Abstract: A dual-stage filtration cartridge is provided. The cartridge can be embodied as a mid-dilution hemodiafiltration cartridge or a redundant sterilization filtration cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing having a first end and an opposing second end. The housing has a primary fluid inlet and outlet at the first end of the cartridge. The housing also defines first and second filtration stages with the first filtration stage including first filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing. Each stage has a separate inter-lumen fiber space, but shares a common extra-lumen space. The primary fluid inlet communicates with the first filtering elements at the first end so that fluid flows through the first filtering elements toward the second end. The second filtration stage includes second filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing with the fluid outlet communicating with the second filtering elements at the first end.

Abstract: A dual-stage hemodiafiltration cartridge is presented and includes a first hemodiafiltration stage including a first housing with first filtering elements disposed therein. The first housing has a blood inlet and a first dialysate outlet at one end and a first dialysate inlet at an opposite end. The cartridge further includes a second hemodiafiltration stage having a second housing with second filtering elements disposed therein. One end of the second housing has a blood outlet and a second dialysate inlet. An opposite end has a second dialysate outlet. An inter-stage connector is connected to one end of the first housing and to one end of the second housing and is adapted to allow flow of blood from a blood side of said first filtering elements to a blood-side of the second filtering elements and flow of dialysate fluid therethrough from the second stage to the first stage.

Abstract: A composition of polymer molecules effective to bind, with substantially uniform binding affinity, to a single-stranded polynucleotide containing a target sequence of bases. The polymer molecules are composed of a sequence of base-pairing moieties effective to hydrogen bond to corresponding, complementary bases in the target sequence, under selected binding conditions, and a predominantly uncharged, achiral backbone supporting the base-pairing moieties at positions and in orientations which allow hydrogen bonding between the pairing moieties of the polymer and the corresponding complementary bases in the target sequence. The composition has diagnostic uses, in a solid-support assay system, and therapeutic uses involving inhibition or inactivation of target polynucleotides.

Abstract: A diagnostic reagent and system for determination of a single-stranded polynucleotide analyte having a selected target sequence. The reagent includes a solid support and multiple support-bound polymers designed to bind specifically to the analyte. Each polymer is composed of a sequence of base-complementary recognition moieties which can bind specifically to corresponding contiguous bases in the analyte target sequence, and an unbranched, substantially uncharged, substantially stereoregular backbone. A reporter in the system contains (a) a polycationic tail effective to bind electrostatically to the analyte, under conditions in which the reporter does not bind to the substantially uncharged polymers, and (b) reporter groups by which the presence of the reporter can be detected.

Abstract: A composition of polymer molecules effective to bind, with substantially uniform binding affinity, to a single-stranded polynucleotide containing a target sequence of bases. The polymer molecules are composed of a sequence of base-pairing moieties effective to hydrogen bond to corresponding, complementary bases in the target sequence, under selected binding conditions, and a predominantly uncharged, achiral backbone supporting the base-pairing moieties at positions and in orientations which allow hydrogen bonding between the pairing moieties of the polymer and the corresponding complementary bases in the target sequence. The composition has diagnostic uses, in a solid-support assay system, and therapeutic uses involving inhibition or inactivation of target polynucleotides.