Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a capacitor comprising the steps of covering a first capacitor plate element with a dielectric material. The process includes encasing the first capacitor plate element and the dielectric material with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof and for forming a capacitor element. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are encased within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a capacitor comprising a first capacitor plate element covered with a spacing material selected for forming a capacitor dielectric. The first capacitor plate element and the spacing material is encased with a second capacitor element. The second capacitor plate element is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof. A multiplicity of the capacitor elements are inserted within a second capacitor plate connector. The second capacitor plate connector is drawn for reducing the outer diameter of the metallic tube and for electrically interconnecting the multiplicity of the second capacitor plate elements with the second capacitor plate connector to form a second capacitor plate. The multiplicity of the first capacitor elements are interconnected with a first capacitor plate connector to form a first capacitor plate. The spacing material is replaced with a dielectric material to form the capacitor thereby.

Abstract: Filtration medium is formed of a mass of nonwoven melt blown support and filtration fibers which are integrally co-located with one another. The support fibers have, on average, relatively larger diameters as compared to the filtration fibers which are integrally co-located therewith. Preferably, the filtration medium is disposed within at least one annular zone of a filtration element, for example, a disposable cylindrical filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway which is surrounded by the filtration media. A depth filter cartridge in accordance with the present invention may thus be formed having one or more additional filtration zones (which additional filtration zones may or may not respectively be provided with integrally co-located support fibers) in annular relationship to one another.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided to make a melt blown fibrous medium and includes first and second melt blowing dies for respectively issuing first and second streams of melt blown fibers along first and second melt blown paths. The first and second streams are issued on a forming surface where the streams are collected to form a melt blown fibrous medium. A movable transfer surface is interposed between the first die and the forming surface in the first path so that the first stream of melt blown fibers impinges on the transfer surface in advance of the forming surface such that the first stream is transferred to and brought into contact with the second stream of melt blown fibers on the forming surface.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane is produced having an outer surface, and inner surface enclosing a lumen, and a continuous network of interconnecting pores extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein substantially all of the pores have an elongated dimension and a shortened dimension, the elongated dimension being oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the hollow fiber, wherein the ratio of the elongated dimension to the shortened dimension is substantially constant from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein the pores change shape to increase the shortened dimension in response to a high pressure differential imposed across the membrane by increasing fluid pressure within the lumen.

Abstract: Filtration medium is formed of a mass of nonwoven melt blown support and filtration fibers which are integrally co-located with one another. The support fibers have, on average, relatively larger diameters as compared to the filtration fibers which are integrally co-located therewith. Preferably, the filtration medium is disposed within at least one annular zone of a filtration element, for example, a disposable cylindrical filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway which is surrounded by the filtration media. A depth filter cartridge in accordance with the present invention may thus be formed having one or more additional filtration zones (which additional filtration zones may or may not respectively be provided with integrally co-located support fibers) in annular relationship to one another.

Abstract: Filtration medium is formed of a mass of nonwoven melt blown support and filtration fibers which are integrally co-located with one another. The support fibers have, on average, relatively larger diameters as compared to the filtration fibers which are integrally co-located therewith. Preferably, the filtration medium is disposed within at least one annular zone of a filtration element, for example, a disposable cylindrical filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway which is surrounded by the filtration media. A depth filter cartridge in accordance with the present invention may thus be formed having one or more additional filtration zones (which additional filtration zones may or may not respectively be provided with integrally co-located support fibers) in annular relationship to one another.

Abstract: Extrusion of hollow membranes is improved by coextruding a coating fluid layer about the extrudate of heated polymer solution with its interior lumen forming extrudate. The coating fluid is disposed between the forming hollow fiber and a cooling fluid, and controls the rate of heat transfer to afford superior control over the structure and form of the hollow fiber produced in the invention. The coating fluid is typically the same material as the cooling fluid, and often is the same material as the solvent for the polymer in the heated polymer solution.

Abstract: A process for making a polymeric, porous hollow fibre (21) by heating a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and a solvent to a temperature and for a time for the polymer and solvent to mutually dissolve, then introducing the molten mixture into an extrusion head (FIG. 1) adapted to shape the hollow fibre. The shaped fibre is then cooled in the extrusion head to a temperature so that non-equilibrium liquid-liquid phase separation takes place to form a bi-continuous matrix of the polymer and solvent in which the polymer and solvent form two intermingled separate phases of large interfacial surface area. Finally, the solvent is removed from the polymer.The extrusion head for forming the abovementioned polymeric, porous hollow fibre has an elongated body (17, 18) defining an axial passageway (11) for receiving a lumen-forming fluid (14) and a first annular passage (12) therearound for receiving the molten mixture (15) from which the hollow fibre (21) is formed.

Abstract: A method of making a porous polymeric material by heating a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and a cationic or non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance range of 4.0 to 6.0 to a temperature and for a time sufficient for the polymer and surfactant to mutually dissolve. The mixture is then cooled to a temperature so that non-equilibrium liquid-liquid phase separation takes place to form a bi-continuous matrix of the polymer and surfactant so that the polymer and surfactant form two intermingled separate phases of large interfacial surface area. The surfactant is then removed from the polymer. The porous polymeric material produced by the above method has a lacey or filamentous structure consisting of a plurality of polymer strands connected together at spaced apart locations along each strand.

Abstract: A fluid filter has a bundle of hollow fibres (40) within a casing. At one end of the casing (40) there is a header (41) which has a feed passageway (55) therethrough and in communication with the interior of the casing (40) and the exterior of the fibres. The header (41) also has a filtrate passageway (64) therethrough and in communication with the open ends of the fibres.

Abstract: A method of concentrating solids in a liquid suspension using a filter having a plurality of hollow, microporous, elastic fibres with a shell or housing, comprising applying the suspension to an outer surface of the fibres whereby a portion of the suspension passes through the fibre walls and at least a portion of the solids is retained on or in the fibres; and discharging the retained solids by stretching the fibre pores and washing out solids retained in the pores by application of gas under pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the safe, passive reconstruction of a drug or other beneficial agent, without requiring manual reconstitution steps. The apparatus includes a housing, preferably having a receptacle "in-line" in an administration set and forming part of an intravenous delivery system, and a cartridge adapted for receiving a beneficial agent or beneficial agent and carrier. The cartridge is plugged into the receptacle to initiate reconstitution of the agent. The apparatus creates first and second delivery modes, in which the delivery rate of the agent to a patient is independent from and dependent upon, respectively, the fluid flow rate through the intravenous delivery system.

Abstract: A filter (10) has a shell (11) within which there is a bundle of microporous fibres (12). Pressurized feed suspension is introduced through inlet (15) and passes over the external walls of the fibers (12) with the clarified liquid being drawn from the lumens of the fibres (12) through outlet port (16) and the concentrated ffee being discharged through outlet (17). The solids retained within the shell are removed by a gaseous backwash cycle in which pressurized gas is introduced through the lumens and passes through the wall of the fibres (12) to dislodge solids retained on or in the fibre walls. The gaseous cleaning step is enhanced by varying the pressure within the housing (11) of the filter (10) while the gas is being introduced into the filter.

Abstract: A method of concentrating solids in a liquid suspension using a filter having a plurality of hollow, microporous, elastic fibres with a shell or housing, comprising applying the suspension to an outer surface of the fibres whereby a portion of the suspension passes through the fibre walls and at least a portion of the solids is retained on or in the fibres; and discharging the retained solids by stretching the fibre pores and washing out solids retained in the pores by application of gas under pressure.

Abstract: A fluid filter has a bundle of porous hollow fibres (40) within a casing. At one end of the casing (40) there is a header (41) which has a feed passageway (55) therethrough and in communication with the interior of the casing (40) and the exterior of the fibres. The header (41) also has a filtrate passageway (64) therethrough and in communication with the open ends of the fibres. At the other end of the casing there is a second header (42) which has a treated feed passageway (72) therethrough and in communication with the interior of the casing (40) and the exterior of the fibres. The header (42) also has a filtrate passageway (74) therethrough and in communication with the open ends of the fibres. The feed, treated feed and filtrate passageways (55, 72, 64 & 74) area formed in the off set portions (56, 73, 65 & 75) of the headers (41, 42) that have planar parallel end faces whereby a plurality of filter units may be joined together without a manifold to form a bank of filters.

Abstract: A method of treating a heated liquid suspension, which entails:(a) applying a liquid suspension to elastic, microporous, hollow fibres within a shell or housing, and(b) discharging solids retained on or in the fibres by applying to the fibre lumens a pressurized reverse flow of gas, and wherein the hollow fibres are cooled prior to applying the reverse flow of gas.

Abstract: A concentrator for concentrating the fine solids of a liquid feed suspension has a shell within which there is a bundle of microporous fibers. Pressurized feed suspension is introduced through an inlet and passes over the external walls of the fibers with the clarified liquid being drawn from the lumens of the fibers and the concentrated feed being discharged through an outlet. The solids retained within the shell are removed by first applying a pressurized liquid and then applying a gas at a pressure sufficient to ensure that the gas will pass through the larger pores of the fibrs to remove the solids from the shell through the outlet to an external collection point. The fibers are enclosed within a variable volume diaphragm located within a diaphragm holder by spaced plugs. The volume of the diaphragm is altered by varying the pressure of a fluid introduced through the inlet to the space between the diaphragm and the diaphragm holder.