover body 221a 1st chamber 23A 2nd lid body 231a 2nd chamber 24A Blood inflow side space 241 1st cylinder Member 242 plate piece 243 side hole 244 uneven part 245 second cylindrical member 25A blood outflow side space 26 gas inflow port 27 gas outflow port 28 blood outflow port 291 rib 292 rib 3A, 3B hollow fiber membrane bundle 4A bubble removing means 8 partition 9 Separator 11 Fixing thread 31 Hollow fiber membrane 32 Channel 33 Blood channel 41A Filter member 60 Winding device 90 Roller group 91 Fixed roller 92 Fixed roller 93 Fixed roller 94 Movable roller 941 Position detecting unit 95 Tension adjusting roller 951 Roller body 951a Roller body 951b Roller body 952 Biasing unit 100 Control unit 101 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Memory | storage part 201 Blood inflow port 202 Heat medium inflow port 203 Heat medium outflow port 205 Purge port 600 Fixing device 601 Cylindrical core rotation means 602 Winder device 603 Motor 604 Motor shaft 605 Core attachment member 606 Main body 607 Linear rail 608 Linear table 609 Ball screw shaft 703 Motor 704 Ball nut member 705 Discharge part 706 Main body part 707 Discharge part B Blood G Gas H Heat medium S101, S102, S103, S104, S105, S106, S107, S108, S109, S110, S111, S112, S113 , S114, S115, S116 step T tension _{T max} limit _{T min} lower limit U correction amount _{V a} rotational speed _{V a1} velocity _{V b} the rotational speed _{V b1} rate _{t, t 1, t 2} elapsed time v winding Ri speed .phi.D1 _max maximum outer diameter .phi.D2 _max maximum outer diameter .phi.d ₁ inner diameter .phi.d ₂ outer diameter .phi.d ₃ external diameter L length L1 Length

Claims (4)

A method for producing a cylindrical hollow fiber membrane bundle by winding a hollow fiber membrane having a hollow portion through which a fluid passes, used for an artificial lung,
An unwinding step of unwinding the hollow fiber membrane;
A winding step of winding the hollow fiber membrane drawn out by the drawing step;
Possess a tension adjusting step of adjusting the tension during winding of the hollow fiber membrane,
In the tension adjusting step, a calibration curve obtained by detecting in advance the relationship between the rotation speed of the winding portion for winding the hollow fiber membrane and the elapsed time since the winding of the hollow fiber membrane was started. A method for producing a hollow fiber membrane bundle, wherein the tension is adjusted by relatively changing a rotation speed of the winding portion and a rotation speed of the feeding portion . In the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of Claim 1 ,
In the tension adjusting step, a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle in which the tension is detected and the rotational speed of the winding unit and the rotational speed of the feeding unit are relatively changed as needed based on the detection result. . In the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of Claim 1 or 2 ,
In the tension adjusting step, a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing method in which the rotation speed of the winding section is constant and the rotation speed of the feeding section is changed. In the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3 ,
In the tension adjusting step, a hollow fiber membrane bundle manufacturing method in which the tension is adjusted by moving the hollow fiber membrane in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction according to the magnitude relationship of the tension.

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