Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the invention preferably relates to a hollow fiber membrane mat having hollow fiber membranes arranged parallel to one another and adjacent to one another, the membranes having a wall and a continuous lumen, wherein the hollow fiber membranes are connected to one another by means of a plurality of linear connecting elements which are arranged spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another and the membranes are kept apart from one another by the linear connecting elements and wherein the hollow fiber membranes are composed of a thermoplastic polymer and wherein the walls of the hollow fiber membranes arranged adjacent to one another are fluid-tight in at least one stripe extending parallel to the linear connecting elements, inside of which stripe the hollow fiber membranes are fluid-tight, preferably have a superheated steam shrinkage of at most 5%. Other embodiments of the invention preferably relate to a method for producing and/or using such hollow fiber membrane mats.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow-fiber membrane for ultrafiltration made from a hydrophobic aromatic sulfone polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer, the membrane having an open-pore separating layer on the lumen side, an adjoining supporting layer with asymmetric, sponge-like pore structure without finger pores and an outer layer adjoining the supporting layer towards the outer surface. The separating layer has a cutoff between 20 000 and 200 000 daltons, a thickness of max. 10% of the membrane thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The size of the pores in the supporting layer initially increases up to a zone with maximum pore size, and then decreases towards the outer layer, and the outer layer exhibits a thickness of 10 to 30% of the wall thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The mean size of the pores in the outer layer is larger than in the separating layer, but smaller than in the supporting layer.

Abstract: Method for producing this membrane from a casting solution comprising the hydrophobic first sulfone polymer and the hydrophilic second polymer in a solvent system, the method comprising the steps of pouring the casting solution, conditioned to a molding temperature, onto a carrier to form a film, which carrier has a temperature that is higher in comparison to the molding temperature, conveying the film through a climate-controlled zone, initiating the coagulation in a coagulation bath for the formation of a membrane structure, withdrawing the membrane structure from the carrier with a speed that is increased in comparison to the carrier speed, stabilizing, extracting, and subsequently drying the membrane.

Abstract: A hydrophilic semipermeable hollow-fiber membrane for blood treatment, with an integrally asymmetric structure based on a synthetic polymer. The hollow-fiber membrane possesses on its inner surface a separating layer and an adjoining open-pored supporting layer, and has an ultrafiltration rate in albumin solution of 5 to 25 ml/(h·m2·mmHg). The hollow-fiber membrane is free from pore-stabilizing additives and has a maximum sieving coefficient for albumin of 0.005 and a sieving coefficient for cytochrome c that satisfies the equation SCCC?5·10?5·UFRAlb3?0.004·UFRAlb2+1.081·UFRAlb?0.25.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the number of leukocytes in blood through treating the blood in an arrangement of a plurality of fibers based on organic polymers, whereby the blood is channeled along the fibers and whereby the reduction in leukocytes from the blood occurs essentially through adsorption on the fibers, characterized in that the plurality of fibers based on organic polymers is fixed in a housing with an inlet arrangement and an outlet arrangement, and that the blood is channeled via the inlet arrangement into the housing, flows through the housing with the plurality of fibers made from organic polymers, and exits the housing via the outlet arrangement, that the arrangement of the fibers shows a high degree of order, that the blood flows along the external surface of the fibers, and that the fibers cause a generation of the complement activation product C5a in a concentration of at least 10 ?g per m2 of fiber surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrophobic, integrally asymmetrical hollow-fiber membrane made of a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer or copolymer, wherein the wall of the membrane has a microporous supporting layer having a sponge-like, open-pored, essentially isotropic pore structure without finger pores, the supporting layer extending across at least 90% of the wall thickness and having pores with an average diameter of less than 0.5 ?m. The hollow-fiber membrane is characterized in that it has a separating layer adjacent to the supporting layer on its outer surface and that it has an outer surface with a homogeneous, uniform structure without pores, a porosity in the range from 40 to 80 vol. %, a wall thickness from 25 to 100 ?m, a diameter of the lumen of the hollow-fiber membrane from 100 to 500 ?m, a permeability for nitrogen of at least 25 ml/(cm2·min·bar), and an elongation at break of at least 250%. The invention further relates to a method for producing hollow-fiber membranes of this type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the number of leukocytes in blood through treating the blood in an arrangement of a plurality of fibers based on organic polymers, whereby the blood is channeled along the fibers and whereby the reduction in leukocytes from the blood occurs essentially through adsorption on the fibers, characterized in that the plurality of fibers based on organic polymers is fixed in a housing with an inlet arrangement and an outlet arrangement, and that the blood is channeled via the inlet arrangement into the housing, flows through the housing with the plurality of fibers made from organic polymers, and exits the housing via the outlet arrangement, that the arrangement of the fibers shows a high degree of order, that the blood flows along the external surface of the fibers, and that the fibers cause a generation of the complement activation product C5a in a concentration of at least 10 ?g per m2 of fiber surface.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, semipermeable hollow-fiber membrane for blood treatment, with an integrally asymmetric structure based on a synthetic polymer. The hollow-fiber membrane possesses on its inner surface a porous separating layer and an open-pored supporting layer adjoining the separating layer, and has an ultrafiltration rate in albumin solution of 25 to 60 ml/(h·m2·mmHg). The hollow-fiber membrane is free from pore-stabilizing additives, and has a minimum sieving coefficient for cytochrome c of 0.8 and maximum sieving coefficient for albumin of 0.005.

Abstract: A device for reducing the number of leucocytes in blood comprising a plurality of hollow fibers based on organic polymers, whereby the hollow fibers have a lumen and a wall surrounding the lumen, said wall having an internal surface facing the lumen and an external surface, whereby the hollow fibers are arranged in a cylindrical housing with an inlet arrangement and an outlet arrangement and whereby an outer space is formed between the hollow fibers and the housing, which space is accessible for a fluid via the inlet arrangement and the outlet arrangement, characterized in that only the external surfaces of the hollow fibers are accessible for a fluid, that the lumina of the hollow fibers are not accessible for a fluid, that the arrangement of the hollow fibers shows a high degree of order and that the hollow fibers based on organic polymers cause a generation of the complement activation product C5a in a concentration of at least 10 ?g per m2 of fiber surface.

Abstract: A hydrophilic semipermeable hollow-fibre membrane for blood treatment, with an integrally asymmetric structure based on a synthetic polymer. The hollow-fiber membrane possess on its inner surface a separating layer and an adjoining open-pored supporting layer, and has an ultrafiltration rate in albumin solution of 5 to ?25 ml/(h·m2·mmHg). The hollow fiber membrane is free from pore-stabilizing additives and has a maximum sieving coefficient for albumin of 0.005 and a sieving coefficient of cytochrome c that satisfies the equation SCcc?5·10?5·UFRAlb3?0.004·UFRAlb2+0.1081·UFRAlb?0.25.

Abstract: Method for producing foamed microporous polymer molded bodies by melting a thermoplastic polymer in a first zone of an extrusion device, mixing in a highly volatile blowing agent, conveying the polymer melt containing the blowing agent into a second zone in which dissolution of the blowing agent occurs to saturation of the polymer melt at the foaming temperature, and molding and foaming of the loaded polymer melt to a foamed structure, whereby, in the second zone, a pressure above 90 bar, a blowing agent concentration above the critical minimum concentration for complete foaming, and the foaming temperature, lying above the solidification temperature of the polymer melt saturated with blowing agent, are set such that the polymer molded body obtained has a porosity in the range between 40 and 90 vol. % and an open-cell pore structure with uniform cross-sectional distribution.

Abstract: Process for producing an integrally asymmetrical hydrophobic polyolefinic membrane with a sponge-like, open-pored, microporous support structure and a separation layer with a denser structure, using a thermally induced liquid-liquid phase separation process. A solution of at least one polyolefin is extruded to form a shaped object. The solvent used is one for which the demixing temperature of a solution of 25% by weight of the polyolefin in this solvent is 10 to 70° C. above the solidification temperature. After leaving the die, the shaped object is cooled using a liquid cooling medium that does not dissolve the polymer up to the die temperature, until the phase separation and solidification of the high-polymer-content phase take place.

Abstract: Method for producing foamed microporous polymer molded bodies by melting a thermoplastic polymer in a first zone of an extrusion device, mixing in a highly volatile blowing agent, conveying the polymer melt containing the blowing agent into a second zone in which dissolution of the blowing agent occurs to saturation of the polymer melt at the foaming temperature, and molding and foaming of the loaded polymer melt to a foamed structure, whereby, in the second zone, a pressure above 90 bar, a blowing agent concentration above the critical minimum concentration for complete foaming, and the foaming temperature, lying above the solidification temperature of the polymer melt saturated with blowing agent, are set such that the polymer molded body obtained has a porosity in the range between 40 and 90 vol. % and an open-cell pore structure with uniform cross-sectional distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrolytically stable polyamide membrane having an open-pored, microporous and sponge-like support-layer structure, using a process involving thermally induced liquid-liquid phase separation. A solution of an aliphatic polyamide in a solvent system, comprising preferably a solvent and a non-solvent for the polyamide, is extruded to form a shaped object. After leaving the die, the shaped object is cooled by means of a cooling medium until phase separation occurs and the polymer-rich phase solidifies to form the membrane structure. The solution of the polyamide in the solvent system contains an antioxidant agent as a stabiliser for the polyamide which, together with the solvent system, is selected in a way that the antioxidant agent is essentially insoluble in the solvent system at the phase separation temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier in the form of particles, which can be loaded with aqueous media. Said particles are formed from a porous hydrophobic polymer substrate, have an average particle size ranging between 50 ?m and 5000 ?m, and are provided with an at least partly open-pore structure having an average pore diameter ranging between 1 ?m and 200 ?m. The inventive carrier can be loaded with 10 to 95 percent by weight of water relative to the total weight of the loaded carrier, said loadability being determined by contacting the carrier with water. Also disclosed is a storage device which is based on said carrier and is loaded with an aqueous medium. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a carrier in the form of particles that are based on a hydrophobic polymer, said carrier being loadable with 10 to 95 percent by weight of water.

Abstract: AGE precursors can be removed from blood, plasma or PBS buffer using a modified polymeric shaped body that can be produced by reaction of diaminoguanidine and/or triaminoguannidine with a staring polymeric shaped body carrying R—X residues, where R is an alkylene group that may or may not be substituted with a hydroxyl group and contains from 1 to 3 carbon atom, and X is a group that is substituted during the reaction by carrying residues Y, on to with diaminoguanidine, or with a starting polymeric shaped body during the reaction which diaminoguanidine and/or triaminoguannidine are added during the reaction.

Abstract: Method for producing foamed microporous polymer molded bodies by melting a thermoplastic polymer in a first zone of an extrusion device, mixing in a highly volatile blowing agent, conveying the polymer melt containing the blowing agent into a second zone in which dissolution of the blowing agent occurs to saturation of the polymer melt at the foaming temperature, and molding and foaming of the loaded polymer melt to a foamed structure, whereby, in the second zone, a pressure above 90 bar, a blowing agent concentration above the critical minimum concentration for complete foaming, and the foaming temperature, lying above the solidification temperature of the polymer melt saturated with blowing agent, are set such that the polymer molded body obtained has a porosity in the range between 40 and 90 vol. % and an open-cell pore structure with uniform cross-sectional distribution.

Abstract: A molded body containing a polyarylether, at the surface of which substituents of formula —(R1—C—R2)—X are bound, where R1?H or an alkyl residue with 1 to 4 C atoms, R2?H or an alkyl residue with 1 to 4 C atoms, and X is a residue of formula NH—(O?C)—CH2-A, where A=F, Cl, Br or I or (CH2)pCHNH2—COOH with p=1 or 2, or a residue of formula NH—(CH2)n—CH2—Y, where Y?H or NH2 and n is an integer between 0 and 6, or a residue of formula O—(CH2)mCH2-Z, where Z=H, OH, COOH, NH2, N-pyrrolidone or N-pyrrolidine and m is an integer between 1 and 5, or a residue of formula NH—NH—(C?NH)—NH2, or a residue of formula NH—(O?C)—CR3?CH2 where R3?H or CH3, or a residue of formula O—(O?C)—(CH2)k-L, where L=COOH or NH2 and k is an integer between 1 and 10, or a residue of formula NH—(O?C)-Ph, where Ph is an unsubstituted or pentahalogenated phenyl residue, or a residue of formula O-G, where G is a glucose residue or glucosamine residue. Also the method for producing such a molded body.

Abstract: A membrane module for hemodiafiltration having a cylinder-shaped housing and a bundle of hollow-fiber membranes capable of supporting fluid flow and arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the housing. The ends of the hollow-fiber membranes are embedded in a fluid-tight manner in first and second sealing compounds joined to the housing inner wall in a fluid-tight manner. The exterior space formed around the hollow-fiber membranes and delimited by the first and second sealing compounds and the housing inner wall is divided along the longitudinal extent of the housing into a dialyzate space and a substituate space by a dividing wall that is made from a substantially dimensionally stable material. The dividing wall encloses each hollow-fiber membrane and is arranged substantially transversely to the hollow-fiber membranes. The dialyzate space and substituate space each have at least one opening for introducing or draining a fluid.

Abstract: A hemodiafiltration system for treating blood which has module having a housing in which hollow-fiber membranes are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent and are embedded at their ends in first and second sealing compounds joined to the inner wall of the housing in a fluid-tight manner. The membrane module also has a dialyzate space and a substituate space separated from the dialyzate space in a fluid-tight manner by a continuous dividing wall. The membrane module further includes means for delivering and withdrawing a dialyzate to and from the dialyzate space, and means for delivering a substituate to the substituate space. The hollow-fiber membranes are used for blood treatment, filtration of the substituate, and delivery of the substituate to the blood.