Abstract: A differential pore-collapsed separation membrane particularly useful as a gas-separation membrane and a method of preparing such differential pore-collapsed membrane, which method comprises treating an asymmetric membrane, while under one-sided constraint, with a treating solution comprising a volatile nonsolvent and a swelling agent and/or a solvent, and drying the treated membrane, to provide for the controlled, differential pore collapse of the small pores of the top skin of the membrane to a smaller pore-size distribution in the membrane generally less than about 10 Angstroms.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fouling-resistant polymer membrane for use in the separation of aqueous, cathodic, electrode-position-paint compositions, which method comprises treating a negative-charged polymer membrane material, having fixed negative-charged groups in the polymer, with a polyelectrolyte polymer having fixed positive-charged nitrogen groups in an amount sufficient to provide for an excess of positive-charged groups in the treated membrane polymer.

Abstract: A test probe for collecting test permeate samples from a multiple, reverse-osmosis membrane module, wherein the membrane module has a straight permeate-collection passageway and a plurality of individual, spaced-apart, permeate passageways which permit permeate, from each of a plurality of membranes, to flow into the permeate-collection passageway, and which probe comprises a first outer and a second inner tube concentrically positioned and spaced apart, whereby, on insertion of the test probe into the permeate-collection passageway, the test probe comprises a downstream permeate flow passageway and an upstream permeate flow passageway and a test permeate flow passageway, the test probe having a spacer element at the test end with a radial passageway, and resilient O-rings above and below the spacer element, and a coiled spring to bias the O-rings between an unbiased, nonsealing position and a biased, sealing position, whereby the O-rings extend radially outwardly, to form a seal above and below a test permea

Abstract: A blended, polymeric membrane which comprises a water-insoluble matrix polymer and a water-insoluble copolymer compatible and blended with the matrix polymer, which copolymer is prepared by a copolymerization of a first monomer which, when homopolymerized, would result in an incompatible homopolymer with the matrix, and a second monomer which, when homopolymerized, would result in a compatible homopolymer with the matrix, one or both of the monomers containing positive or negative functional groups, to provide a blended, compatible, water-insoluble membrane for use in a reverse-osmosis and ultrafiltration processes.

Abstract: A process for and a system of removing volatile vapor solvents, particularly from paint-spray booths and paint dryers, and recovering such solvents, which process comprises: intimately contacting the solvent-laden air with a multiphase scrubbing media, particularly a water stream containing an oil-in-water emulsion or a surfactant or a powdered activated carbon, to capture and to dissolve the solvent vapor in the dispersed phase of the scrubbing media in a gas scrubber; removing the solvent-enriched scrubbing media and concentrating the solvent-enriched scrubbing media employing an ultrafiltration device; stripping the solvent from the concentrated solvent-enriched scrubbing media from the ultrafiltration device to remove and recover the solvent, while recycling the scrubbing media for further contact with fresh solvent-laden air; and recycling the water carrier as a permeate for reuse in contacting the solvent-laden air.

Abstract: A membrane module which includes a unitary, curved, backing support which retains all the U bends, serially connecting the membrane tubes, in a sealing relationship, and which includes an annular permeate-collector ring system at the end of each membrane tube and channels with a permeate manifold passageway, to provide efficient removal and easy cleaning of the permeate flow path.

Abstract: A microporous polymeric membrane is made by preparing a polymer-casting solution, casting a thin film of the casting solution on a support base, allowing partial evaporation of the solvent from the cast film for a predetermined period of time and contacting the partially evaporated film with a leaching liquid to provide the microporous membrane. A membrane with particularly good mechanical strength and hydrophilic properties is formed when the casting solution comprises a vinylidene fluoride polymer and from about 35 to about 85% by weight of a vinyl acetate polymer; and when the acetate polymer is hydrolyzed after the leaching step to convert the acetate groups to hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A membrane apparatus, which apparatus comprises a housing and a spiral membrane module positioned in the housing to define an annular clearance space between the outside wall of the spiral membrane module and the interior wall surface of the housing, and an open-mesh type or netting material peripherally surrounding the spiral membrane module and positioned in the annular clearance space in a partial sealing relationship, to provide a controlled by-pass of the feed stream through the open-mesh-type material in the annular clearance space, to prevent accumulation of feed material in the annular space.

Abstract: A dry grafting method of grafting a vinyl monomer onto a polymer, which method comprises admixing into an essentially dry, solvent-swollen, finely-divided, particulate, solid, polymer admixture, wherein the polymer has free radicals formed thereon and the admixture is essentially free of a polymerization initiator, a small grafting amount in incremental portions of a vinyl-monomer material to be grafted onto the swollen polymer, the amount of vinyl monomer sufficient to maintain an essentially free-flow, stirrable, particulate admixture, and effecting grafting of the vinyl monomer to the polymer.

Abstract: A process for removing volatile vapor solvents, particularly from paint-spray booths and paint dryers, and recovering such solvents, which process comprises: intimately contacting the solvent-laden air with a multiphase scrubbing media, particularly a water stream containing an oil-in-water emulsion or a surfactant or a powdered activated carbon, to capture and to dissolve the solvent vapor in the dispersed phase of the scrubbing media in a gas scrubber; removing the solvent-enriched scrubbing media and concentrating the solvent-enriched scrubbing media employing an ultrafiltration device; stripping the solvent from the concentrated solvent-enriched scrubbing media from the ultrafiltration device to remove and recover the solvent, while recycling the scrubbing media for further contact with fresh solvent-laden air; and recycling the water carrier as a permeate for reuse in contacting the solvent-laden air.

Abstract: A process for preparing a microporous polymeric membrane, which process comprises preparing a polymer-casting solution, casting a thin film of the casting solution on a support base, allowing partial evaporation of the solvent from the cast film for a predetermined period of time and contacting the partially evaporated cast film with the microporous leaching liquid to provide a membrane, the improvement which comprises: providing a casting solution which comprises a vinylidene fluoride polymer and from about 35 to about 85% by weight of a vinyl acetate polymer; and hydrolyzing the acetate polymer after the leaching step to convert the acetate groups to hydroxyl groups, to provide an improved membrane having good mechanical strength and hydrophilic properties.

Abstract: A dental-caries detector for the determination of dental caries by measurement of the electrical conductivity or other electrical property of a tooth, which dental-caries detector comprises: an electrically conductive, caries-detector probe having a probe tip which is adapted to be placed on a wet, electrically conductive area of the tooth; a dry air mechanism for providing a surrounding curtain of drying air about the probe tip to provide a dry, electrically nonconductive area about the probe tip; and a shield surrounding the probe tip to seal the probe tip from the dry area.

Abstract: A glove adapted for use with organic solvents and other chemicals, which glove is composed of a flexible multilaminate sheet material in glove form, wherein the sheet material is composed of: an outer abrasion-resistant polymer layer, an integral essentially pin-hole-free aluminum-foil material, and an inner heat-sealable thermoplastic polymer material, the multilaminate sheet material heat-sealed along the peripheral edges of the glove formed by the inner thermoplastic polymer layer to the opposite inner thermoplastic layer.

Abstract: A penile prosthesis adapted for the surgical implantation in the penis for the treatment of erectile impotence is provided, which penile prosthesis comprises an elongated gooseneck-type shell element, for example, composed of a helically wound strip material, the gooseneck-type element stiff in character to retain its position and which resists flexure, but which flexure may be overridden manually; end cap means positioned at each end of the gooseneck-type element to provide protection therefor; and sheathing means integral with the end cap means to enclose and seal the gooseneck-type rod element and end cap means, thereby providing an implantable penile prosthesis, whereby upon implantation an erect or flaccid penile posture can be obtained at will by overriding manually the resistance to flexure of the rod-like element.

Abstract: A device for the delivery of a tubal-occluding polymer for sterilization of females, which device comprises a plurality of concentric tubes with a two-compartment balloon at the one end thereof.

Abstract: In a process for the concentration of an aqueous polymeric latex, which latex comprises polymeric particles dispersed in an aqueous phase by a semipermeable membrane process, such as an ultrafiltration process and which latex is subject to destabilization, the improvement which comprises: adding to the latex a sufficient amount of a compatible surfactant to stabilize the latex and to maintain the dispersion of the polymeric particles in the aqueous phase of the latex during the concentration of the latex in a semipermeable membrane process.

Abstract: A penile prosthesis adapted for surgical implantation in the penis for the treatment of erectile impotence is provided, which penile prothesis comprises a bundle of parallel flexible, plastic, rod-like elements which, due to internal surface friction between the individual rod elements, resist flexure, the rod elements tightly wrapped in a flexible sheath element, each end of the rod elements having a plastic cap means to protect the prosthesis from damage by the bundled plastic rod elements and a flexible medically acceptable material which sheaths the rod elements to seal out body fluids and tissue, whereby on implantation an erect or flaccid penile posture can be obtained at will.

Abstract: A mechanical penile prosthesis designed to be surgically implanted in the penis for the treatment of erectile impotence or as a functional component of a penile replacement prosthesis. The penile prosthesis comprises a pre-stretched, flexible, elastic, tubular component or sheath closed at each end thereof, and a plurality of cylindrically shaped segments or links, each having one or more convex ends and/or a concave end, enclosed within the tubular component. The pre-stretched tubular sheath maintains the segments in reference to one another, i.e. link-to-link contact, so that on straightening of the normally curved tubular enclosure a concave end of a segment mates with a convex end of an adjacent segment whereby the segments are aligned into a straight rod configuration resulting in an erect penis.

Abstract: A filter for the filtration of blood characterized by a high flow rate with low pressure drop, which filter comprises: a filter housing; an inlet in the housing for the introduction of the blood to be filtered; an outlet in the housing for the removal of filtered blood; and a filter element disposed within the housing, which element comprises a helically coiled strip of sheet material containing a surface layer of fibrous flocked material on at least one side thereof, the sheet material wound into a helical coil of desired tightness, and the flocked material selected to remove particles from the blood to be filtered.

Abstract: A two-stage, sterilizable connector for use in processing blood, which connector assures sterility when entering a blood bag to add agents required in processing blood, the connector designed to comprise a male and female body element which, in a first extended position, are partially joined, which connector is sterilizable, and which, after sterilization, the male and female body elements are joined in a secured, engaged position to effect the puncturing of the male and female septa to provide a fluid passageway therethrough.