Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.

Abstract: A dialyzer is provided comprising a casing defining an interior and including a dialysate inlet and a dialysate outlet. A plurality of fibers are located in the interior of the casing and define a fiber bundle. A dialysate inlet fluid channel is provided in fluid communication with the dialysate inlet and includes a plurality of flutes that extend into a portion of the fiber bundles, the flutes define an opening for allowing dialysate to flow from the inlet fluid channel into the interior of the casing. Methods of providing dialysis are also provided.

Abstract: A dialyzer is provided comprising a casing defining an interior and including a dialysate inlet and a dialysate outlet. A plurality of fibers are located in the interior of the casing and define a fiber bundle. A dialysate inlet fluid channel is provided in fluid communication with the dialysate inlet and includes a plurality of flutes that extend into a portion of the fiber bundles, the flutes define an opening for allowing dialysate to flow from the inlet fluid channel into the interior of the casing. Methods of providing dialysis are also provided.

Abstract: Dialyzers having an improved header design providing an improved flow of fluid, e.g., blood, into the interior of the dialyzer and specifically to the fiber bundle are provided. The dialyzer inlet header comprising a body that defines, at least in part, an end of the dialyzer. The inlet header includes an inlet channel providing fluid communication from an exterior of the dialyzer to an interior of the dialyzer, the inlet channel defining a fluid flow path that is axial to a fiber bundle located in the interior of the dialyzer. The dialyzer also includes at least one member for modifying the fluid flow path of a fluid as it exits the inlet channel. Methods of providing dialysis are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a plastic component constructed, at least in part, from polychlorotrifluoroethylene, having improved properties. The method creates a component from a composition that has polychlorotrifluoroethylene, heats the component to a temperature that is greater than the melting point of the composition, and rapidly quenches the component in a cold medium.

Abstract: An emission control system for a fluid composition comprised of volatile constituents used to clean a hollow fiber filter or capillary flow dialyzer including a housing having a chamber for receiving the dialyzer, a control system is used for establishing a desired environment in the chamber, the dialyzer and the fibers, a separator operatively associated with the chamber for separating gas and liquid components of the fluid composition, a stripper connected to the separator for fractionating lower boiling point volatiles from the gas to return the higher boiling point volatiles to the fluid phase and yield a stripped or solvent humidified gas and a delivery system for routing the stripped gas to the chamber dialyzer and fibers as a drying agent.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a flammable solvent in a nonflammable environment involves covering the flammable solvent with a nonflammable vapor blanket provided by a nonflammable solvent, such that vapors from the flammable and nonflammable solvents form a nonflammable gaseous mixture in the blanket. Such a method is used in removal of both oil-based and polar contaminants to control the flammability potential of an alcohol solvent. An apparatus for cleaning articles using fluorocarbon and alcohol solvents includes a chamber having a plurality of compartments for containing the solvents and a bounded vapor space. At least one of the compartments contains liquid fluorocarbon and at least one other will contain liquid alcohol. The solvents voltalize into the bounded vapor space to provide a nonflammable vapor blanket over the alcohol-containing compartment.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing chlorofluorocarbon compositions thereby is provided. The stabilized composition comprises a chlorofluorocarbon and a sufficient amount of an epoxidized, generally high molecular weight stabilizer having an oxirane content sufficient to effectively stabilize the chlorofluorocarbon. The stabilizer is preferably an epoxidized oil having a molecular weight in the range of about 300 to about 1,500 and an oxirane content of at least about 4%. The method includes the step of adding a sufficient amount of such a stabilizer to the chloroflurocarbon composition. The chlorofluorocarbon composition typically comprises chlorofluoromethane, chlorofluoroethane, mixtures thereof or a chlorofluorocarbon-alcohol azeotropic solution. Also provided is an improved continuous dialyzer cleaning method utilizing the stabilized chlorofluorocarbon composition.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a flammable solvent in a nonflammable environment involves covering the flammable solvent with a nonflammable vapor blanket provided by a nonflammable solvent, such that vapors from the flammable and nonflammable solvents form a nonflammable gaseous mixture in the blanket. Such a method is used in removal of both oil-based and polar contaminants to control the flammability potential of an alcohol solvent. An apparatus for cleaning articles using fluorocarbon and alcohol solvents includes a chamber having a plurality of compartments for containing the solvents and a bounded vapor space. At least one of the compartments contains liquid fluorocarbon and at least one other will contain liquid alcohol. The solvents voltalize into the bounded vapor space to provide a nonflammable vapor blanket over the alcohol-containing compartment.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a flammable solvent in a nonflammable environment involves covering the flammable solvent with a nonflammable vapor blanket provided by a nonflammable solvent, such that vapors from the flammable and nonflammable solvents form a nonflammable gaseous mixture in the blanket. Such a method is used in removal of both oil-based and polar contaminants to control the flammability potential of an alcohol solvent. An apparatus for cleaning articles using fluorocarbon and alcohol solvents includes a chamber having a plurality of compartments for containing the solvents and a bounded vapor space. At least one of the compartments contains liquid fluorocarbon and at least one other will contain liquid alcohol. The solvents voltalize into the bounded vapor space to provide a nonflammable vapor blanket over the alcohol-containing compartment.