Nontranslatory Rotary Patents (Class 210/321.68)
  • Patent number: 11772047
    Abstract: The reverse osmosis centrifuge converts rotational energy into fluid velocity and conserves the energy placed into the concentrate. As concentrate travels back towards the center of the reverse osmosis centrifuge, the velocity of the fluid is converted into rotational force, thus conserving energy. To accomplish this, the reverse osmosis centrifuge includes a stationary cylindrical housing having a vacuum chamber and a vacuum pump for generating vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber, a driveshaft coupled to a membrane cylinder rotatable within the stationary cylindrical housing, the membrane cylinder having a plurality of vertical desalination membranes, and an energy recovery turbine. The reverse osmosis centrifuge can be placed on the concentrate or waste stream outlet of a desalination or reverse osmosis facility to increase freshwater production. Through using the methods described above, plant water production can be increased up to 40%, which in turn has a dramatic effect on plant profitability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Eden Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hunter Ferdinand Manz, Zachary Wayne Manweiler, Olvian Manz
  • Patent number: 11071952
    Abstract: A rotatable filtration apparatus includes a partially submergible, rotatable filter in a shape of a torus having a central axis of rotation, the filter comprising an upper half and a lower half, with the lower half comprising a permeable membrane, the permeable membrane comprising at least one pore configured to pass a filtrate while excluding solids, a rotation motor configured to rotate the filter about the central axis of rotation, an anchor configured to anchor the rotatable filter in a body of liquid, and a pump to extract the filtrate from the filtrate chamber into a filtrate line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: VORSANA INC.
    Inventor: David J. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 11052184
    Abstract: A membrane separation device is disclosed along with systems and methods employing the device in blood processing procedures. In one embodiment, a spinning membrane separator is provided in which at least two zones or regions are created in the gap between the spinning membrane and the shell, such that mixing of the fluid between the two regions is inhibited by a radial rib or ridge associated with the spinning membrane that decreases the gap between the spinning membrane and the shell to define two fluid regions, the ridge isolating the fluid in the two regions to minimize mixing between the two. Automated systems and methods are disclosed for separating a unit of previously-collected whole blood into selected blood components, such as concentrated red cells and plasma, for collecting red cells and plasma directly from a donor in a single pass, and for cell washing. Data management systems and methods and priming methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Kusters, Kyungyoon Min, Christopher Wegener
  • Patent number: 10913016
    Abstract: A filter element for use in a filter disc, wherein a plurality of filter elements are arranged on a rotor shaft in a manner allowing liquid communication between the inside of the filter elements and the inside of the rotor shaft. The filter element has at least one passage in an edge structure for liquid communication between the inside of adjacent filter elements when the filter elements are assembled forming a filter disc. The passage has different passage area along the edge structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NORDIC WATER PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Stuart Lee
  • Patent number: 10729829
    Abstract: A method for automated processing of a blood product, the method comprising providing a reusable separation apparatus controlled by a microprocessing unit, said apparatus configurable with settings and configured to associate with a disposable circuit comprising a separator and in communication with a source blood product having a first concentration and first volume. The apparatus and disposable circuit are configured to flow the source blood product into an inlet of the separator and separate supernatant of the source blood product from a first outlet of the separator into a filtrate container. The apparatus and disposable circuit are also configured to separate platelets and remaining supernatant from a second outlet of the separator into a retentate container, wherein the platelets and remaining supernatant in the retentate container have a second concentration greater than the first concentration and second volume less than the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Brown
  • Patent number: 10561270
    Abstract: A device for producing milk foam uses Couette flow and a high shear stress that is accordingly applied to a milk-air mixture between two concentrically arranged cylinders. The cylinders are rotated relatively to another. The high shear stress leads to an emulsion of the milk and the air, which is the basis for a foaming effect, once the emulsion flows out of a gap between the two cylinders and expands. The parameters of the device that mainly influence the foaming effect are the width of the gap and the relative rotation speed of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Youcef Ait Bouziad, Alfred Yoakim, Alexa Perrin
  • Patent number: 10400216
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the washing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The method provides for the automated dilution of the cell feed during the cell washing procedure using a separator in which the separator has a predetermined maximum output concentration for the biological cells that are being washed. The method further includes determining the concentration ratio of the biological cells to be washed in the washing procedure and determining a maximum input concentration as a function of the maximum output concentration and the concentration ratio. Wash solution is then added to dilute said biological cells so that the maximum input concentration of the diluted biological cells entering the separator is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wegener, Daniel R. Boggs, Bret M. Olson
  • Patent number: 10266439
    Abstract: A method for cleaning membranes and an inlet side of a membrane filtration module of an apparatus includes filling a basin with a treatment fluid; feeding an incoming fluid to the treatment fluid present in the basin and mixing and treating it with the latter fluid so as to obtain a fluid mixture; feeding the fluid mixture to the membrane filtration module; discharging permeate filtered by and retentate retained by the membranes; and periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line, so that at least the inlet side of the membranes and the connection chamber of the membrane filtration module disposed underneath it are flushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: X-Flow B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Rob Borgerink
  • Patent number: 10232104
    Abstract: Separation of a wash liquid from red blood cells is disclosed using a filter separation and pressure differential system. The filter may include a membrane filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Leach
  • Patent number: 10207042
    Abstract: A membrane separation device is disclosed along with systems and methods employing the device in blood processing procedures. In one embodiment, a spinning membrane separator is provided in which at least two zones or regions are created in the gap between the spinning membrane and the shell, such that mixing of the fluid between the two regions is inhibited by a radial rib or ridge associated with the spinning membrane that decreases the gap between the spinning membrane and the shell to define two fluid regions, the ridge isolating the fluid in the two regions to minimize mixing between the two. Automated systems and methods are disclosed for separating a unit of previously-collected whole blood into selected blood components, such as concentrated red cells and plasma, for collecting red cells and plasma directly from a donor in a single pass, and for cell washing. Data management systems and methods and priming methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Kusters, Kyungyoon Min, Christopher Wegener
  • Patent number: 10040077
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating cell suspension into centrate and concentrate includes a solid wall rotatable centrifuge bowl (82). A single use rotatable core (88) is positioned in the bowl and bounds a cavity (90) which serves as a separation chamber. The bowl rotates about an axis (84). An inlet tube (92) and an outlet tube (102) extend along the axis in the bowl cavity. The centripetal pump (98) in the cavity is in connection with the outlet tube. The centrate discharge pump (120) is in connection with the outlet tube. A pressure damping reservoir (122) is fluidly connected between the outlet tube and the discharge pump. At least one control circuit (142) is operative to control the apparatus to maintain a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure within the cavity, so as to maintain the cell suspension away from at least one seal (106) that bounds the interior of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sutton
  • Patent number: 10022732
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing an initial liquid medium (4) comprising cells in an initial concentration in order to obtain a product liquid medium (4?) comprising cells in a product concentration, the device (2) comprising a separator (6) adapted to separate the initial liquid medium (4) into various constituents, a first supply system (8) for supplying the initial liquid medium (4) to the separator (6), a first outlet system (12) for extracting the product liquid medium (4?) from the separator (6), a sensor (22, 22?) adapted to measure a physical parameter related to the concentration of the cells in the initial or product liquid medium (4, 4?), and a control unit (24) coupled to the sensor (22, 22?) and adapted to control at least one process of the device (2) as a function of the physical parameter measured by the sensor (22, 22?). The device is characterized by a second supply system (10) for supplying a solution (18) to the separator (6) with a given flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Artur Meisberger, Melanie Fahrendorff, Michael Brinkmann, Martin Biehl
  • Patent number: 9975090
    Abstract: A double-pass reverse osmosis (RO) separator module having two stages of RO filtration in a single assembly, including a radially outer RO assembly that surrounds a radially inner RO assembly, wherein each RO assembly includes an RO separation medium. The outer RO assembly may be used for a first-pass of RO filtration in which a first-pass feed liquid enters the outer RO assembly and is separated via reverse-osmosis to provide a permeate liquid and a concentrate liquid. The permeate liquid exiting the outer RO assembly may flow via fluid passages to the inner RO assembly for a second-pass of RO filtration in which the first-pass permeate liquid enters the inner RO assembly as a second-pass feed liquid and is separated via reverse-osmosis to provide a second-pass (i.e., double-filtered) permeate liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9744498
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the washing and processsing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The systems and methods prevent inadvertent target cell loss by monitoring pressure and providing for the dilution of the cell feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Wegener
  • Patent number: 9717838
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting leukoreduced red blood cells employing a spinning membrane separator including a housing having an upper end region and a lower end region in an operating position with a red blood cell outlet in the upper end region of the housing and a whole blood inlet in the lower end region of the housing. The method and system provide for flowing additive solution into the whole blood inlet of the housing to prime the separator; flowing whole blood into the whole blood inlet of the housing; separating red blood cells from the whole blood; flowing separated red blood cells out of the red blood cell outlet of the housing; combining the separated red blood cells with additive solution: passing the separated red blood cells and additive solution combination through a leukoreduction filter; and collecting the filtered red blood cells and additive solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Kusters, Christopher Wegener, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 9656013
    Abstract: A membrane separation device is disclosed along with systems and methods employing the device in blood processing procedures. In one embodiment, a spinning membrane separator is provided in which at least two zones or regions are created in the gap between the membrane and the shell, such that mixing of the fluid between the two regions is inhibited by a radial rib associated with the membrane that decreases the gap between the membrane and the shell to define two fluid regions, the ridge isolating the fluid in the two regions to minimize mixing between the two. Automated systems and methods are disclosed for separating a unit of previously collected whole blood into components, such as concentrated red cells and plasma, for collecting red cells and plasma directly from a donor in a single pass, and for cell washing. Data management systems and methods and priming methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Kusters, Christopher J. Wegener, Daniel R. Boggs, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 9658242
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable ultra-filtration system comprising a disposable pipetting tip and a disposable ultra-filtration cartridge, wherein the cartridge includes a membrane filtration chamber and a dead-end channel. In use, a piston in the pipette pressurizes air within the channel; the pressurized air can subsequently move the piston and cause a reverse flow back through the membrane of the cartridge, unplugging the pores thereof. Also disclosed is an automated workstation incorporating the disposable ultra-filtration system, and a system comprising the automated workstation, useful for measuring the free therapeutic drug concentration and free hormone concentration in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CHROMEDX CORP.
    Inventor: James Samsoondar
  • Publication number: 20150122714
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Randolph H. Watkins, Steven J. Wurgler, Shincy Maliekkal, Sujatha Karoor, Katrina Smith
  • Patent number: 9017555
    Abstract: A waste liquid treatment apparatus with enhanced treatment capacity for a pre-treatment facility of a liquid radwaste treatment system for a nuclear power plant. The waste liquid treatment apparatus includes: a water tank into which a waste liquid is introduced and from which filtered permeated water is discharged; a waste liquid introduction section through which waste liquid is introduced into the water tank; submerged membranes annularly disposed and spaced apart from each other for filtering foreign substances from the waste liquid; a permeated water suctioning section suctioning the filtered water of the waste liquid and discharging the filtered water outside the water tank; an air supplying section supplying compressed air to the submerged membranes to remove foreign substances; and a porous support plate supporting the submerged membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hang Rae Cho, Ho Yeon Yang, Ji Hoon Lee, Tae Won Hwang, Young Bu Choi
  • Publication number: 20150060363
    Abstract: A system and method are provided, including an integrated single-use kit, for processing whole blood to produce platelet rich plasma. A two stage spinning membrane separator, has a first stage for receiving whole blood and separating substantially all red blood cells from plasma and platelets, and a second stage for further separating platelet rich plasma from plasma. A first waste container is in fluid communication with the first stage of the separator for receiving separated red blood cells, while a second waste container is in fluid communication with the second stage of the separator for receiving separated plasma. An outlet line is in fluid communication with the second stage of the separator for receiving platelet rich plasma, and a reinfusion container is removably connected to the outlet line for receiving platelet rich plasma from the second stage of the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: FENWAL INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Kusters, Christopher J. Wegener, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 8961789
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Randolph H. Watkins, Steven J. Wurgler, Shincy Maliekkal, Sujatha Karoor, Katrina Smith
  • Patent number: 8833915
    Abstract: An ink/air separator for an ink jet printer has one or more plates 77, 79, 81, 83 over which an ink/air mixture can spread. Preferably there is more than one plate, and the mixture overflows from one plate to the next. Preferably adjacent plates are spaced so that as the mixture passes between two plates it contacts the surface above it as well as the surface below it. The plates may be separated by a gap of 10 mm or less, e.g. a gap of 2 mm to 5 mm, where they overlap Preferably some or all of the plate surfaces contacted by the mixture are roughened. Interaction between the ink/air mixture and the plate surface tends to slow the flow of very small air bubbles and encourage them to accumulate and/or merge, so that they separate from the ink more quickly than individual small bubbles. The ink/air separator may be connected in the path of unused ink returned from the gutter 27 of a continuous ink jet printer to an ink tank 39, or may be placed inside the ink tank 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Linx Printing Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Marc Plummer
  • Publication number: 20140224723
    Abstract: Filtration device suited for concentration of liquid samples, particularly biomolecules, and a method of concentrating, desalting, purifying and/or fractionating liquid samples. In certain embodiments the device includes a housing having a sample reservoir, and two substantially vertically oriented and spaced apart membranes disposed in the housing. An underdrain is associated with each membrane such that fluid passing through each membrane flows through a respective underdrain into a filtrate collection chamber. The fluid that does not pass through the membrane is collected in the retentate collection chamber, and can be recovered such as by a reverse spinning step, achieving recoveries greater than about 90%. The substantially vertical orientation of the membranes increases the available membrane area by at least 2.7 times the area available in a conventional filter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Bonhomme, John Doyle, Kurt Greenizen, George Gagne, Sean Devin, Gerard Lombard, Vincent Smith
  • Patent number: 8747670
    Abstract: Filtration device suited for concentration of liquid samples, particularly biomolecules, and a method of concentrating, desalting, purifying and/or fractionating liquid samples. In certain embodiments the device includes a housing having a sample reservoir, and two substantially vertically oriented and spaced apart membranes disposed in the housing. An underdrain is associated with each membrane such that fluid passing through each membrane flows through a respective underdrain into a filtrate collection chamber. The fluid that does not pass through the membrane is collected in the retentate collection chamber, and can be recovered such as by a reverse spinning step, achieving recoveries greater than about 90%. The substantially vertical orientation of the membranes increases the available membrane area by at least 2.7 times the area available in a conventional filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Bonhomme, John Doyle, Kurt Greenizen, George Gagne, Sean Devin, Gerard Lombard, Vincent Smith
  • Patent number: 8696905
    Abstract: A concentrator is used for concentrating a fluid, particularly a plasma component out of blood, for treatment of a patient. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing defining a centrifuge chamber, that also holds the filter. The concentrator allows viewing of the fluid after centrifuging, with an outlet port positionable at a height corresponding to the level of the fraction of the fluid to be further concentrated. Once the fluid is centrifuged, a portion of the fluid is drawn through the outlet, and then pressured past the filter to further concentrate the fluid using the same vessel as used for centrifuging. The same plunger is preferably used to draw centrifuged fluid from the centrifuge chamber as to pressure the centrifuged fluid past the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Circle Biologics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Coull, Matthew R. Kyle, Louis S. Kidder
  • Publication number: 20140042093
    Abstract: A system for separating a penetrant from a feed steam, using a drum filter [10], which includes a drum [20] with a porous drum wall [30], a tank in which the drum is mounted, a feed stream, a semipermeable membrane [50] on the outside of the drum [20], a system that reduces the pressure inside the drum [20] so that a pressure drop is established across the membrane [50], thereby causing separation of the feed stream into a first permeate stream that contains penetrants, which pass through the membrane [50] and drum wall [30], and a residue [60] that accumulates on the surface of the membrane [50], wherein the pressure drop across the membrane [50] is maintained below the bubble point of the membrane [50], so that liquid will pass through the membrane, but gas will not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Kristin Silverberg
  • Publication number: 20140021134
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method for desalination of sea water and a design and construction of a centrifugal filter for desalination of water. The process uses the filter developed based on reverse osmosis technology as a fundamental component that uses hollow fiber membrane modules arranged in a spiral manner around a central support pipe and distributed in concentric rings around the periphery of the rotating section to favor the formation of Dean vortices. Wherein the membrane is built with a structure of an aromatic polyamide as the first layer, followed by a layer of polyestersulfone and a support layer of polyester; applying the material Kevlar 49 in position 1 and 4 on the aromatic chain structure to increase the structure and resistance of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jorge Antonio de la Cruz Lechuga Andrade, Joaquim Lloveras Macia
  • Patent number: 8540874
    Abstract: A rotary filter is provided with greatly expanded filter media area within the flow stream of material to be filtered due to use of a series of cylindrical filter cartridges consisting of a core and cylindrical filter media that are attached to and within a rotary disc, thus providing much greater filter area within the size constraints of the rotary disc and the flow channel. This allows removal of contaminating material in the flow stream. The retaining methods used for these cartridges restrains their movement within the flow stream thus allowing backflushing by reversing flow direction and venting the backflush material. The attachment and construction further allows easy removal and replacement of filter media and cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Hubert Patrovsky
  • Publication number: 20130153484
    Abstract: A fluid separation device is provided with an outer housing and a rotor rotatably received within the outer housing. The rotor housing has a first end and a second end. The outer surface of the rotor and/or the inner surface of the outer housing is adapted to allow passage of a fluid component through the surface. The device further includes a flexible seal associated with one of the ends of the rotor and adapted to allow for rotational, non-axial, and axial movement of the rotor with respect to the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventors: Salvatore Manzella, JR., Richard L. West
  • Publication number: 20130092630
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the washing and processsing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The systems and methods prevent inadvertent target cell loss by monitoring pressure and providing for the dilution of the cell feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventor: FENWAL, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130032539
    Abstract: Filtration device suited for concentration of liquid samples, particularly biomolecules, and a method of concentrating, desalting, purifying and/or fractionating liquid samples. In certain embodiments the device includes a housing having a sample reservoir, and two substantially vertically oriented and spaced apart membranes disposed in the housing. An underdrain is associated with each membrane such that fluid passing through each membrane flows through a respective underdrain into a filtrate collection chamber. The fluid that does not pass through the membrane is collected in the retentate collection chamber, and can be recovered such as by a reverse spinning step, achieving recoveries greater than about 90%. The substantially vertical orientation of the membranes increases the available membrane area by at least 2.7 times the area available in a conventional filter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: EMD MILLIPORE CORPORATION
    Inventor: EMP Millipore Corporation
  • Patent number: 8366931
    Abstract: A filtering unit includes alternately arranged membranes and positioning rings. A seal is secured to each of the positioning rings. Each of the positioning rings includes an annular body, arched cutouts defined in an internal edge of the annular body, first and second engaging members formed on the annular body, and at least one slot defined in the annular body. Each of the first engaging members is located near an end of a related one of the arched cutouts. Each of the second engaging members is located near another end of a related one of the arched cutouts. The second engaging members can be engaged with the first engaging members of another positioning ring extending through the arched cutouts. Each of the seals includes two sealing portions extending on two opposite faces of the annular body and at least one connecting portion extending between the sealing portions through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: New Century Membrane Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Kuo
  • Publication number: 20120318724
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for filtering a fluid through a porous membrane, and more particularly, it provides filtration methods and apparatuses for tangential-flow filtration using Vibration Induced Dynamics (VID) with a spiral-wound membrane filter element. Embodiments provided herein induce vibration via rotation of an unbalanced inner tube within a central filtrate drain tube, via axial deformation of a substantially circular-cylindrical outer shell, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed herein are friction-reducing separator fabrics for interleaving with the membrane of a spiral-wound filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Neal A. Brown
  • Patent number: 8308953
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a filtration system having one or more apparatuses for filtering gases, liquids, or fluids (e.g., water) to remove particulate matter, and methods of making and using the apparatus. More particularly, embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for applying centrifugal force(s) to push a fluid or gas to be filtered through a porous membrane or filter within the apparatus to separate particulate matter therefrom. The present invention takes advantage of the Coriolis effect within a cylindrical filter radiating out from a rotating central body. The filtration apparatus provides an energy efficient system for microfiltration (or other filtration process) to remove contaminants from gases and fluids, such as waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Brent Lee
  • Patent number: 8262908
    Abstract: A rotary filter is provided with greatly expanded filter media area within the flow stream of material to be filtered due to use of a series of cylindrical filter cartridges consisting of a core and cylindrical filter media that are attached to and within a rotary disc, thus providing much greater filter area within the size constraints of the rotary disc and the flow channel. This allows removal of contaminating material in the flow stream. The retaining methods used for these cartridges restrains their movement within the flow stream thus allowing backflushing by reversing flow direction and venting the backflush material. The attachment and construction further allows easy removal and replacement of filter media and cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Hubert Patrovsky
  • Patent number: 8167140
    Abstract: A filter apparatus capable of releasing air from a filter body, comprising a filter body held by a holder. The filter body includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter body is disposed in the holder so as to rotate around an axis of rotation that passes through the fluid inlet. The holder includes a front panel. The front panel comprises engaging portions, for temporarily engaging the fluid outlet at either an air releasing position or at a filtering position, and a fixing means for fixing the filter body at each position. The filter apparatus further includes means for rotating the filter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20120091060
    Abstract: A filtration method for a filtration device, the filtration device including a process tank, at least one feed line feeding a medium to be processed into the process tank, and at least one filtration arrangement arranged in the process tank. The process tank includes at least one drain and is configured such that filtration of the medium is accomplished such that a retentate remains in the process tank until the retentate is released after completion of the filtration. The filtration method includes the steps of: filling the process tank with the medium to be filtered and producing one of a predefined transmembrane pressure and constant permeate flow at the at least one filtration arrangement; and filtering the medium in the process tank via the at least one filtration arrangement until a predefined limit value for a mass fraction of solid material is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GEA MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Hamatschek, Hans Olapinski
  • Publication number: 20120058023
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional module comprising one or more units selected from the group consisting of reactor units, filter units, membrane units, reactor-separator units, clarificator units, purificator units, extractor units, and mixer units. The units are connected parallel or in series or both to each other, and each unit has at least one member having a surface, which surface is rotating with the member. The member is rotating around an axis making the unit operate under centrifugal force. One or more chambers for fluids are co-rotating with the rotating member. The present invention relates further to units which could be used in a spinning multifunctional module, and use of a spinning multifunctional module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Kasper Höglund, Barry Johnson, Tommy Noren
  • Patent number: 8070965
    Abstract: Separating a multi-phase mixture influent even during excessive flows of specific phases. The dynamic phase separator includes a chamber divided into two regions by an inner wall disposed radially inward relative to an outer wall. A gross separation region is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, while a fine separation region lies inside an area defined by the inner wall and top of the chamber. Influent to be separated is fed through an inlet into the gross separation region. A plurality of porous disks are mounted to a rotatable shaft and disposed in the fine separation region. The outer and inner walls are separated by a predetermined distance sufficient to allow for adequate rotational velocity of incoming tangential flow of the influent and dwell time sufficient for natural separation of lighter phases from heavier phases within the gross separation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventor: Robert J. Tarves, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8012351
    Abstract: A concentrator is used for concentrating a fluid, particularly a plasma component out of blood, for treatment of a patient. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing defining a centrifuge chamber, that also holds the filter. The concentrator allows viewing of the fluid after centrifuging, with an outlet port positionable at a height corresponding to the level of the fraction of the fluid to be further concentrated. Once the fluid is centrifuged, a portion of the fluid is drawn through the outlet, and then pressured past the filter to further concentrate the fluid using the same vessel as used for centrifuging. The same plunger is preferably used to draw centrifuged fluid from the centrifuge chamber as to pressure the centrifuged fluid past the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Circle Biologics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Coull, Matthew R. Kyle, Louis S. Kidder
  • Patent number: 7997420
    Abstract: A filter apparatus capable of releasing air from a filter body, comprising a filter body held by a holder. The filter body includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter body is disposed in the holder so as to rotate around an axis of rotation that passes through the fluid inlet. The holder includes a front panel. The front panel comprises engaging portions, for temporarily engaging the fluid outlet at either an air releasing position or at a filtering position, and a fixing means for fixing the filter body at each position. The filter apparatus further includes means for rotating the filter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7987995
    Abstract: The PRP separator-concentrator of this invention is suitable for office use or emergency use for trauma victims. The PRP separator comprises a motorized centrifugal separation assembly, and a concentrator assembly. The centrifugal separator assembly comprises a centrifugal drum separator that includes an erythrocyte capture module and a motor having a drive axis connected to the centrifugal drum separator. The concentrator assembly comprises a water-removal module for preparing PRP concentrate. The centrifugal drum separator has an erythrocyte trap. The water removal module can be a syringe device with water absorbing beads or it can be a pump-hollow fiber cartridge assembly. The hollow fibers are membranes with pores that allow the flow of water through the fiber membrane while excluding flow of clotting factors useful for sealing and adhering tissue and growth factors helpful for healing while avoiding activation of platelets and disruption of any trace erythrocytes present in the PRP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Hanuman, LLC, Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Randel Dorian, Michael D. Leach
  • Patent number: 7971728
    Abstract: A filtration system for collecting bone fragments during surgery performed on a patient includes a cylinder having a rotating disk with circumferential arms extending radially in the cylinder to define pockets. The rotating disk includes a longitudinal hub that carries an outlet connected to a central passageway formed in the disk. A plurality of apertures on the disk permit the liquid to flow into the passageway and through the outlet while the pockets retain the bone fragments. The disk is rotated to align circumferential spaced pockets to align with the inlet and outlet ports. The disks includes bearing surfaces that permit the rotation thereof and the arms are spaced from the cylinder inner surface to allow the flow of fluid in the event the pockets fill and clog the apertures and prevent flow into the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Anspach Effort, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas D. Anspach, Stephen M. Bucina
  • Patent number: 7926666
    Abstract: A rotary filtration apparatus for filtering a feed fluid into permeate is provided. The rotary filtration apparatus includes a container that has a feed fluid inlet. A shaft is at least partially disposed in the container and has a passageway for the transport of permeate. A disk stack made of a plurality of filtration disks is mounted onto the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the filtration disks. The filtration disks may be made of steel components and may be welded together. The shaft may penetrate a filtering section of the container at a single location. The rotary filtration apparatus may also incorporate a bellows seal to prevent leakage along the shaft, and an around the shaft union rotary joint to allow for removal of permeate. Various components of the rotary filtration apparatus may be removed as a single assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Herman, David N. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 7887702
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus is provided for filtering raw water containing various impurities and mixtures into purified water, and more particularly, a multistage filtering apparatus is provided in which a rotor for generating vortex are installed in each of multiple layers of filtration membrane stacked within a closed barrel and the rotors are formed in multistage by having different diameter of each rotor so that the power for generating vortex can be remarkably minimized by generating the vertical vortex from top and bottom of the rotary rotor and the horizontal vortex from the outer side of circumference plate of the rotary rotor to be crossed over between membranes to prevent from blocking the pores or remove the deposited pollutants, and the closed-type barrel having multistage of membranes, rotary shaft, and rotary rotors for vortex generation within are constructed as a single module of filter pack, and the filter pack is connected and extended in accordance with required purified capacity so that large s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Boo-Kang Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gi Taek Park, Sang Wook Kim, Dong-Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20110011785
    Abstract: A rotary filtration apparatus for filtering a feed fluid into permeate is provided. The rotary filtration apparatus includes a container that has a feed fluid inlet. A shaft is at least partially disposed in the container and has a passageway for the transport of permeate. A disk stack made of a plurality of filtration disks is mounted onto the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the filtration disks. The filtration disks may be made of steel components and may be welded together. The shaft may penetrate a filtering section of the container at a single location. The rotary filtration apparatus may also incorporate a bellows seal to prevent leakage along the shaft, and an around the shaft union rotary joint to allow for removal of permeate. Various components of the rotary filtration apparatus may be removed as a single assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: David T. Herman, David N. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 7763172
    Abstract: A filtering device includes a container having an inlet and two or more spindles arranged in the device. Further included are at least two mutually axially offset diaphragm plates mounted on each of the two or more spindles. The two or more spindles are distributed in the container and rotatable relative to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Tietz Helga
  • Patent number: 7708152
    Abstract: The PRP separator-concentrator of this invention is suitable for office use or emergency use for trauma victims. The PRP separator comprises a motorized centrifugal separation assembly, and a concentrator assembly. The centrifugal separator assembly comprises a centrifugal drum separator that includes an erythrocyte capture module and a motor having a drive axis connected to the centrifugal drum separator. The concentrator assembly comprises a water-removal module for preparing PRP concentrate. The centrifugal drum separator has an erythrocyte trap. The water removal module can be a syringe device with water absorbing beads or it can be a pump-hollow fiber cartridge assembly. The hollow fibers are membranes with pores that allow the flow of water through the fiber membrane while excluding flow of clotting factors useful for sealing and adhering tissue and growth factors helpful for healing while avoiding activation of platelets and disruption of any trace erythrocytes present in the PRP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignees: Hanuman LLC, Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Randel Dorian, Michael D. Leach
  • Patent number: 7686868
    Abstract: A membrane separation module (10) has a shell (11) having inlet port (20), outlet port (21) and a plurality of membrane units (12) disposed therebetween. Each membrane unit (12) has a plurality of elongated membrane elements (13), with at least a portion of each membrane element (13) having a semipermeable surface to permit selective permeation of one or more components of a multi-component feed fluid. The plurality of elongated membrane elements (13) are attached to collecting manifolds (16) (17), with one of those manifolds (16) (17) being unrestrained, permitting axial movement of each membrane element (13) in response to temperature changes. At least one manifold (16) (17) from each membrane unit (12) is in fluid communication with a manifold (16) (17) from one other membrane unit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Paul J. Rubas
  • Patent number: 7666305
    Abstract: Disclosed are a rotor for generating vortex water flow that creates shear intensity for removing solid material adhered to the separation membranes during the processing of water containing pollutant material, and a filtering apparatus employing the same. The rotor consists of a first rotor having first blades and a second rotor having second blades. The first and the second blades are extended in a radial direction from a rotational axis thereof, and are disposed at positions different from each other in the rotational axis direction. The first blades and the second blades have widths different from each other in a circumferential direction around the rotational axis, or disposed at positions different from each other in a circumferential direction. Protrusions can be attached on outer surfaces of the first blades and/or second blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Bookang Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gi-Teak Park, Sang-Wook Kim