Abstract: A semipermeable composite membrane comprising a thin semipermeable film of a polymeric material deposited on one side of a microporous substrate, the polymeric material being prepared by crosslinking a soluble polymer containing at least 30 mole % of a recurring unit of the formula ##STR1## wherein all symbols are as defined herein, and having at least 0.5 milliequivalent, per gram of said polymer, of an amino group containing 1 or 2 active hydrogen atoms, with a polyfunctional compound containing at least two functional groups capable of reacting with the amino group having 1 or 2 active hydrogen atoms; and a process for preparing the same. The semipermeable composite membrane of this invention is especially useful for desalination of saline or brackish water by reverse osmosis.

Abstract: A conduit assembly (23) for an artificial lung is formed from two sheets (30) of thermoplastic transfer membrane material which are sealed together along sinuous lines (24) to provide a unitary assembly of tubular conduits (26) each having longitudinally spaced hollows (27) which promote eddies in, and mixing of, blood when passed through the conduits with a pulsatile flow.

Abstract: A reciprocating dialyzer is described for use as an artificial kidney or other extracorporeal mass transfer device. A dialyzer unit includes a membrane package having an aligned pair of thin semi-permeable membranes forming a chamber between the interior faces to receive fluid (such as blood) to be treated, and spacing elements in dialyzate chambers at the exterior faces of the membranes which contact the membrances and limit their expansion, while allowing chemical transfer to the dialyzate slurry. A plurality of such treatment units received between spaced plates comprises a dialyzer. Blood flow into and out of the membrane packages is through a central conduit, with free slurry being introduced and withdrawn from the dialyzate chamber at the periphery of each unit.

Abstract: An improved proportioning dialysis machine is disclosed herein. The machine includes an improved degassing system, dialysis solution flow rate and pressure control system, and sterilization system.The degassing system includes a degassing chamber, a first pump for applying a negative pressure to said chamber and a second pump for drawing degassed water from the chamber. The dialysis solution flow rate and pressure control system includes a restriction upstream of a dialyzer, a restriction placed downstream of the dialyzer, and a pump positioned downstream of the downstream restriction. The two restrictions can be adjusted in relation to the pump so as to control the flow rate and pressure within the dialyzer. The sterilization system includes a heater and controls and a valve for recirculating heated water through the proportioning machine so as to sterilize the interior thereof.

Abstract: A membrane for reverse osmosis comprising a porous base and a thin high polymer film attached to the porous base. The high polymer film includes at least one layer of radical polymer of nitrogen contained monomer and alkyl metal and at least one layer of polymer of nitrogen contained monomer which are alternately laminated on the porous base. The membrane is manufactured by combining the step of introducing nitrogen containing monomer, alkyl metal and the inert carrier gas into a plasma created by glow discharge to cause a radical polymerization reaction between nitrogen containing monomer and alkyl metal on the porous base disposed within the plasma, and the step of introducing in the plasma a nitrogen containing monomer and an inert carrier gas to cause polymerization of nitrogen containing monomer on the porous base.

Abstract: A device and method for its use in medical transfusion or bypass circuits wherein biological fluids, such as blood, are introduced onto the interior surface of an essentially cylindrical cavity in a vortical flow such that unwanted gas bubbles are separated from the biological fluids. The degassed biological fluids are collected and returned to the patient.

Abstract: The arterial blood filter of this invention is for extra-corporeal bypass during cardio-pulmonary surgery. It has an internal divergent blood flow path from the inlet to smoothly reduce blood flow velocity to permit separation of air bubbles with minimum trauma to blood cells. The upper portion of the blood filter housing permits collection of air bubbles and permits their withdrawal. The inlet and outlet connections to the filter are both on the bottom to ease draping of the connecting tubes.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for obtaining sterilized and bacteria-free water suitable for medicinal injections and other purposes, deionized water is supplied to a reverse osmosis filter, which is impervious to attack by bacteria and which is arranged such that its entire surface may be sterilized, to obtain a sterile permeate and a portion of the deionized water supplied to the filter is recycled. The recycled portion of deionized water may be recycled through the deionization plant from which it is derived or through a closed circuit and may be recycled in combination with the sterile permeate.

Abstract: A sheet member of silicone rubber suitable for use in gas-exchange such as oxygenation and decarbonation of blood in an oxygenator of a mechanical heart and lung is proposed.The sheet member of the invention is provided with a plurality of capillary pores extending in parallel and each opening at both ends thereof. The oxygenator is constructed with a plurality of the inventive sheet members arranged in parallel and air is passed through the spaces between the adjacent sheet members while blood is passed through the capillary pores in the sheet members.The efficiency of the gas exchange by use of the above sheet members is further enhanced by providing the sheet member with capillary pores each having an undulating longitudinal cross section comprised of an alternating repetition of wider portions and narrower portions.

Abstract: Water from a source is fed to a reverse osmosis unit having a membrane which divides the stream into a first permeate product and a first concentrate. The first permeate product is stored in a tank until a selected quantity is collected and then the source is disconnected from the pump which next delivers water from the tank to the reverse osmosis unit to divide the stream into a second permeate product and a second concentrate. In one version of the equipment the second permeate is processed by a different membrane than that producing the first permeate. In another version, the same membrane is used, the second permeate product is stored, and the second permeate product is later run through the reverse osmosis unit to produce a third permeate product and a third concentrate.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing skinless hydrophilic alcohol-insoluble polyamide membranes by preparing a solution in a polyamide solvent of an alcohol-insoluble polyamide resin having a ratio CH.sub.2 :NHCO of methylene CH.sub.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing skinless liquophilic alcohol-insoluble polyamide membranes by preparing at a first temperature a solution in a polyamide solvent having a temperature coefficient of solubility within the range from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent per degree Centigrade of an alcohol-insoluble polyamide resin having a ratio CH.sub.2 :NHCO of methylene CH.sub.

Abstract: Amino acid subject to attack by free radicals can be grafted onto the surface of a preformed polymer by treating the surface with a highly basic solution of the molecules to be grafted. Using this method, a preformed poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface can be rendered hydrophilic by subjecting the surface to a highly basic solution of glycine.

Abstract: A membrane separation cell is described comprising a stack of supporting members each supporting a membrane on each of its opposite faces and defining a permeate compartment therewith, and separating members interposed between the membranes of adjacent supporting members and defining feed solution compartments therewith. The separating members are plates formed with passageways connecting the feed solution compartments in series through the stack such that the feed solution flows through each feed solution compartment in an inward direction across one face of the separator plate and in an outward direction across its opposite face. The membrane supporting members are plates each formed with an outer rim having passageways for conducting the permeate from the permeate compartment in parallel out of the stack.

Abstract: The nozzle is used with a system for removing contaminants from a liquid including a source of dissolved air in water under pressure and includes a first member with a hole through which the dissolved air and water flows. A floating member is also provided. The shapes of the first member and the floating member are such that the hydraulic forces resulting from the flow of water outwardly between the two members causes the floating member to float a predetermined distance from the first member. The shortest distance separating the first member and the floating member is such that most bubbles exiting from between the two members have a diameter less than 100 microns.

Abstract: An artificial kidney comprises means for introducing a prepared solution into the peritoneal cavity to draw toxic metabolites therefrom into the fluid, the fluid exiting from the cavity as peritoneal fluid; and a dialysis or ultrafilter separator containing a selective membrane having a high permeability to low molecular weight toxic metabolites but a low permeability to high molecular weight protein. The peritoneal fluid is circulated through the separator on one side of the selective membrane in the above-described closed-loop peritoneal circuit, the fluid exiting from that side of the membrane being returned to the peritoneal cavity. The artificial kidney further includes a single-pass reconstitution circuit wherein tap water is introduced into the inlet of a hyperfilter impermeable to ions and to organic matter; and a concentrate including sugar and salts is introduced into the water exiting from the permeate outlet of the hyperfilter to form a water concentrate solution.

Abstract: Methods of producing solute-rejecting dynamic membrane filters are described comprising depositing a bed of fumed silica particles on a porous substrate having a pore size of 0.025-3 microns, the silica particles being substantially spherical and uniform and having a nominal particle diameter of 20-80 A.

Abstract: A continuous deaeration system for a fluid pump system includes a housing having an inlet port through which aerated fluid flows into the housing from a pump, an outlet port through which aerated fluid flows for recirculation in the fluid system, and a deaerated fluid outlet port through which virtually contaminant and air-free fluid flows to an ink jet printer apparatus. The housing encloses a filter element with appropriately sized interstices which continuously separates air and fluid contaminants from the flow of aerated fluid received from the inlet port of the housing. A reservoir, also within the housing, collects the contaminant free deaerated fluid and air separated from the deaerated fluid. The air-fluid mixture is transmitted to the outlet port of the housing while the virtually contaminant free deaerated fluid exits the housing through the deaerated fluid outlet port.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling dialysis and ultrafiltration. Precision control over the operation of an artificial kidney (dialyzer), particularly the removal of waste water by ultrafiltration, is achieved by the use of two pumps in the respective paths to and from the artificial kidney. One of the pumps may be operated at constant speed and the other at a variable speed under control from a level sensor at the storage tank, whereby a prescribed rate of ultrafiltration is maintained by a third pump. If desired, the pumps may be operated at complementary speeds so that as the speed of one is increased, the speed of the other is decreased, maintaining a prescribed rate of ultrafiltration by a third pump, under the control of the level sensors at the tank. A further feature provides automatic switching back and forth between two storage tanks of blood cleansing fluid (dialysate) in conjunction with the two pumps in the respective paths to and from the artificial kidney.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a microporous film comprising a 40 to 90 volume percent polyolefin having a number average molecular weight of 15,000 or more and a weight average molecular weight of less than 300,000 and a 10 to 60 volume percent inorganic filler and having a void space rate or porosity of 30 to 75 volume percent based on the volume of the film. The microporous film of such specific composition and structure has a desired wettability and a much reduced electrical resistance. Said resistance being as low as 0.0006 .OMEGA.dm.sup.2 /sheet. Said film has sufficient flexibility and mechanical strength to make it useful in wide variety of applications, especially as separators in batteries or electrolytical apparatuses etc.