Abstract: A laminate formed by the solvent casting of a two phase siloxane-polyarylene polyether block copolymer onto a suitable microporous substrate such as a microporous polypropylene film, to produce a gas permeable and blood compatible membrane having sufficient mechanical strength for use in blood oxygenators and gas separation devices. For use in blood oxygenators, implantable biomedical devices, blood sampling, analysis or purification devices and artificial membrane lungs for cancer therapy or lung disease therapy, the two phase block copolymers such as polysufone-polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer preferrably have molecular weights in the ratio 5,000/5,000 M.sub.n 's with a 45% volume fraction as polysulfone, or at least 50% volume fraction represented as siloxane. For use in gas separation devices, the molecular weights of the polysulfone-polydimethylsiloxane blocks may be varied from 1,500 to 100,000 or greater M.sub.

Abstract: A system for dialyzing blood in which blood is passed through an exchange station to transfer toxic material across a semipermeable membrane to a dialyzate. Pump means are disclosed for simultaneously pumping a plurality of liquids through the system at different flow rates. The pump means is provided with mechanism for stopping the flow of dialyzate while retaining the blood pumping capability.

Abstract: A hollow filament module comprising an annular package of hollow filaments having a longitudinal axis, an axially extending flow channel of a hardened mass, and an outer mantle likewise of a hardened mass coaxial with said flow channel and radially outwardly arranged from the latter, the hollow filaments forming the package being curved and of substantially equal lengths and extending in substantially radial direction in planes forming with the aforementioned axis an angle of substantially 90.degree.

Abstract: A membrane for microfiltration, ultrafiltration or dialysis comprises a methyl methacrylate copolymer containing about 0.5 to 10 mol % of a monomer having sulfonate groups, and a methyl methacrylate copolymer containing about 0.5 to 10 mol % of a monomer having quaternary nitrogen-containing groups. It is manufactured by mixing those copolymers, dissolving the mixture in a solvent such as dimethylsulfoxide or dimethylformamide, and forming a membrane from a solution of the copolymers by casting or spinning. The membrane is particularly suitable for use in the purification of blood, and its most preferable form is hollow fibers. A method of preparing hollow fibers comprises extruding the copolymer solution through a spinneret having an annular orifice defined by a thin central tube while a liquid or gas is being injected into the central tube, and coagulating the extrusion product.

Abstract: A process of extraction of ions of metals from an aqueous feed solution and liberation of such in an aqueous product solution wherein the feed solution is circulated through the lumens of hollow fibers, the walls of said fibers consisting of a microporous membrane having the pores filled with an organic liquid comprising a complexing agent, and the ions travel through said walls to be liberated in an aqueous product solution circulated over the outside of the fibers. A preferred embodiment of the process employs an anisotropic microporous membrane having pores of about 0.01 to 0.04 micron in diameter at each surface and larger pores in the interior.

Abstract: A mass transfer apparatus for use in hemodialysis and ultrafiltration wherein a semi-permeable membrane is folded to form a stack of accordion pleats and is arranged within a ported housing to form two separate fluid chambers for blood and dialysate. A plurality of discrete planar support members of open-mesh plastic material are associated with the membrane, such support members each being flat and unfolded, and preferably being arranged to provide a pair of such members in superimposed contiguous relation within each pleat only on the dialysate side of the membrane. One of the support members of each contiguous pair has at least one transverse slot which extends the full thickness of that member and in which the plastic material of that member is completely absent. The transverse slot extends away from an edge of the one support member facing towards a blood flow port of the housing and terminates short of the opposite edge of that support member.

Abstract: A process for the production and maintenance of a fluidized layer in a heterogeneous system includes the steps of:(1) setting a heterogeneous mass stream having a liquid as the continuous phase and a solid and/or gas as the disperse phase into fluidized motion in a column between two plates arranged superimposed and inclined in opposition to each other with respect to the horizontal, said plates forming a fluidizing cell and said fluidized motion being promoted by the force of gravity;(2) enriching a heavier phase above the lower plate, especially in the lower region thereof, and causing said heavier phase to flow from there into the space below the lower plate;(3) enriching a lighter phase below the upper plate, especially in the upper region thereof, and causing the lighter phase to flow from there into the space above the upper plate and/or to be discharged from there from the column; and(4) conducting the disperse phase in case of a density higher than that of the continuous phase, in a direction from the

Abstract: A one-piece hydraulic circuit is provided for use with a blood dialyzer for performing functions currently performed with a multiplicity of blood inlet and outlet sets and related items comprising flexible tubing and the like.

Abstract: A method for removing residual cresidine from impure p-cresidine sulfonic acid which impure p-cresidine sulfonic acid contains from above about two parts per billion to about 1500 parts per million of cresidine. The method comprises contacting an aqueous solution of the impure p-cresidine sulfonic acid with sufficient liquid hydrocarbon of from five to eighteen carbon atoms for a sufficient time to extract the cresidine from the p-cresidine sulfonic acid to a concentration of less than two parts per billion of cresidine in the p-cresidine sulfonic acid.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for providing separation of solutes, colloidal particles or suspended matter by ultrafiltration wherein increased cost efficiency and reduced energy requirements are realized by series flow configuration, utilizing increased operating pressures, and back pressurization of permeate.

Abstract: Multi-cylinder reverse osmosis pump having at least three cylinders, each feed cylinder having a displacer rod carrying a displacer to divide the cylinder into respective pumping and expansion chambers. Each displacer rod has an expansion chamber valve portion directly associated therewith to control flow of concentrate fluid relative to an expansion chamber of a cylinder other than that directly associated with the respective cylinder rod. Dwell is provided for each cylinder to permit initial travel of the displacer rod at the beginning of each rod stroke while the corresponding valve controlling that cylinder is closed. The displacer rods are phased apart so that when a particular rod of a particular cylinder reaches an end of each stroke, another rod associated directly with the valve controlling that particular cylinder is approaching the mid-stroke position thereof so that the valve directly associated with the other rod is closing.

Abstract: Semi-permeable, porous membranes useful as filtration and reverse osmosis membranes can have or can consist of a porous layer of a hydrophobic polymer rendered hydrophilic at its surface by the presence of a surfactant containing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, the surfactant being bonded to the polymer. Such a membrane may be made by quenching a previously made dry membrane in a solution of the surfactant and then banking the membrane. Such a membrane may also be made by contacting a membrane manufactured by quenching a dope of the hydrophobic polymer with such a solution of the surfactant prior to the membrance being dried after being formed by quenching. Such a membrane can also be made by forming a dope of the hydrophobic polymer and the surfactant and then quenching the dope to form the membrane, this quenching serving to contact the membrane with the surfactant as it is being formed.

Abstract: Reverse osmosis pump using a fluid volume exchange structure interconnecting pumping and expansion chambers of feed cylinder externally of feed cylinder. This structure permits exchange of volume between pumping and expansion chambers following initiation of induction or pumping stroke. Volume exchange provides a dwell interval to shift main directional valve across closed center position thereof, thus increasing tolerance to valve actuation, and also tends to equalize pressure differences across ports of the valve prior to opening of such ports, thus reducing erosion and valve gear wear. Also tends to reduce pressure differences across feed displacer, thus reducing sealing problems. Volume exchange structure can be a resilient diaphragm with no intermixing of fluid, mechanically timed valve permitting intermixing of fluid, or cross-over relief valves which are pressure responsive to permit intermixing of fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for separating a multiphase liquid mixture of lighter and heavier liquids which includes a caisson into which the liquid mixture is introduced. A surge plate extends horizontally across the interior of the caisson dividing it into upper and lower sections. The lower section forms a reservoir for receiving the liquid mixture. A wier plate extends vertically from the surge plate forming a reservoir and a spillover bucket chamber in the upper section for the lighter liquid. An opening in the surge plate communicates the lower and upper section reservoirs. Means are provided for supplying liquids to the lower section reservoir and for removing the lighter liquid from the bucket chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mass transfer apparatus e.g., artificial kidney in which a semipermeable membrane is folded or pleated between top and bottom rectangular plates. Support members are disposed within each pleat on one side only of the membrane. The top and bottom plates are held under a predetermined compressive load while a connecting means with ports is bonded to the opposite side edges of the top and bottom plates. The whole pleated membrane assembly is secured within a housing, with the ports protruding through the housing. The apparatus has reproducible performance characteristics from one device to another.

Abstract: Method of concentrating aqueous solutions of non-volatile, ionic solutes by extracting water from the solution by means of a polar organic liquid (or a solution of a polar organic liquid and a non-polar organic liquid) at an elevated temperature and cooling the organic liquid to separate a water phase, the extractant and the temperatures being chosen such that water has a relatively high solubility in the extractant at the higher temperature and a relatively low solubility at the lower temperature; the extractant being also chosen to meet certain other criteria such as inertness toward the solution and equipment. Advantage is taken of the diminished activity coefficient of water in polar organic liquids at elevated temperatures and in the case of certain solutions, advantage is also taken of the increased activity coefficient of water in aqueous ionic solution at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration unit for the separation of the colloidal or very fine solid material by filtration through microporous or semipermeable mediums. The unit comprises a filter housing formed by an upper part and a lower part airtightly connected together and a filter internally disposed in the housing. The upper part of the housing has an inlet pipe at its top and a check valve is provided in the inlet pipe. A liquid sample is forced in the upper part of the housing together with air through the inlet pipe, pressed by the pressure of the air and then filtered. An escaping of the air can be blocked by the check valve provided in the inlet pipe of the upper part of the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting a dispersed phase from a moving mixed phase which ontains two substantially mutually insoluble liquids of different densities which form a dispersed phase and a continuous phase. The apparatus includes a pipe passing through the wall separating the mixed phase from its environment and having a funnel-shaped end which projects into the mixed phase and has a conical, inner wall. The funnel-shaped end presents an opening for capture of the dispersed phase, with the funnel shaped end being oriented such that the width or diameter of the opening is at right angles to the direction of movement of the dispersed phase.

Abstract: A filtration or diffusion cell, consisting of adjacent facing support plates and cut diaphragm sections of a semi-permeable diaphragm, for the treating fluids. The support plates are sealed by stringlike or bandlike sealing elements for the separate flow conduction of the fluids. Support plates are provided with channel grooves, for holding the sealing elements. The channel grooves are open toward the plate plane and are provided with perforations through which a sealing material inserted in a flowable state and solidified in the grooves. Several support plates are connected by the sealing material to form a plate holder-like unit, and form seals for separate flow conduction. The support plates are square-shaped, and the front side and the back side of the cut diaphragm sections are subjected to crosswise flow of the fluid. The cut diaphragm sections are supported by grooves and groove crests extending in flow direction of the support plates.

Abstract: A gas-containing hemodialysis liquid is introduced into a helical coil of tubing formed from a hydrophobic material. Axial flow through the tubing is prevented and the hemodialysis liquid is pressure forced through the hydrophobic material, to free the gases from solution. Gases are released from the liquid through the hydrophobic material into an annular chamber surrounding the tubing.