Abstract: A filter apparatus for treating water containing particulate or microbial contaminants is provided. The filter apparatus includes a first filter element, such as a viral membrane, disposed within a sealed outer housing and in fluid communication with a first inlet port and a first outlet port. The first filter element is capable of treating water at a first flow rate and is adapted to remove contaminants that are larger than a first contaminant size. A second filter element, such as a bacterial membrane, is disposed downstream of the first filter element in fluid communication with a second inlet port and a second outlet port. The second filter element is capable of treating water at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate and is adapted to remove contaminants that are larger than a second contaminant size. The second filter element may be housed within the sealed housing to form a multi barrier, replaceable filter unit.

Abstract: A method of preventing a mass flow controller from participating in crosstalk in an array of mass flow controllers is described. The method includes sensing and providing a signal indicative of a fluid pressure inside of a mass flow controller with a pressure sensor contained within the mass flow controller, determining a response of a control valve to a rapid pressure perturbation at the inlet of the mass flow controller using the signal indicative of the fluid pressure to avoid overcompensation for the rapid pressure perturbation, and adjusting a control valve contained within the mass flow controller downstream of the pressure sensor, based on the determined response, so that the mass flow controller avoids overcompensating for the rapid pressure perturbation. The pressure sensor is positioned such that the pressure sensor is sensitive to rapid pressure perturbations at the inlet of the mass flow controller.

Abstract: A filter apparatus is provided which includes a first filter membrane element (40a), and a second bacterial filter membrane element. The first viral filter element (40a) is capable of treating water at a first second flow rate and is adapted to remove contaminants which are larger than a first size, while the second bacterial filter element (40b) is capable of treating water at a second higher flow rate and is adapted to remove contaminants which are larger than a second contaminant size. The first and second filter elements (40a), (40b) may be commonly housed within a sealed housing. An accumulating vessel (60) is placed in fluid communication with an outlet of the first filter element (40a) and an outlet of the second filter element (40b). The filter apparatus includes a duck bill type check valve (75) made of an antimicrobial material intermediate the second filter element (40b) and a dispensing faucet (70).

Abstract: A combination manual/pneumatic shut-off valve (11) is disclosed. The valve comprises a housing (13); a valve chamber (17) which is disposed in the housing and which has a fluid inlet (19) and a fluid outlet (21); a diaphragm (23); a valve seat (25); a pneumatically driven actuator (29) which is adapted to move the diaphragm from a first position in which the diaphragm and the valve seat form a seal between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, to a second position in which the fluid inlet and fluid outlet are in open communication with each other; and a handle (31) adapted to manually move the diaphragm from the second position to the first position by way of the actuator, independently of the pneumatic control signal. The valve allows the length of process fluid control assemblies, and hence the size of fluid panels, to be reduced by combining the functionalities of a manual valve and a pneumatic valve into a single element.

Abstract: A filter apparatus is provided which includes a first filter membrane element (40a), and a second bacterial filter membrane element. The first viral filter element (40a) is capable of treating water at a first second flow rate and is adapted to remove contaminants which are larger than a first size, while the second bacterial filter element (40b) is capable of treating water at a second higher flow rate and is adapted to remove contaminants which are larger than a second contaminant size. The first and second filter elements (40a), (40b) may be commonly housed within a sealed housing. An accumulating vessel (60) is placed in fluid communication with an outlet of the first filter element (40a) and an outlet of the second filter element (40b). The filter apparatus includes a duck bill type check valve (75) made of an antimicrobial material intermediate the second filter element (40b) and a dispensing faucet (70).

Abstract: A filter device or apparatus is provided for the separation of materials, especially biomaterials from a fluid sample, under a force such as centrifugation, positive pressure, vacuum, or gravity. The device comprises two or more in-line tubular elements, one or more of which is a module that houses a filter media. The elements have complementary connection structures (e.g., elastomeric seal, O-ring, threads, Luer fittings, compression fittings, bayonet fittings, snap fittings, and the like) such that they can be assembled or reassembled in a train to form a conduit structure for leak-proof passage of a fluid sample volume. The assembly can be disassembled for collection and processing of retentate and filtrate material resulting from the filtration.

Abstract: A coreless filter comprises a pleated, spirally wound loop of material disposed in a housing. The loop includes a layer of filter material, such as a membrane filter, interposed between two support layers.

Abstract: A coreless filter comprises a pleated, spirally wound loop of material disposed in a housing. The loop includes a layer of filter material, such as a membrane filter, interposed between two support layers.

Abstract: An in-line filter assembly is provided of a type having a housing divided into inlet and outlet chambers by a filter membrane having its periphery fluid-flow-sealed within the housing, the filter being readily disassemblable so that the filter membrane can be removed for identification or analysis of the material filtered from the fluid during use of the filter.