Abstract: Disclosed is a method of hemodialysis and a modification for existing hemodialyzers to facilitate use of the method. A highly porous membrane is utilized in a single pass hemodialysis system. The membrane is freely supported, such that it distends in use to maintain a constant transmembrane pressure over its entire surface. The modification to existing dialyzers includes the use of a highly porous membrane, in combination with a transmembrane pressure sensor, which controls the dialysate output flow to maintain a precise transmembrane pressure.

Abstract: A device for the magnetic treatment of water and other liquids, having a pair of concentric tubular casings which are spaced from each other so as to form an annular treatment chamber. The inner casing contains an elongated magnet having two or more longitudinally spaced poles, and the intermediate casing is made of a magnetic material which serves to concentrate the magnetic lines of force within the annular chamber. The inner casing is supported within the intermediate casing by means of elastic, non-magnetic sleeves which are positioned over opposite ends of the inner casing and compressed between it and the inner surface of the intermediate casing so that the treatment chamber is rendered fluid-tight. A pair of apertures are provided in the opposite ends of the inner casing to permit fluid to flow into and through the annular chamber.

Abstract: A supplementary degassing system is disclosed herein for use with a bedside console of the type employed in a central delivery system in the event additional degassing is necessary. The system may also be incorporated in a dialysis machine as the main degassing system.The system includes a chamber for receiving a liquid to be degassed. The chamber includes: a liquid inlet; a gas outlet through which gas is withdrawn; a degassed liquid outlet from which degassed liquid is drawn; and a recirculation inlet for receiving at least recirculated liquid. A recirculation loop is also provided for recirculating and treating liquid from the chamber. The loop includes a variable-restriction assembly for regulating pressures and enhancing degassing. The variable-restriction assembly includes a variable restriction comprising an orifice and valve for adjustably controlling liquid flow through the orifice.

Abstract: A fireproof respiratory face mask for use in fires and smog has a granular expanded calcium aluminum silicate base material coated with layers of soda lime, active carbon dust, copper dust soaked into a caustic soda solution and manganese dioxide dust held between two layers of ceramic fiber fleece-like materials felted together to hold the coated granules. The face mask is stored in an easy opening ceramic fiber fireproof package with a pair of fireproof gloves.

Abstract: A fluid separation apparatus comprising a bundle or bundles of a great number of permselective hollow fibers inserted into a casing and having both the ends fixed by tube sheets is disclosed. This bundle is composed of a great number of hollow fiber elements, each of which consists of one or two hollow fibers wound around by a spacer yarn composed of a textured yarn. This fluid separation apparatus is advantageously used as an artificial kidney.

Abstract: A process for economical air drying of aqueous sludge, and a vehicle which may be used in practicing such process. The surface of a pool of sludge, such as in a sludge lagoon, is systematically agitated to break up the dry crust and to bring wet sludge to the surface for more rapid removal of water by evaporation and to form a dry upper layer of substantial thickness. The drier surface material is skimmed off the surface and either harvested directly or shifted laterally to provide an inclined surface on the lagoon so as to facilitate drainage of surface water, such as from precipitation. The dry surface sludge is harvested from the lagoon either after systematic shifting of the dry surface sludge to one side of the lagoon, or by transporting of the dry sludge through a conduit to the side of the lagoon, or by loading of the sludge into a receptacle of a stirring/harvesting vehicle for periodic delivery to the side of the lagoon.

Abstract: Electrostatic separation of aqueous and particulate matter from a primarily organic impurities phase which forms at the organic/aqueous interface in a liquid-liquid extraction process.

Abstract: A fingernail cleaning apparatus has a housing with an aperture for inserting a finger. A pump mounted on the housing has an intake port connecting the pump to the housing and a discharge port. A nozzle member is connected to the discharge port, has a discharge orifice located inwardly from the housing aperture and has a projection near the orifice for separating the fingertip from the fingernail when the fingertip is pushed against the nozzle member.

Abstract: Improved dialyzer construction has elongated tubular casing with enlarged casing ends and longitudinally-extending partitioning that divides its interior into a plurality of generally parallel passageways containing hollow dialysis fibers, the casing ends containing dialyzate flow manifolding and directing means for receiving dialyzate from a supply thereof, directing it from one casing end to the other through one of the passageways around the fibers, and so to and fro through the successive passageways, finally directing the dialyzate out through a discharge opening. The dialyzate flow can in each fiber-containing passageway be counter-current to the flow within the fibers of the liquid being dialyzed. A gas by-pass can be provided in the partitioning at one end to bleed out gas that tends to accumulate at the high point of the to-and-fro dialyzate travel.

Abstract: A counter counts the time intervals of falling instilled drops in response to a signal issued each time a falling instilled drop is detected. A memory is supplied with data representing the quantities of a falling instilled drop corresponding to the time intervals at which the drops fall. The data corresponding to the time intervals thereof which have been counted by the counter are read out of the memory. The data thus read out are accumulated to determine the total quantities of the drops.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for concurrently preparing purified phosphoric acid and purified sodium phosphate salts by employing a solvent extraction process with three neutralization steps.

Abstract: A sector for a disc-shape filter including a substantially sector-shape element having a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposing edges including a leading and a trailing edge converging towards each other and terminating in a neck at one end and diverging in the other direction to terminate in an arcuate outer edge. An arrangement of flow paths is on each side and positioned to direct filtrate toward the neck. The element is adapted to be interconnected with a plurality of similar sectors to form a disc-shaped filter and adapted to be interconnected with a source for pressure differential so that when a filter medium is mounted thereon, filtrate collected therethrough will be directed to the neck for removal. The flow paths are in a predetermined non-symmetrical arrangement of channels in the outer surface of each side with the channel arrangement adjacent the leading edge being different from the channel arrangement adjacent the trailing edge.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved separatory devices employing polyurethane forming compositions, such as hollow fiber separatory devices intended to be used in biomedical applications. The separatory device employs at least one separatory membrane, suitable for the intended end use application, which is secured, potted or sealed in a housing using a cured polyurethane composition. The improvement comprises utilizing as the potting agent a polyurethane composition comprising the reaction product of an NCO-terminated prepolymer and a hydroxy terminated lactone derived polyester. The lactone polyester comprises the reaction product of a lactone such as caprolactone, and a polyol such as 1,6-hexane diol. The lactone derived polyester imparts to the polyurethane-forming composition a desirable balance of properties, including low mix viscosity, high reactivity, i.e., low gel and demold times, and acceptable hardness values, when used as a potting agent in biomedical separatory devices.

Abstract: The risk of lung "squeeze" in use of diving headgear in return-line diving systems arises through the need to subject the exhaust hose to suction pressure in order to withdraw the used gas from the helmet. The usual exhaust regulating valve can quite readily jam, needs considerable servicing, and can only provide the desired high flow rates at the expense of the mechanical advantage which must however be kept high to avoid rendering the valve unduly sensitive to across-the-valve fluctuations.

Abstract: A liquid membrane technique is disclosed for recovery of dissolved species from aqueous solutions thereof in which, by appropriate tailoring of the emulsion, electrostatic precipitation can be used successfully in the recovery of the species from the interior phase of the emulsion. The emulsion is so prepared that the droplet size of the interior phase of the emulsion is in the range of from about 0.3 micrometers to about 10 micrometers, with the majority of the droplets lying in the range of from about 0.8 micrometers to about 3 micrometers. The electrostatic field is preferably at least 1 kilovolt per centimeter up to 7.5 kilovolts per centimeter or more.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing agglomerates from a rotary filter such as a rotating filter drum, which includes a perforated filter member on the filter, a slotted member disposed on the filter member and a sludge or slurry storage means disposed above the slotted member, the storage means discharging solid particles of the sludge into the slotted member essentially in the direction of solid sedimentation.

Abstract: A microporous member for causing the circulation of a fluid therethrough. The microporous member is permeated by numerous sequentially interconnected oriented generally tapered voids. The microporous member and a fluid form a system wherein the fluid is urged through the microporous member. The microporous member is useful in causing the circulation of fluids.

Abstract: A collar for fitting over the upper end of the cake discharge chute of a rotatable disc filter, or the like. The collar has a plurality of downwardly and inwardly sloping walls which substantially reduce any tendency for cake to stick to the sides of the chute. For use with heavy cake, reinforcing members may be provided for the collar. The collar is configured for use with discharge chutes of diverse design.

Abstract: Process for the control of bacterial growth in polyamide reverse osmosis membranes by treatment with iodide, hydrogen peroxide, or hydrogen peroxide derivatives.

Abstract: A filter assembly for extruded polymer melts is described which comprises a filter having retained between inlet and outlet manifolds with a contact pressure that can be varied. A primary seal device between the manifold and the housing is located in a rabbet in either the housing or the manifold at the contact plane. This seal responds to pressure from the polymer melt flow by deforming and increasing the contact pressure between the manifold and the housing. Thus the greater the pressure at which the melt is extruded, the tighter is the seal.