Abstract: A point of use microfiltration device suitable for filtering the cooling water and cooling air supplies to a turbine driven dental handset is a multicompartmental device containing microporous filtration membranes effective to remove particulate matter, particularly microbes, thus protecting the patient from the risk of infection. The device contains passages providing for unrestricted turbine supply and return air, and may be provided with a light path suitable for use with fiber optic light supplies. The device is advantageously constructed to mate with standard multilumen and hand-piece end fittings, and may be disposed of after a single use.

Abstract: A filter device or apparatus is provided for the separation of materials, especially biomaterials from a fluid sample, under a force such as centrifugation, positive pressure, vacuum, or gravity. The device comprises two or more in-line tubular elements, one or more of which is a module that houses a filter media. The elements have complementary connection structures (e.g., elastomeric seal, O-ring, threads, Luer fittings, compression fittings, bayonet fittings, snap fittings, and the like) such that they can be assembled or reassembled in a train to form a conduit structure for leak-proof passage of a fluid sample volume. The assembly can be disassembled for collection and processing of retentate and filtrate material resulting from the filtration.

Abstract: A combination air and water microfiltration device suitable for mounting on a dental syringe handset contains microporous membrane air and water filters which prevent particulate and bacterial contamination of the air and water streams applied to a dental patient's oral cavity during dental procedures. The small pore size of the microporous membrane allows filtration of infectious agents while maintaining adequate flow rates.

Abstract: Hydrophilic inter-penetrating network charge modified microporous membranes are provided as well as a method of preparing the membranes by casting a membrane matrix blend containing matrix polymer, a solvent system, a wetting polymer compatible with the matrix polymer, and a charge modified system which forms a cross-linked interpenetrating network structure within the microporous membrane substrate during the membrane fabrication process which network structure optionally can be locked in by heat curing. The membranes are useful for filtering ultrapure water with 18 megaohm-cm resistivity for the electronic industry, and they can also be used for the removal of a variety of contaminants from fluid media, such as very fine negatively charged particles, bacteria and endotoxins, with greatly enhanced filtration efficiency.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process and a medium for simultaneous determination of the number and presence of living fecal coliform and Escherichia coli in a sample comprising 6-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucose or isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside as a galactosidase inducer and methyl-beta-D-glucuronide as a glucuronidase inducer. The sterile semi-solid medium also comprises non-target bacterial inhibitors, target bacterial enhancers, and multiple fluorogen and/or chromogan substrates that produce color and fluorescence upon cleavage by a specific enzyme expressed by the target bacteria in which expression is enhanced. The simultaneous detection of total coliforms via its expression of beta-galactosidase, and Escherichia coli as the target bacteria via its expression of beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase is achieved rapidly and efficiently using this medium.

Abstract: A coreless filter comprises a pleated, spirally wound loop of material disposed in a housing. The loop includes a layer of filter material, such as a membrane filter, interposed between two support layers.

Abstract: A coreless filter comprises a pleated, spirally wound loop of material disposed in a housing. The loop includes a layer of filter material, such as a membrane filter, interposed between two support layers.

Abstract: An in-line filter assembly is provided of a type having a housing divided into inlet and outlet chambers by a filter membrane having its periphery fluid-flow-sealed within the housing, the filter being readily disassemblable so that the filter membrane can be removed for identification or analysis of the material filtered from the fluid during use of the filter.

Abstract: Novel glycosides, especially steroidal glycosides, and a novel method of their production, are provided. For the novel method of producing novel glycosides, hydroxysteryl compounds are glycosylated with tri-O-acyl glucal using molecular iodine as a reaction catalyst. In this method an alcohol or phenol, especially a hydroxy-steroid such as a water-insoluble cholesterol, is glycosylated, such that the glycosylation is performed in a single step. The resulting steryl pyranoside is by oxidation converted to the corresponding 7-ketosteryl di-O-acyl-pyranoside. The latter pyranoside is selectively reduced to provide the corresponding 7-.beta.-hydroxysteryl 2,3-dideoxy-.alpha.-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside. The steroidal glycosides obtained in this way possess valuable pharmacological properties. In particular, the glycosides in vivo exhibit a selective cell-destructive activity on malignant cells which activity is substantially free of side effects on normal cells.

Abstract: Hydrophilic inter-penetrating network charge modified microporous membranes are provided as well as a method of preparing the membranes by casting a membrane matrix blend containing matrix polymer, a solvent system, a wetting polymer compatible with the matrix polymer, and a charge modified system which forms a cross-linked inter-penetrating network structure within the microporous membrane substrate during the membrane fabrication process which network structure optionally can be locked in by heat curing. The membranes are useful for filtering ultra pure water with 18 megaohm-cm resistivity for the electronic industry, and they can also be used for the removal of a variety of contaminants from fluid media, such as very fine negatively charged particles, bacteria and endotoxins, with greatly enhanced filtration efficiency.

Abstract: Cationic charged semihydrophobic polyethersulfone (CSfIP) membranes having hydrophilic and semihydrophobic properties are provided, as well as preparation of the same by post-treatment. Typically, as an illustration, a microporous hydrophilic polyethersulfone membrane substrate which contains non-leachable polymeric additive having functional groups is treated in an alkaline solution for simultaneous or sequential reaction with 1) a primary charge modifying agent which is an epichlorohydrin modified polyamine, and 2) a secondary polymeric charge modifying agent containing a positive charge (or for reaction with the primary charge modifying agent alone); then baked until cured at elevated temperature; and finally washed and dried. The CSHP membranes are used in various applications such as the filtration of fluids and the macromolecular transfer of biomolecules either from electrophoresis gels or directly to immobilization on the membrane for hybridization and stripping.

Abstract: A hydrophilic microporous membrane, is provided comprising a hydrophobic membrane substrate exemplified by a polyolefin or partially fluorinated polyolefin membrane. A process is also provided for preparing a hydrophilic membrane by grafting a water soluble polymer to the hydrophobic membrane substrate surface by irradiation means, e.g., ultraviolet irradiation. The invention further concerns a method for making the membrane and process means for filtering a fluid through such membrane.

Abstract: A flexible inflatable polymer film filter assembly or device is provided in pouch or sleeve form for filtration of fluid comprising at least one fluid porous dead-end filter panel located internally within the pouch or sleeve with the opposite end edges of the filter panel sealed respectively to first and second polymer film fluid-barrier panels that form the pouch or sleeve so that the respective pouch or sleeve is divided into separate internal chambers, one of which may serve for collection of permeate fluid. The device has a flat two-dimensional form when empty but can assume an inflated three-dimensional form when containing fluid under pressure. The device being constructed of sterilizable thin plastic film, can be cut into transverse segments (for purposes of analysis, further processing, etc.) which can be a segment comprising each filter panel or a segment containing a liquid or non-liquid fluid permeate.

Abstract: Porous blended hydrophilic copolymer (polyethersulfone resin, poly-2-oxazoline resin, and polyvinylpyrrolidone resin) microporous membranes are provided which are useful for filtering macromolecules or particles from fluids. The invention also concerns a process for filtering matter from a fluid, employing the membranes.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for gel electrophoresis, for sample transfer, for identifying a macromolecule, for blotting including dot blotting, and for colony hybridization, involving polyaldehyde activated microporous membranes.

Abstract: Oil and water repellency is conferred upon porous substrates (10) by treatment with a solution of a monomer (16) of the formula: (C.sub.n E.sub.2n+1)(CH.sub.2).sub.x (CHR)OCOCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 where n is an integer; X is 0,1,2 or 3 and R is H or CH.sub.2 --OCOCH.dbd.CH.sub.2. The monomer is polymerized in situ upon the substrate to provide a conformal coating (16') which preserves the porous structure.

Abstract: Cationic charge modified microporous hydrophilic membranes are provided, as well as preparation of the same by post-treatment. Typically, as an illustration, a microporous hydrophilic membrane substrate which contains non-leachable polymeric additive having functional groups is treated in an alkaline solution for simultaneous or sequential reaction with 1) a primary charge modifying agent which is an epichlorohydrin modified polyamine, and 2) a secondary polymeric charge modifying agent containing a fixed formal positive charge (or for reaction with the primary charge modifying agent alone); then cured at elevated temperature; and finally washed and dried. The cationically charged microporous membranes are used in various applications such as the filtration of fluids and the macromolecular transfer from electrophoresis gels.

Abstract: A vacuum filter assembly for filtering a feed liquid includes a filter membrane held in a cover attachable to the filtrate container. The cover is formed with a feed liquid nipple on one side of the filter membrane, a filtrate outlet tube on the other side of the filter body, and a vacuum port. A portion of the surface of the membrane is non-wettable by the feed liquid to facilitate restarting the filtration if the filtration is interrupted. Also, the vacuum port includes a vacuum tube covered at its end by another membrane having pores permeable by air but not by the feed liquid, for fixing the maximum level of the filtrate within the filtrate container.

Abstract: The invention is a membrane comprising polymerized monomer and oligomer components. A primary membrane oligomer component is selected from acrylic polyester urethanes, and a secondary membrane monomer component is selected from 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylacrylamide and perfluoromonomers and perfluoroacrylic monomers. The membrane is further characterized as being microporous, permeable and having a thickness of less than 0.1 inches.