Abstract: A fluid flow transfer device having a pleated membrane bonded at its tips to the interior of a housing and a method of making the same wherein a fluid manifold is provided by forming a channel portion in the housing interior, applying a gasket material around the channel portion, and placing the membrane tips against the adhesive to provide a formed-in-place gasket prior to potting of the membrane tips to the housing interior with a potting material.

Abstract: The method provides for filtration in the field of centrifugal forces generated in a filter immersed into a layer of a melt to be refined, with the solid impurities accumulating in the filter being strained from the residual melt beyond the layer of the melt to be refined.

Abstract: Hollow fibre fluid fractionating apparatus in which the hollow fibres are twisted together to form cords which are assembled in a bundle in a fluid fractioning apparatus. The twists in the hollow fibres tend to break up boundary layers around the hollow fibres and improve the fractionating.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to liquid membrane capsule system (LMCS) which are made resistant to coalescence by means of an irreversible coating material present in the suspension phase. LMCS having this irreversible coating material are stable (i.e. resist coalescence) over relatively long periods of time with little or no applied agitation. These irreversibly coated LMCS can be pumped for long periods, are resistant to bile, pancreatin and solid matter and maintain their initial size distribution.The instant invention relates to methods of preparing the irreversibly coated LMCS.The LMCS of the instant invention exhibit resistance to rupture during pumping and passage over packing materials, such as glass beads or charcoal, thus making them of use in medical treatment processes such as renal dialysis and in the equipment used for such processes.

Abstract: A fluid purification system for performing filtration of particles from a feed liquid by a tangential flow of the feed liquid over a membrane surface. In one embodiment, the purification system includes a filter cartridge contained within a filter housing having ports permitting ingress and egress of feed liquid and filtrate. The cartridge includes a filter element having a layered construction with a thin flow channel between the layers. One layer of the filter element is formed of a sheet of impervious material defining one wall of the thin flow channel. Another layer of the filter element is spaced from the one layer and formed of a sheet of permeable membrane material and defines another wall of the thin flow channel. The spacing between the walls of the thin flow channel is maintained by a sheet of reticular material that provides turbulence in the thin flow channel to promote cross flow filtration. The filter element is formed into a pleated, cylindrical shape with a flow axis parallel to the pleats.

Abstract: A blood-treating system in which apparatus for the purification of blood by purifying blood plasma, is provided. The system includes as principal elements, an apparatus for separating blood plasma by way of a membrane, an apparatus for purifying blood plasma and an apparatus for mixing blood with blood plasma to be placed between a blood-introducing portion and a purified blood-withdrawing portion of the system. This system can remove useless substances from blood with a high efficiency without damaging and reducing blood cell components or any fear of mixing of the fine powder in the purifying agent.

Abstract: A reservoir for blood or the like in which a rigid casing, having a perforated tubular member positioned within the casing and extending between the ends thereof, carries filtering and blood defoaming means. An improved configuration of inlet aperture means is provided. Also, the reservoir may define an upstanding central hump at its lower end, surrounded by an annular trough positioned at an acute angle to the axis of the perforated tubular member, for improved recovery of blood from the reservoir and improved calibration of the amount of blood in the reservoir.

Abstract: The invention concerns an improved hollow fibre apparatus for the fractionation of fluid, comprising;a mandrel, sealing elements located at the ends of the mandrel and by which the hollow fibres are held, the fibres extending from one sealing element to the other, at least one of these sealing elements being traversed by the hollow fibres so that open ends of the fibres are exposed at an outer side of such sealing element,a casing, which is arranged at least around the hollow fibres and the sealing elements and defining a chamber between the inner wall of the casing, the opposing inner sides of the sealing elements and the mandrel,first inlet and/or outlet means for introducing and/or discharging of fluid through the inside of the hollow fibres, andsecond inlet and outlet means for introducing and discharging of fluid into the chamber outside the fibres, said second inlet and outlet means opening into and from the chamber at the periphery of the mandrel and adjacent the inner sides of each sealing element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blood dialysis. The device includes a plurality of semipermeable tubules for transporting blood therethrough. Distribution means are positioned adjacent the exterior of the tubules for admitting a dialysis solution which is passed along the outside of the tubules. The tubules are preferably arranged in a configuration such that the packing density of the tubules is between about 20% and about 50%, and preferably between about 25% and about 35%. This packing density insures adequate distribution of the dialysate solution as it is passed along the length of the tubules. The tubules may be wrapped and similarly curved; in a preferred embodiment they are spirally orientated. The configuration of the tubules allows for the movement of the tubule in a predetermined manner such that tubule masking is substantially prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for membrane filtration comprises an inlet and an outlet, as well as a central permeate discharge tube. The supporting tubes supporting filtration membranes are disposed in two concentric rows. The outer row contacts the outer wall of the apparatus and the inner row contacts the permeate discharge tube. The centers of the supporting tubes of the first row are on a circle having a diameter of twice the diameter of the supporting tubes. The centers of the supporting tubes of the second row are on a circle having a diameter of 4.times.diameter of a supporting tube.times. cos 15.degree..

Abstract: The tips of a pleated membrane are bonded to the interior of the housing of a fluid flow transfer apparatus by positioning support spacers in the membrane folds on the membrane side opposite the side to be bonded, closing the entrances to the spaces between the folds on the bonding side of the membrane, introducing flowable adhesive between the membrane tips and the housing interior while the entrances remain closed, applying a pressure differential across the membrane, with the higher pressure being on the bonding side of the membrane and the differential being large enough to force the membrane folds against their respective support spacers so that the spacers support the membrane, and curing the adhesive to harden it.

Abstract: A liquid treating unit includes a module comprising a channel member for collecting a product liquid for recovery; a semipermeable membrane member liquid-tightly joined to the channel member and made from a semipermeable membrane strip by alternately folding the strip longitudinally thereof to provide feed liquid passages and product liquid passages on the front and rear sides of the membrane respectively, each pair of product liquid passages defining leaf portions of the membrane being adhered at each end of the passage to liquid-tightly close the product liquid passage only; spacers inserted into the feed liquid passages; and a covering member surrounding the outer periphery of the membrane member. The feed liquid passages therefore have a regulated cross sectional area to permit the feed liquid to flow through the passages in parallel and straight direction at an increased speed relative to the membrane surface, ensuring a reduction in dead space and efficient use of the membrane.

Abstract: A diffusion apparatus is disclosed including an outer casing and an inner core within the outer casing providing an annular space therebetween so that a tubular semi-permeable membrane having a first end and a second end and spacing material can be helically wound around the inner core within the annular space. The apparatus includes first fluid directing means communicating with a first fluid within the interior of the tubular semi-permeable membrane at a first end thereof, second fluid directing means communicating with a second fluid within the annular space for contacting the outer surface of the tubular semi-permeable membrane with the second fluid, wherein the first fluid directing means includes channel means integral with the inner core, and third fluid directing means communicating with the first fluid within the interior of the tubular semi-permeable membrane at the second end thereof.

Abstract: An improved one-piece, integral hollow fiber artificial kidney and a semi-continuous method for making such kidneys and other apparatus of the hollow fiber separatory-type.

Abstract: Reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration apparatus having first and second rotors revolving in the same direction about a central axis. The first rotor revolves at a higher speed and has an impeller which serves as a feed pump for the feed fluid. The second rotor revolves at lower speed and has a pressure vessel containing semi-permeable membranes which selectively permeate one component of a feed fluid, and has an integral diffuser casing for the feed pump. This arrangement reduces disc friction and diffuser hydraulic losses compared to conventional centrifugal machinery with stationary casings. The membranes are arranged so that centrifuge action within the rotating membrane assembly inhibits fouling and concentration polarization by differential buoyancy effects. The impeller can be centrifugal type with an externally surrounding diffuser, or it can be in an external impeller type enclosing a pitot tube pump type diffuser.

Abstract: Peristaltic pump means for pumping dialysate solution through a dialysate solution flow circuit in a hemodialysis system. The pump comprises four rollers mounted on a rotatable base member with a relatively long segment of flow circuit tubing tensionally extended around the pump head so as to be simultaneously engaged and compressed by at least two of the rollers, the rollers being mounted for longitudinal movement of the points of compression along the tubing during rotation of the pump head assembly to advance dialysate solution through the flow circuit. The disclosed pump means provides a substantially uniform dialysate solution flow rate under conditions of varying dialysate solution negative pressure and is particularly suitable for use in a unitary, portable hemodialysis module of a type adapted for coupling with either a single-pass proportioning system or a batch dialysate solution supply.

Abstract: A method is provided for isolating an elastomer from a mixture of the elastomer and water containing up to about 90% by weight water by feeding the mixture into a thermally controlled, vertical separator containing a rotating screw, simultaneously feeding excess water under pressure into the separator, withdrawing concentrated elastomer containing less than about 10% by weight total volatiles (including water) from the metering section of the separator and withdrawing feed water and excess water from a water discharge port located near the upper end of the separator.In addition, apparatus for isolating elastomers from mixtures of elastomers and water is provided.

Abstract: A storm overflow basin for use, e.g. in combined sewage systems has a storage tank leading to a storm overflow unit having a restricted sewage discharge and a storm overflow, the latter being provided with a weir at which there is mounted a flap gate engaging the crest of the weir with its bottom edge and being operable by float controlled means in dependence upon the water level in the storm overflow unit, to move away from the crest of the weir when storm conditions require a controlled overflow discharge. The normal sewage discharge is provided with restriction means that are also float controlled.

Abstract: A method and device for separating liquid mixtures by ultrafiltration wherein prior to introducing the mixture into the ultrafilter a gas is added to the said mixture. The addition occurs at a pressure higher than the ultrafiltration pressure and the mixture of liquid and gas is allowed to expand down to the said ultrafiltration pressure prior to be introduced into the ultrafilter.

Abstract: A balanced pressure tubular molecular filtration (Reverse Osmosis or Ultra Filtration) system in which semipermeable membranes are cast on or inserted into internal passages of a semiporous tubular substrate, and may also be cast on or affixed to the external surface of said semiporous tubular substrate, said tubular substrate also having one or more low pressure passages for collecting permeate water passing through said semiporous membranes, said tubular substrate being installed in a pressure vessel and operated in such a way that its external surface and all of its internal membrane coated passages are exposed to operating pressure, so that mechanical forces are in balance, thereby overcoming hoop stress and burst strength problems common to internal pressure tubular molecular filtration designs.