Abstract: A method for selectively cleaning a flushable filter system that includes a first filter unit and a second filter unit each of which is configured to purify unpurified liquid into purified liquid, the method comprises the steps of: operating the flushable filter system such that one of the first filter unit and the second filter unit is cleaned, while the other of the first filter unit and the second filter unit produced the purified liquid that is used to back flush the one of the first filter unit and the second filter unit that is being cleaned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a hemodiafiltration delivery module that is used in conjunction with a UF controlled dialysis machine to enable hemodiafiltration therapy to be performed. The advantage is that one can fully utilize a current functioning dialysis machine to perform a hemodiafiltration therapy as opposed to purchasing a completely new machine that offers this capability.

Abstract: A flush pump feature on a liquid purifying filter includes a segment of flexible tubing containing a small bulb pump is described. Two check valves are positioned upstream and downstream of the bulb pump which then terminates with a simple manually operated open/closed valve. The addition of this flush pump feature enables the filter unit to be easily purged of air at first use and also will make the filter easier to clean and maintain without the need to remove it from a hydration carrier. In addition, the flush bulb feature can also be used to perform a simple visual integrity test of filter while out in a remote location and also can be used to effectively remove bulk water from the filter for lighter storage when not in use which also minimizes freeze related damage when used in a cold environment.

Abstract: A flush pump feature on a liquid purifying filter includes a segment of flexible tubing containing a small bulb pump is described. Two check valves are positioned upstream and downstream of the bulb pump which then terminates with a simple manually operated open/closed valve. The addition of this flush pump feature enables the filter unit to be easily purged of air at first use and also will make the filter easier to clean and maintain without the need to remove it from a hydration carrier. In addition, the flush bulb feature can also be used to perform a simple visual integrity test of filter while out in a remote location and also can be used to effectively remove bulk water from the filter for lighter storage when not in use which also minimizes freeze related damage when used in a cold environment.

Abstract: A compact fluid purification device includes a housing having an inlet for receiving unfiltered liquid and an open end and a first valve disposed within the inlet and being configured to only permit unfiltered liquid to flow into a hollow interior of the housing. The device has a plunger that is movable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. Movement of the plunger toward the fully extended position causes unfiltered liquid to be drawn into the interior of the housing and the device includes a second valve disposed within the outlet and being configured to only permit filtered liquid to be discharged from the plunger housing. The unfiltered liquid is filtered when the plunger is moved toward the fully retracted position causing the unfiltered liquid in the interior to flow into the inside of the filter elements and then across the filter elements and into the outlet.

Abstract: A flush pump feature on a liquid purifying filter includes a segment of flexible tubing containing a small bulb pump is described. Two check valves are positioned upstream and downstream of the bulb pump which then terminates with a simple manually operated open/closed valve. The addition of this flush pump feature enables the filter unit to be easily purged of air at first use and also will make the filter easier to clean and maintain without the need to remove it from a hydration carrier. In addition, the flush bulb feature can also be used to perform a simple visual integrity test of filter while out in a remote location and also can be used to effectively remove bulk water from the filter for lighter storage when not in use which also minimizes freeze related damage when used in a cold environment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.

Abstract: A compact fluid purification device includes a housing having an inlet for receiving unfiltered liquid and an open end and a first valve disposed within the inlet and being configured to only permit unfiltered liquid to flow into a hollow interior of the housing. The device has a plunger that is movable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. Movement of the plunger toward the fully extended position causes unfiltered liquid to be drawn into the interior of the housing and the device includes a second valve disposed within the outlet and being configured to only permit filtered liquid to be discharged from the plunger housing. The unfiltered liquid is filtered when the plunger is moved toward the fully retracted position causing the unfiltered liquid in the interior to flow into the inside of the filter elements and then across the filter elements and into the outlet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a compact fluid purification device includes a housing having an inlet for receiving unfiltered liquid and an open end and a first valve disposed within the inlet and being configured to only permit unfiltered liquid to flow into a hollow interior of the housing. The device has a plunger received within the open end such that it slides within the interior of the housing. The plunger is movable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, wherein the plunger has an elongated housing that includes a filter element, such as, a plurality of hollow filter elements that are open at a distal end of the plunger housing and are in communication with an outlet that is associated with the plunger.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a connector for use in a fluid circuit includes a first housing having a hollow interior and an inlet and an outlet. The hollow interior includes first filter elements that are open at first and second ends thereof. The first ends of the first filter elements are in fluid communication with the inlet, while the second ends are in fluid communication with the outlet. The connector also includes a second housing that is in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the first housing. The second housing contains second filter elements that are arranged in a U-shape and are open at first and second ends thereof that are disposed proximate an outlet of the second housing. Fluid is conducted across the first filter elements to gain access to the second housing where the fluid is conducted across the second filter elements in order to exit to the second housing through the outlet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid purification system for purifying a liquid and delivering purified liquid to external downstream equipment includes a source of liquid to be purified and a filter device that is operatively coupled to and selectively in communication with the source of liquid. The filter device includes a filter element. The system also includes a controller and a means for performing a filter integrity test on the filter element, whereby the controller is configured to detect when purified liquid is being used by the downstream equipment and coordinate the initiation of the filter integrity test at time when conducting the filter integrity test does not adversely effect the operation of the downstream equipment.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a dual stage filtration apparatus includes a cartridge having a first end and an opposing second end and a first filtration stage including a first bundle of first semi-permeable filtering elements and a second filtration stage including a second bundle of second semi-permeable filtering elements. The cartridge has a fluid inlet port for receiving raw unfiltered fluid into the first filtration stage and a fluid outlet port for discharging purified fluid after it has passed through the first and second filtration stages. The apparatus has an intrastage space that receives fluid that has been filtered in the first filtration stage prior to being filtered again in the second filtration stage, and the fluid inlet port is in fluid communication only with the first filtration stage, while the fluid outlet port is in fluid communication only with the second filtration stage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a compact fluid purification device includes a housing having an inlet for receiving unfiltered liquid and an open end and a first valve disposed within the inlet and being configured to only permit unfiltered liquid to flow into a hollow interior of the housing. The device has a plunger received within the open end such that it slides within the interior of the housing. The plunger is movable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, wherein the plunger has an elongated housing that includes a filter element, such as, a plurality of hollow filter elements that are open at a distal end of the plunger housing and are in communication with an outlet that is associated with the plunger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement of a flow by the use of Doppler ultrasound, and in particular, by analyzing the spectrum of the reflected ultrasonic signal. The reflected signal is mixed electronically with the transmitted signal in a product detector, demodulator or similar component (250) to produce a signal that is shifted in frequency. In another embodiment, the method includes analyzing the spectrum (280, 300) of the reflected ultrasonic beams by performing the step of: (a) determining a maximum frequency of the detector output signal which is representative of a maximum particle velocity; and (b) calculating a total flow of the particles based on the maximum particle velocity.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for preventing retrograde flow of fluid, e.g., blood products, into a source of sterile substitution fluid (50). The apparatus of the present invention includes a controllable pinch valve member (110) that is placed on a section of a conduit (90) which carries sterile substitution fluid to an extracorporeal circuit (30). In one embodiment, control over the valve member (110) is based on a control unit (120) using fluid pressures that are sensed upstream and downstream of the valve member (110) by upstream sensor (121) and downstream pressure (122) respectively. The valve member (110) is preferably opened only when the upstream pressure is greater than the downstream pressure. This assures that the substitution fluid flows only in a single direction when the pinch valve member (110) completely occludes the conduit (90) when in a closed position. Therefor, blood will not contaminate the sterile fluid by being drawn into the conduit (90) due to pressure differences.

Abstract: A hemodiafiltration/hemofiltration cartridge is preferably formed of a single cartridge providing multi-stage hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration defined by a first hemodiafiltration stage having first filtering elements and a second hemofiltration stage having second filtering elements. Both stages are contained in a single cartridge. The cartridge can be used in a mid-dilution scheme, a pre-dilution scheme or a post-dilution scheme.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.