A wrapped coil-type permeation device wherein the support material has integrally formed therein thickened side strips and end areas suitable for creating a winding core upon which membrane and support material windings are layered and/or an outer covering or casing for the wound coil device. The support material end areas include interlocking portions and fluid ports.

A device for treating blood comprising a first set of fluid channels for blood and a second set of channels for a treatment fluid. Each channel of the first set is defined by a pair of panels of semi-permeable membrane which are supported along spaced-apart lines by supports. At least a portion of the channels of the second set are defined by a pair of membrane panels and a pair of the supports. Each set of channels is arranged into a plurality of layers, the layers alternating between channels of the first and second sets.

A rate of flow regulator for use in a gravity fed fluid delivery system, the regulator comprising first and second fluid chambers. The first chamber has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and means for maintaining the fluid level in the chamber. The second chamber is disposed to receive fluid from that first chamber outlet and has its own fluid outlet. Vent means are also provided for establishing communication between each of the chambers and the exterior of the regulator.

A supporting net is disclosed including an outer layer of first strands, said first strands being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other; an intermediate supporting layer of second strands; and an inner layer of third strands, said third strands being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other, said third strands being substantially parallel to said first strands and being in a spaced relationship to said first strands such that upon clamping a membrane between said supporting net and a second supporting net of the same construction the first strands of the outer layer of said second supporting net penetrate into the spaces between the third strands of the inner layer of the said supporting net so as to clamp the membrane against the intermediate supporting layers of both of the supporting nets.

A novel device for mass transfer across a membrane is disclosed, which is particularly suitable for use as a blood oxygenator. The novel device is of the type having a pleated, selectively permeable membrane defining first and second sets of alternating pockets for the flow of a fluid to be treated (e.g. blood) and a treating fluid (e.g. oxygen), and a discrete support screen disposed within each of the pockets of said first and second sets. Of considerable importance is the feature that the support screens are designed to be substantially interdigitated when the assembly of membrane and support screens is held as a compressed stack within the housing of the device. The novel mass transfer apparatus may be utilized as a compact blood oxygenator with excellent gas transfer rates, low pressure drops and negligible trauma to blood components.