Abstract: The use of copolymers containing a) from 60% to 99% by weight of at least one vinyllactam or N-vinylamine selected from the group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylpiperidone, N-vinylcaprolactam or N-vinylformamide, and b) from 1% to 40% by weight of at least one monomer of the general formula where b1) R1, R2, R3 each denote oxygen, C1-C4-alkyl, C6-aryl, C7-C10-alkylaryl and R4 denotes the general formula II X denotes oxygen, NH, NR (where R=R1) R5 denotes C1-C6-alkyl, phenyl, A denotes OH, NH2, NR2 (wheret R2=R1) R6, R7 R8 each denote hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl n denotes an integer between 1 and 4 B, F each denote C, N D denotes C1-C4-alkyl, O, NH p denotes an integer between 0 and 15 E denotes N, O l, m each denote 0 or 1 R9, R10, R11 each denote hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C6-C10-aryl, C7-C10-alkylaryl and s, q each denote an integer between 0 and 2. For E=nitrogen the s+q sum is equal to 1 or 2. For E=oxygen the s+q sum is equal to zero.

Abstract: A filtering device for filtering out of leukocytes from blood, blood plasma, blood components or protein solutions has a non-woven fabric, and at least one membrane having a thickness of smaller than 150 &mgr;m and a pore size smaller than 15 &mgr;m.

Abstract: This invention describes blood treating material having the capacity to selectively remove endotoxin and cytokine inducing substances from blood or plasma by extracorporeal adsorption for therapeutic septic shock treatment. The endotoxin adsorption ligands of the invention are oligopeptides synthesized from amino acids having a pk>7.2 such as arginine, lysine or histidine, using a polycondensation step such that the resultant oligopeptides exhibit a high degree of polydispersity. Also provided are methods and devices using an adsorbent having a polydisperse oligopeptide of the invention immobilized on a solid state support medium for removing endotoxin from the blood of human or animal subject.

Abstract: Heat-sterilizable membranes are disclosed comprising at least two hydrophobic polymers which are normally immiscible with each other, and in which at least one of the hydrophobic polymers is normally unstable under sterilization conditions while at least one of the other hydrophobic polymers is normally stable at sterilization conditions, and in which the at least two hydrophobic polymers are compatibilized with each other so that the membrane formed therefrom is stable at such sterilization conditions.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polyether-amide solutions, steam-sterilizable dialysis membranes obtainable using the polyether-amide solutions, and a process for the production of these membranes.Polycondensation of one or more dicarboxylic acid derivatives of the formula I ##STR1## with one or more aromatic diamines of the formula II ##STR2## and, if appropriate, m-phenylenediamine, in aprotic polar solvents is known.As a result of passing ammonia, in an amount sufficient to neutralize the HCl formed, into the polymer solution obtained after the end of the polycondensation and filtering off the ammonium chloride formed, it is possible to prepare neutral, salt-free and particularly storage-stable polyether-amide solutions which can be further processed to membranes without isolation of the polymer. The resulting membranes are steam-sterilizable, chemically and thermally stable and show efficiency data in the region of that of good high-flux dialysis membranes.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrophilic membranes using at least one hydrophobic polymer and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a hydrophilic polymer, membrane-forming shaping of the polymers and immobilization of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone is characterized in that the polyvinyl pyrrolidone is immobilized on and/or in the membrane by treatment with an aqueous solution of peroxodisulphate in a hot condition. The solution of peroxodisulphate is kept substantially free of oxygen during immobilization by degassing the solution. The membranes are used for hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration of blood.

Abstract: Membranes composed of sulphonated polyaryl ether sulphones are disclosed in which the repetitive polymer units have the formula ##STR1## in which the aryl radicals are substituted by SO.sub.3 X where X is hydrogen or an alkali metal and the polymer includes from about 0.3 to 0.6 SO.sub.3 X radicals per unit. Processes for producing these membranes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A membrane process for separating fluorinated hydrocarbon vapors is disclosed. The process employs a permselective membrane that is selectively permeable to fluorinated hydrocarbons over oxygen or nitrogen. The process involves contacting the feed side of the membrane with a gas mixture containing the fluorinated hydrocarbon vapor, and withdrawing from the permeate side a vapor enriched in the fluorinated hydrocarbon component. The driving force for membrane permeation is preferably provided by maintaining a partial vacuum on the permeate of the membrane. Eighty to 99% of the fluorinated hydrocarbon contained in the feedstream can be removed by the process. The permeate may be sufficiently enriched in fluorinated hydrocarbon to permit recovery and reuse. Very high membrane selectivities are not required.