Plural Cylindrical Membranes All Connected For Parallel Flow Patents (Class 210/321.79)
  • Patent number: 11643632
    Abstract: A method displacing a fluid and simultaneously gas enriching a liquid cell culture medium with a gas. The method includes injecting a controlled volume of a gas or gas mixture into a one chamber by using a gas flow controller, the injection taking place through a gas inlet into a volume of liquid. This injection produces bubbling and agitation of the volume of liquid; a build-up of gas or gas mixture due to buoyancy in a hermetic space formed by the volume of liquid and the chamber, and a pressure increase in the chamber until a sufficient controlled pressure is reached of less than or equal to 10 bar. This increase displaces the volume of liquid by a fluid outlet connecting the volume of liquid to the exterior of the chamber. Also provided are a device implementing the method and a cell culture system in a multi-well culture plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: CHERRY BIOTECH
    Inventors: Antoni Homs Corbera, Matteo Boninsegna, Theo Vital
  • Patent number: 11534538
    Abstract: A filter for purifying blood (1, 100), comprising a container body (2, 102) in which there are: —an intake port (3, 103) for an incoming blood stream (4, 104), —a first discharge port (5, 105) for an outgoing blood stream (6, 106), and —a second discharge port (7, 107) for a purified plasma stream (8, 108); the container body (2, 102) comprises first filtering means (9, 109) adapted to separate a stream of plasma to be purified (10, 100) from the incoming blood stream (4, 104), and second filtering means (11, 111) adapted to purify the stream of plasma to be purified (10, 110) to obtain the purified plasma stream (8, 108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: BELLCO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Lupotti, Mary Louise Wratten
  • Patent number: 11492273
    Abstract: Silicon carbide flat sheet filtration membranes are supported on one piece manifold/end cap structures. Ends of a large number of the parallel flat plate membranes are fitted into elongated end cap slots that are part of a single molded manifold/end cap structure, such a structure being at each end of the series of membranes. In addition, a one piece external frame module can be provided to receive the gang of flat plate membranes with attached manifold/end caps. In the event of a damaged plate, the plate can be removed and replaced along with a special end cap repair section. This provides advantages over prior arrangements with individual end caps for each module or potting of the flat plates into a box or chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ovivo Inc.
    Inventor: Trevor Robert Auman
  • Patent number: 11338246
    Abstract: Devices and methods for the filtration of particulates from a liquid stream are provided. A filter cartridge includes a housing configured to be placed in-line with a stream of liquid and a plurality of hollow fiber filter members disposed within the housing. The hollow fiber filter members are potted at one end of the housing and configured to capture particulates from the stream of liquid via surface energy. The filter cartridge can provide low pressure loss filtering and is capable of being placed within a small space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Yasushi Oyashiki, Satoshi Kamimoto
  • Patent number: 11135688
    Abstract: A method for producing a microchannel bundle heat exchanger (1) includes providing a multiplicity of tubular microchannels (2); incorporating the microchannels (2) in a weaving device; interweaving the tubular microchannels (2) with a plurality of warp wires (3) in the weaving device, and generating at least one heat exchanger mat (4) from the tubular microchannels (2) which are connected to one another by means of the warp wires (3); shaping at least one heat exchanger pack (8) from the at least one heat exchanger mat (4), in particular by folding and/or rolling up the heat exchanger mat (4); and adhesively bonding the tubular microchannels (2) at two mutually opposite end sides (9, 10) of the heat exchanger pack (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Englmeier
  • Patent number: 11097963
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for treating a solvent in wastewater generated in a polycarbonate production process. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method for treating a solvent in wastewater generated in a polycarbonate production process, which can easily recover a high purity solvent regardless of the concentration of the solvent by using a membrane distillation method to reuse it, and contribute to energy savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Youna Kim, Dong Kwon Lee, Jeong Seok Lee, Kwang Hyon Kim, Choongkyun Yeom, Seok Ki Kang, Kyehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11040092
    Abstract: Systems and methods for purification and concentration of autologous alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) from whole blood are provided. Also provided are diagnostic methods for identifying sites in the synovial joints, spine, tendons or ligaments for treatment of pain, degeneration, or inflammation with autologous A2M. Methods for utilizing autologous A2M in combination with other autologous treatments (e.g. platelets and other growth factors) are provided in addition to combinations with exogenous drugs or carriers. Also provided is a method of producing recombinant A2M wild type or variants thereof where the bait region was modified to enhance the inhibition characteristics of A2M and/or to prolong the half life of the protein in joints and spine disc or epidural space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: CYTONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lewis Hanna, John David Laughlin, Shawn Robert Browning
  • Patent number: 10399040
    Abstract: A cartridge is provided for dialysis or other blood processing therapy. In the cartridge, fibers may be substantially uniformly distributed near a midplane, but near an end, in the inter fiber space, there may be void flow channels, which may cause fluid flow in the inter fiber space to transition within a short region to uniform flow with minimal stagnation zones. Void flow channels may be be radially oriented, introducing fluid from the outer circumference, or axially oriented, introducing fluid along the axial direction through passageways through the potting material. The fluid flow in the inter fiber space may be perpendicular to the fibers, or radial with respect to a cartridge longitudinal axis. The cartridge may have blood flow in the inter fiber space, and flow of dialysate or ultrafiltrate in the lumens of the fibers, or the opposite situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Novaflux Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed E. Labib, Stanislav S. Dukhin, Jeffrey C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10391432
    Abstract: Provided is an improved filtration module assembly comprising a vessel having a filtration cartridge disposed within it and a header coupled to an end of the vessel, the header including a housing having an open-ended upper end and a lower end, and an end cap including a portion that mates with a complimentary structure defined by the inner all of the open ended upper end of the housing to removable engage with the housing and the end cap may further define a passageway for fluid to flow out of the vessel. The filtration module assembly may enable an improved manifold arrangement used to communicate fluids to and from a filtration system comprising a plurality of such modules and the configurations of the present invention may facilitate improved operation of such filtration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Michael Collignon, Robert James McMahon
  • Patent number: 10220335
    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: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: NORDIC WATER PRODUCTS AB
    Inventor: Stuart Lee
  • Patent number: 10207226
    Abstract: A cartridge type hollow fiber membrane module including a housing, a hollow-fiber membrane bundle having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, a first potting part that bonds the hollow fiber membranes at at least one end of the bundle of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes such that the hollow fiber membranes are open, and a sealing material that fixes the first potting part to the housing liquid-tightly, wherein the first potting part comprises an inner potting part and an outer potting part, wherein the inner potting part and the outer potting part are both formed of a potting material, wherein the sealing material is in contact with the outer potting part, and wherein both the inner potting part and the outer potting part are formed in a sealing direction of the sealing material. The cartridge type hollow fiber membrane module is free of leakage and contamination due to separation of a potting material even when steam sterilization is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shun Shimura, Mikiko Ikeda, Norihiro Takeuchi, Shinya Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9880092
    Abstract: A test kit is provided. The test kit includes a case including a top including a plurality of indicator pads and a crushing plate rotatable between a first position and a second position, the crushing plate including a plurality of crushing ribs. The case further includes a bottom hingedly coupled to the top, the bottom including a plurality of reagent ampoules storing reagents. When the case is closed with the crushing plate in the second position, the plurality of crushing ribs crush the the plurality of reagent ampoules. The test kit further includes a collector including a collector body, a plurality of swabs extending through the collector body, a removable cover covering a first side of the collector body, and a collector handle coupled to the collector body, wherein the collector is nestable within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Morphix Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah Foy, Edward Locke, Julian Parker, Anthony Pomozzi, Matthew Rixon, III
  • Patent number: 9643129
    Abstract: Various methods of making a reinforced membrane, devices for making the membranes, and the resulting membranes are described. The methods typically provide a reinforcing structure that includes filaments extending around the circumference of the membrane but without the filaments being part of a braided or woven structure. Some of the reinforcing structures also include longitudinal filaments. The methods and devices can be used to make a supporting structure in line with membrane formation steps, and also allow for a reinforced membrane to be produced that has a ratio of inside-to-outside diameters of 0.5 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien Cote, Steven Kristian Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9585996
    Abstract: Provided are a blood purifying filter and a blood purifying apparatus having the same. The blood purifying filter includes a plasma separation filter separating plasma from blood, a hemodialysis filter configured in parallel with the plasma separation filter to remove toxins and waste products from blood, a housing providing installation space for the plasma separation filter and the hemodialysis filter, and plasma inlet and outlet ports provided in the housing. The housing further includes a wall, a lower cap and an upper cap which are coupled to the plasma separation filter and the hemodialysis filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HUMAN BIOMED, INC.
    Inventor: Taebeom Cho
  • Patent number: 9440172
    Abstract: A filter element for a filter device may include a filter body having at least one filter material for filtering a fluid. The filter body may have a first side and a second side facing away from the first side. The filter body may include a plurality of body pores. The filter body may have a porosity that is lower on the first side than on the second side. A nano-fiber layer may be disposed at least partially on the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Disson, Hannes Lay, Bernd Neubauer, Birgit Renz, Markus Steppe
  • Patent number: 9254464
    Abstract: A filter module includes a first filter stage and a second filter stage which are substantially concentrically arranged. The first filter stage and the second filter stage each include a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a first fiber end and a second fiber end, which are embedded in a respective casting compound. The first filter stage is a filter stage for the filtration of a first medical fluid, and the second filter stage is a filter stage for the filtration of a second medical fluid. The first filter stage has unilaterally closed fiber ends, and is surrounded by a boundary element which separates the first filter stage and the second filter stage from one another. The boundary element has at least one opening which provides fluid communication between the first filter stage and the second filter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Keller, Franz Kugelmann, Wolfgang Wehmeyer
  • Patent number: 9023206
    Abstract: A module arrangement (5) according to an embodiment of the invention consists of a plurality of membrane modules (6) arranged in a two dimensional array (7) and extending between upper and lower block-type manifolds (8) and (9), respectively. The array of modules is further divided into sub-groups of modules (10) separated from each other by space (11) extending transversely across the membrane array (7). An integrated support frame (12) is positioned in the space (11) between the sub-groups (10) and is fixed to the upper and lower manifold blocks (8) and (9) to form an integrated support structure within the module array (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Peter Rogers, Stephen Bowmer, Bruce Gregory Biltoft, James W. Polson, Robert James McMahon, Huw Alexander Lazaredes, Michael Collignon
  • Patent number: 8974668
    Abstract: A membrane element consisting of a hollow fiber stack (HF stack) comprising a plurality of substantially equally spaced hollow fibers (HFs) comprising multiple alternate rows of HFs comprising first ends extending through and between contact structures comprising solid thermoset material, each HF consisting of a hydrophilic semipermeable membrane defining an elongated lumen, each HF comprising a portion that extends from one contact structure to an opposed contact structure, wherein the HFs in alternate rows are aligned with the spaces in adjacent rows, forming a hexagonal pattern comprising repeating adjacent and/overlapping hexagons, wherein each hexagon comprises a central hollow fiber (central HF) surrounded by six immediately adjacent HFs defining a hexagonal perimeter comprising six sides, the six immediately adjacent HFs being substantially equally spaced from one another and substantially equally spaced from the central hollow fiber, wherein the spacing is adapted to maintain a Reynolds' number of abo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Maher Isaac Kelada
  • Patent number: 8974667
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module is disclosed, which is capable of preventing a bundle of hollow fiber membranes from being separated from a module case, the hollow fiber membrane module for accommodating a bundle of hollow fiber membranes closely held together through the use of potting agent, including a module case including: a first inner surface serving as a projection on which the bundle of hollow fiber membranes is stably placed; a second inner surface upwardly extending from one end of the first inner surface, the second inner surface including at least one separation-preventing groove to prevent the bundle of hollow fiber membranes from being separated from the module case; a third inner surface downwardly extending from the other end of the first inner surface; and a fourth inner surface connected to the third inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kolon Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Lee, Moo-Seok Lee, Yong-Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 8956537
    Abstract: Disclosed are a hollow fiber membrane module, a filtration apparatus based on the same, and a method for manufacturing the filtration apparatus. The hollow fiber membrane module includes two headers respectively provided with a permeate collecting unit therein, wherein each of the headers has grooves on its two sides, the grooves being extended in a length direction of the hollow fiber membrane. Since one slide rod can simultaneously be inserted into grooves of two adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules, the hollow fiber membrane modules can mutually serve as guides for insertion/ejection thereof. Also, since the grooves formed on the header can serve as insertion holes into which a clamp is inserted, the clamp can be used for coupling between the hollow fiber membrane module and another element and reinforcement of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Lee, Moo-Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 8945387
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane element may be used in a pressure vessel similar to those used with spiral wound elements, optionally as a replacement for a spiral wound element. A connecting sleeve is used to connect the insides of adjacent elements to each other or to one or more fittings in communication with the outside of the pressure vessel. The element has hollow fiber membranes suspended between two potting heads spaced apart by a cross flow tube that is open at the outside faces of both potting heads. The potting heads are each adapted to slide into an end of a connecting sleeve. A module has one or more hollow fiber elements located inside of a pressure vessel. At least one port is provided in communication between the outsides of the one or more elements and the outside of the vessel. An aerator may be provided on the bottom of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nicholas William H. Adams
  • Patent number: 8883008
    Abstract: A dialyzer composed of: first and second dialyzation chambers, and an intermediate chamber interposed between the first and second dialyzation chambers. Each dialyzation chamber has opposed first and second ends and contains a filter member that separates the chamber into a blood compartment and a dialysate compartment. Each of the compartments extends between first and second ends. Each of the chambers has a respective one of a blood inlet or outlet and a dialysate inlet or outlet arranged so that blood and dialysate flow in counter-current to one another in both chambers. The intermediate chamber is connected to form a dialysate-free blood flow passage between the blood compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mirimedical, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Mishkin
  • Patent number: 8828225
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polysulfone hemodialyzer with large membrane area that exhibits an unprecedented high dialytic performance over a wide molecular weight range from urea to ?2-microglobulin. There is provided a polysulfone hemodialyzer having a membrane area of >2.4 but ?3.2 m2 and a dialysate rectifying portion with specified broadening at end portion of bundle, the polysulfone hemodialyzer achieves the above object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Okafuji, Satoshi Uezumi, Makoto Fukuda, Miwa Kawano, Maho Torii, Masaichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8790586
    Abstract: The present application relates to a molecular exchange device (1) for use with an analysis and control apparatus and a method of manufacturing a molecular exchange device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Probe Scientific Limited
    Inventors: Mark Thomas O'Connell, Stewart Jeffrey Block
  • Patent number: 8771512
    Abstract: In a separation membrane module in a module main body, an upper horizontal partition plate forms an upper fluid channel, a lower horizontal partition plate forms a lower fluid channel, a plurality of vertical outer tubes are fixed between the upper horizontal partition plate and the lower horizontal partition plate, and vertical tubular membrane elements extend through the respective outer tubes with a gap. An upper end of the gap is in communication with the upper fluid channel and a lower end of the gap is in communication with the lower fluid channel. An upper end opening of each of the membrane elements is open to outside of the module main body and a lower end opening each of the membrane elements is closed. A vertical partition plate is provided in either the upper fluid channel or the lower fluid channel to form an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Fujita, Yoshinobu Takaki, Yoshihiro Asari
  • Patent number: 8728314
    Abstract: A membrane element is provided between a pair of water collecting cases. Water collecting spaces in which permeate having penetrated through the membrane element is collected are formed in the water collecting cases. The water collecting case of one membrane module and the water collecting case of the other membrane module are coupled via coupling portions. The coupling portions have flow holes. The water collecting space of the water collecting case of the one membrane module and the water collecting space of the water collecting case of the other membrane module communicate with each other via the flow holes of the coupling portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Masutani, Yasunobu Okajima, Tomokazu Kitano
  • Patent number: 8696780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air cleaner for removing air pollutants from an air stream, for instance such as the cleaning exhaust/intake gas of an amusement machine, said air cleaner comprising a filter device including at least one filter layer (4a, 4b) held by a filter holder (5) in said airflow substantially perpendicular to a main flow direction thereof and including a plurality of preferably stick-shaped filter elements (6) neighboring each other. In accordance with the present invention, the filter device has no closed surrounding along the circumference of the filter layers, but provides for an open side along at least a portion of the periphery of the filter layer. At least one circumferential side section (7, 8) of the filter layer parallel to or tangential to the longitudinal axis of an outermost filter element is formed as an open side free of flow control elements surrounding the filter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Nonomatic AG, Dexwent USA LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Bichl, Heinz Winkler, Alois Homer, Erich Petein, Maximilian Vojta
  • Patent number: 8696909
    Abstract: A bioartificial kidney equivalent and a process for producing the bioartificial kidney equivalent. The hybrid bioartificial kidney comprises human proximal and distal renal tubule cells grown on particular synthetic membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: David Luttropp, Bernd Krause, Markus Neubauer, Andrea Schnell, Helmut Geiger, Juergen Bereiter-Hahn, Patrick Baer, Doris Deppisch
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8657775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to high cut-off hemodialysis membranes for the treatment of chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients, with the potential to improve long-term survival of these patients by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, through down-regulation of monocyte activation in the blood. Monocytes are the major circulating blood cells involved in the progression of cardiovascular disease. High cut-off hemodialysis in chronic dialysis patients results in a sustained decrease in expression of monocyte cell-surface proteins that direct the movement of these cells from the blood to the walls of blood vessels, where they promote the progression of arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD); heart disease, strokes and peripheral vascular disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundis AB
    Inventors: Colin Hutchison, Paul Cockwell, Hermann Göhl, Bernd Krause, Markus Storr
  • Publication number: 20130306544
    Abstract: The present invention provides a medical material and a blood purification apparatus each having high anti-thrombotic properties and high safety. The apparatus is produced by incorporating therein a medical material which has a hydrophilic copolymerization polymer present on a surface thereof which is to be in contact with blood, wherein particulate protuberances each having a particle diameter of 50 nm or more are present on the surface which is to be in contact with blood at a density of 3 particles/?m2 or less and the relaxation time of adsorbed water in the hydrophilic copolymerization polymer is 2.5×10?8 seconds or shorter and 5.0×10?10 seconds or longer at ?40° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ueno, Masaki Fujita, Hiroyuki Sugaya, Kazuyuki Hashimoto, Hiroyuki Terasaka, Ryo Koganemaru
  • Patent number: 8524082
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mechanical axial vibration in membrane separation treatment processes. The apparatus includes a separation membrane element having an axial dimension, a membrane support structure having the element therein, and means for vibrating the membrane element (hydrodynamically or using motors) in the axial dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwater Resource LLC
    Inventors: Reginald A. Wiemers, Robert Kohlheb
  • Patent number: 8496118
    Abstract: A device for the tangential filtration of a fluid to be processed and intended to be divided into a filtrate and a retentate includes, in an outer case, a series of filtration elements of tubular form lying parallel to each other, at least one output for the filtrate, communicating with the filtrate collection receptacle, a first communication chamber in which are fitted the separation resources, communicating with respectively a first series and a second series of filtration elements forming the go and return circuits of a circulation loop for the fluid to be processed, where the separation resources include a turbine of a circulation pump. The input for the fluid to be processed opens into the first communication chamber of the outer case between the turbine of the circulation pump and the filtration elements of the series forming the return circuit of the circulation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle de la Vallee de l'Aigues—S.I.V.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Lescoche
  • Publication number: 20130153485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a membrane module, comprising a plurality of elongated filter elements disposed in parallel adjacent to one another, each element comprising a longitudinal channel, a housing enclosing the filter elements, and a collector chamber between the housing and the filter elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: KSM Water GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Goebbert, Manfred Volz
  • Patent number: 8449772
    Abstract: A micro fluidic system comprising at least one tube (1), a membrane (3) and at least one fitting member (4). The fitting member (4) is positioned around the membrane (3) and an end part (2) of the tube(s) (1), thereby fitting the membrane (3) to the end part(s) (2). The fitting member(s) (4) is/are made from a shrinkable material, and it/they is/are fitted tightly around the membrane (3) end part(s) (2). This is obtained by causing the shrinkable material to shrink, e.g. by heating the material, while the fitting member (4) is positioned around the membrane (3) and the end part(s) (2). It is an advantage that the fitting member (4) is made from a shrinkable material because this provides the possibility of fitting the membrane (3) tightly to the end part(s) (2) in an easy and cost effective manner. The micro fluidic system is very suitable for use in a probe, such as a dialysis probe. Also claimed is a method of manufacturing the micro fluidic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Flowsion ApS
    Inventors: Holger Dirac, Per Brandt Rasmussen, Arne Briest
  • Patent number: 8404118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter unit for purification of impure water, which could be seawater intended for ballast water, pool water, waste water or the like. The purification is performed by means of filter modules comprising filter means with dead end filter elements of a sintered material, and the filter unit facilitates alternating backwashing of the filter means at the same time as the filter unit may perform filtration of the impure water. The invention likewise relates to use of a dead end filter element in a de-gassing version, the filter element comprising a top end, a bottom end and a plurality of substantially parallel arranged channels with blockings in different ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: S R Light APS
    Inventor: Povl Kaas
  • Patent number: 8387804
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a diffusion and/or filtration device, such as a dialyzer, hemofilter, or ultra-filter, having improved flow characteristics. The invention also relates to an end cap for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Reinhold Buck, Jürgen Eichinger, Roland Henle
  • Patent number: 8361317
    Abstract: A filter device for a motor vehicle has a filter element with a porous ceramic support body provided with one or more passages for receiving a liquid to be filtered and filter membranes formed on inner walls of the passages. The liquid to be filtered passes through the filter membranes into the support body and exits from the support body through a circumferential surface of the support body. At least one compensation element is arranged at an end face of the support body. The compensation element is elastically deformable for providing an additional liquid volume that is generated when the liquid expands due to freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Micke, Guenter Jokschas, Martin Weindorf, Dieter Schreckenberger, Elke Duerr
  • Patent number: 8293107
    Abstract: New fluid separation devices and absorption materials are disclosed. Hollow fibers with an axial capillary slit act as very high efficiency absorption materials, as well as high-surface-area fluid separation devices. The hollow fibers with an axial capillary slit are constructed to preferentially absorb or repel different fluids and arranged to maximize that action over a plurality of fibers to separate different fluids. These separation devices can also function as injection devices and very effective micro-reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Alex Lobovsky, Wesley P. Hoffman, Phillip G. Wapner
  • Publication number: 20120265118
    Abstract: An ultrafiltration device and method for the removal of excess fluid in hypervolemic patients and/or removal of toxins in the blood including for patients suffering from either renal or cardiovascular disease is disclosed. An embodiment of the device includes a housing containing multiple large bore hollow fiber membranes which are connected to the patient's vascular system via a connecting element comprising bifurcated fluid pathway elements to physiologically channel the blood flow either to or from each hollow fiber membrane of the device, a channel to direct the fluid removed by the device to a suitable collection container or the patient's bladder, and controls that control excessive removal of the water from the patient. Devices can be either worn extracorporeally or surgically implanted in order to allow for continuous fluid removal with ambulatory freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Solomon, Gregory S. Erman, Frank A. Fazio
  • Patent number: 8240482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for tangential filtration of a fluid to be treated and to be separated into a filtrate and a retentate, comprising at least one filtration element which comprises at least one inlet for a fluid to be filtered and at least one outlet for the retentate having circulated the filtration element, wherein said element is incorporated in a circulation loop so that at least a part of the retentate is reinjected into the fluid to be treated before being introduced into the filtration element. a module of filtration into which the circulation loop is integrated and realized by a series of filtration elements in forward direction and a series of filtration elements in backward direction, forming forward and backward circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle de la Vallee de l'Aigues S.I.V.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 8216473
    Abstract: Equipment, systems, processes and techniques for conducting reverse osmosis processing of solutions are described. The techniques can be applied to provide diluted solution (i.e. purified solvent), concentrate solution or each. A variety of specific equipment, example systems and processes are depicted and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Solution Dynamics, LLC
    Inventor: Calvin Wade Wohlert
  • Patent number: 8212093
    Abstract: The production of feed for an olefin hydration zone is improved by integrating treatment of an alcohol containing stream from a fermentation zone into an alcohol separation section. The process passes a stream comprising alcohol, water and an organic acid to a separation column. The separation column concetrates the alcohol and organic acids into an upper column fraction. An additive for neutralization the organic acid into contact with said upper column fraction and reacts with the organic acid to produce a neutralization product that passes to a lower portion of the separation column. The column provides an overhead stream for an olefin dehydration zone having an increased concentration of alcohol and a reduced concentration of organic acid. A column bottoms stream containing the neutralization product returns as an input stream to supply the neutralization product to a fermentation zone that produces the alcohol containing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Coskata, Inc.
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Richard E. Tobey, Rahul Basu
  • Patent number: 8197688
    Abstract: There is provided a hollow fiber membrane module (1) comprising: a membrane bundle (20) of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10); a cylindrical body (30) housing the membrane bundle (20); a fixing portion (40, 50) in which at least one end of the membrane bundle (20) is fixed to the cylindrical body (30); and a raw water outflow nozzle (34) for allowing raw water to flow out from the vicinity of the fixing portion (40). Raw water supplied into the cylindrical body (30) is allowed to permeate from the outside into the inside of each hollow fiber membrane (10). A soft potting portion (42) has, in its surface to be in contact with raw water, at least one groove (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hainan Litree Purifying Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daichi Sakashita, Yoshihide Kaiya, Masazumi Oba, Kenichi Futami, Junichi Hayakawa, Lianggang Chen, Qing Chen
  • Patent number: 8192618
    Abstract: In the present invention, dialysis tubing is placed in a chamber, where an ultrasonic or a other mist producer is present. The ultrasonic mist producer will produce mist and small water droplets will be attached to the surface of dialysis membrane (sheet or tubing) and will condense and the water drops will fall back in the solution tank, where the ultrasonic probe produces the mist. When the droplet is attached to the membrane surface, the dialysis will take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Shuklla, Mukta Misra Shukla, Kavita M. Shukla
  • Patent number: 8173018
    Abstract: A fluid filter module including an end cap assembly disposed about at least one end of a tubular-shaped housing. The end cap assembly includes a base, fluid port and sealed boss which may optionally comprise an integrally molded structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Burr, Matthew J. Hallan, Matthew D. Mittag, Matthew J. Turpin, Gavin D. Vogel
  • Patent number: 8167143
    Abstract: DCMD and VMD systems and methods for use in desalination applications are provided. The DCMD and VMD systems employ coated porous hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes. The coatings advantageously function to essentially eliminate pore wetting of the membrane, while permitting substantially unimpeded water vapor permeance through the fiber walls. The DCMD and VMD membranes are characterized by larger fiber bore diameters and wall thicknesses. The membranes substantially reduce the loss of brine sensible heat, e.g., heat loss via conductive heat flux through the membrane wall and the vapor space and, in exemplary embodiments, the brine-side heat transfer coefficient is dramatically enhanced by horizontal/vertical cross flow of brine over the outside surface of the coated fibers. Superior water vapor fluxes are achieved with the systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kamalesh K. Sirkar, Baoan Li
  • Patent number: 8157999
    Abstract: A system, method and device are disclosed for bio-processing a feed stream and providing a constant output by operating a continuous single-pass tangential-flow process. The single-pass process provides high conversion concentration while operating at relatively low feed flow rates, and the process can also be used to provide constant output diafiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SPF Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Gaston de los Reyes, Leon Mir
  • Patent number: 8153008
    Abstract: Device (5) for filtering blood including a filter unit (7) having a blood filter, an inlet (8) for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient and a blood outlet (9) for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient, and having a filtrate container (6,14), that encloses the filter unit (7), for receiving filtrate (12) passing through the blood filter during a filtering process and that the filtrate container (6,14) is a closed container, which in a filled state is arranged to establish a counter-pressure over the blood filter, whereby the filtering process is interrupted. The invention also concerns a system including the above device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Anders Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8069990
    Abstract: The invention provides a sealing gasket for mounting in a passage (5) of a support plate (4) to surround the end of a tubular-shaped filter element (3) provided with at least one fluid flow channel (31), the channel lying within a flow section Sc, the gasket being constituted in the form of a sleeve: possessing a height h not less than the height hps of the passage (5) in the support plate (4); and presenting an overlap bore (15) for the filter element (3) defined between one end (16) of the sleeve and a shoulder (17) which co-operates with the other end of the sleeve to define a channel bore (19) for the fluid, the shoulder (17) possessing a surface for acting as an abutment for the terminal portion of the filter element and presenting dimensions that are adapted to extend outside the flow section Sc so as to avoid impeding fluid circulation, the overlap bore (15) being provided with a groove (28) adjacent to the shoulder (17) in order to allow the gasket to creep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Technologies Avancees & Membranes Industrielles
    Inventors: André Grangeon, Philippe Lescoche, Michel Millares