Serially Connected Distinct Treating With Or Without Storage Units Patents (Class 210/252)
  • Patent number: 11896749
    Abstract: Dialyzer systems can consolidate multiple technologies and functionalities of blood treatment systems in a significantly integrated fashion. For example, this disclosure describes dialyzer systems that include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer. Such a dialyzer can be used with treatment modules that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit. In some embodiments, the dialyzers include pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranes with which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Massimo Earl Fini, Lynn E. Jensen, Dacey John Ryan, Alexander Heide, Dejan Nikolic, Arne Peters
  • Patent number: 11833281
    Abstract: A fluid handling cassette, such as that useable with an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) cycler device or other infusion apparatus, may include a generally planar body having at least one pump chamber formed as a depression in a first side of the body and a plurality of flowpaths for a fluid that includes a channel. A patient line port may be arranged for connection to a patient line and be in fluid communication with the at least one pump chamber via at least a first one of said flowpaths, and an optional membrane may be attached to the first side of the body over the at least one pump chamber. In one embodiment, the membrane may have a pump chamber portion with an unstressed shape that generally conforms to the depression of the at least one pump chamber in the body and is arranged to be movable for movement of the fluid in a useable space of the at least one pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David W. McGill, James D. Dale, Simon C. Helmore, Richard J. Lanigan, Jason A. Demers, Dean Kamen
  • Patent number: 11740172
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for the real-time detection of aeropathogens. The device includes an aerosampler having an air inlet and at least one collector tube, a microfluidic system which includes a container, piping, a micro-pump for flowing a liquid, and a viral detection chamber. The viral detection chamber has an electrode which may be equipped with functionalized biosensors, a counter electrode, an electronic detection system connectable to the electrodes of the viral detection chamber, and an embedded electronic processing system for processing data from the electronic detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AEROVIRUS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Norman Marchand, Carmine Graziano
  • Patent number: 11679186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a testing system and related methods for detecting peritonitis or infection in peritoneal dialysate removed from a patient. The testing system can include a fluid sensor apparatus in a fluid line of a peritoneal dialysis cycler through which spent peritoneal dialysate can be pumped. The fluid sensor apparatus can detect one or more markers associated with peritonitis or infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Mozarc Medical US LLC
    Inventors: Martin T. Gerber, Christopher M. Hobot
  • Patent number: 11635362
    Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for the real-time detection of aeropathogens. The device includes an aerosampler having an air inlet and at least one collector tube, a microfluidic system which includes a container, piping, a micro pump for flowing a liquid and a viral detection chamber. The viral detection chamber has an electrode which may be equipped with functionalized bio sensors, a counter electrode, an electronic detection system connectable to the electrodes of the viral detection chamber, and an embedded electronic processing system for processing data from the electronic detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: AEROVIRUS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Norman Marchand, Carmine Graziano
  • Patent number: 11389579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis, the apparatus comprising means for delivering dialysis fluid to the peritoneal cavity of a patient, a measurement device for measuring the fluid pressure of the delivered dialysis fluid and/or the fluid pressure in the peritoneal cavity, i.e. the intraperitoneal pressure and/or any pressure related thereto, and a control unit operably connected to said means and the measurement device, wherein the control unit is configured to effect an inflow or outflow phase encompassing a series of fill-and-measurement or drain-and-measurement steps, each step comprising delivering a predetermined quantity of dialysis fluid to the peritoneal cavity or draining a predetermined quantity of dialysis fluid from the peritoneal cavity and subsequently measuring and recording a pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Chamney, Peter Wabel, Klaus Wolf
  • Patent number: 11318914
    Abstract: A fluid apparatus includes a straight pipe; an inlet fluidly connected to the pipe; a first cylindrical tube, a second cylindrical tube, and a third cylindrical tube each fluidly connected to and elongated from the pipe; a first solenoid valve controlling flow through the first cylindrical tube; a second solenoid valve controlling flow through the second cylindrical tube; a third solenoid valve controlling flow through the third cylindrical tube; a first outlet fluidly connected only to the first solenoid valve; and a second outlet fluidly connected only to the second solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino
  • Patent number: 10787375
    Abstract: A solution for treating a fluid, such as water, is provided. An ultraviolet transparency of a fluid can be determined before or as the fluid enters a disinfection chamber. In the disinfection chamber, the fluid can be irradiated by ultraviolet radiation to harm microorganisms that may be present in the fluid. One or more attributes of the disinfection chamber, fluid flow, and/or ultraviolet radiation can be adjusted based on the transparency to provide more efficient irradiation and/or higher disinfection rates. In addition, various attributes of the disinfection chamber, such as the position of the inlet(s) and outlet(s), the shape of the disinfection chamber, and other attributes of the disinfection chamber can be utilized to create a turbulent flow of the fluid within the disinfection chamber to promote mixing and improve uniform ultraviolet exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sensor Electronics Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saulius Smetona, Timothy James Bettles, Igor Agafonov, Ignas Gaska, Alexander Dobrinsky, Maxim S Shatalov, Arthur Peter Barber, III
  • Patent number: 10451572
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to medical fluid sensors and related systems and methods. In some aspects, a medical fluid cartridge includes a body including a first portion defining a first fluid passageway and a second portion defining a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway. The first portion of the body can be disposed in a radio frequency device while the second portion of the body remains outside the radio frequency device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Peter Jones
  • Patent number: 10399005
    Abstract: A series of vertically oriented filters of decreasing pore size is sealed from the atmosphere. Pressurized gas is used to force the liquid to be filtered through the filters. The filter stages are thermally insulated from ambient temperatures in order to maintain the liquid passing through at a reduced temperature. Each filter stage has a removable lid, which provides convenient access for replacing the filter cartridge, allowing it to be changed without disturbing the thermally insulated sidewalls of the filter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Nextleaf Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryan Delmoral Ko
  • Patent number: 10245525
    Abstract: A series of vertically oriented filters of decreasing pore size is sealed from the atmosphere. Pressurized gas is used to force the liquid to be filtered through the filters. The filter stages are thermally insulated from ambient temperatures in order to maintain the liquid passing through at a reduced temperature. Each filter stage has a removable lid, which provides convenient access for replacing the filter cartridge, allowing it to be changed without disturbing the thermally insulated sidewalls of the filter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Nextleaf Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryan Delmoral Ko
  • Patent number: 9908788
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the removal and disposal of radium form an aqueous medium. The systems and methods include the removal of radium from a source by contact with either natural or synthetic zeolite. The spent zeolite is monitored for radiation levels and replaced with fresh zeolite when the level of radioactivity reaches approximately 9,000 pCi/g. Spent zeolite is disposed of at a low-level radioactive waste site. A system for monitoring and maintaining radium removal and disposal by an off-site provided is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: WRT INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: John E. Litz, Charles S. Williams
  • Patent number: 9687185
    Abstract: A biological component-measuring unit comprises a substrate detachably mountable on a medical support device; fluid channels disposed on the substrate, the fluid channels comprising a biological component-measuring channel; and an engaging mechanism configured to detachably engage with the medical support device so that the biological component-measuring unit is attached to and detached from the medical support device. The biological component-measuring channel includes: a first fluid transferring section disposed on the biological component-measuring channel and configured to be engaged with and actuated by a first fluid transfer structure disposed on the medical support device and transfer a sample fluid in one direction in cooperation with the first fluid transfer structure, when the biological component-measuring unit is mounted on the medical support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: NIKKISO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motoaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 9550015
    Abstract: Delivering a blood processing solution to blood in a blood bag includes coupling a first tube to a vented spike at one end and to a Y-shaped tube connector at a second end. An in-line microbiotic barrier filter is coupled to the first tube between its ends. A second tube is coupled to a transfer bag at one end and to the Y-shaped tube connector at its other end. A third tube is coupled to the output of the Y-shaped tube connector and sealed at its distal end. The blood bag includes a fourth tube that is sealed at a distal end. The third tube is welded to the fourth tube using a sterile tubing welder, wherein a functionally-closed, sterile flow path through which the blood processing solution can flow into the blood bag is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Biologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Gray
  • Patent number: 9428406
    Abstract: An energy efficient membrane based desalination process, which utilizes an osmotically driven energy recovery sub-process. Energy recovery sub-process involves the extraction of water from low salinity first aqueous solution by using a high salinity content, pressurized second aqueous solution to draw the water from first aqueous solution across a semi-permeable membrane. High salinity content, pressurized second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the low salinity content first solution to drive water from first solution to the second solution with respect to chemical potential differences. The process also harvests the Gibbs free energy of mixing in terms of pressure conservation in the second solution, while the volume of second solution is increasing by the drawn water from the first solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION CORP.
    Inventors: Sarper Sarp, In-Ho Yeo, Yong Gyun Park
  • Patent number: 9422846
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scrubber system having an automatic generator for an oxidizing-absorbing agent. The scrubber system comprises a scrubber and an oxidizing-absorbing agent generator. The scrubber includes a pollutant gas inlet through which air pollutants are introduced, a treated gas outlet through which the pollutant gas which has been treated is discharged, and a treated water outlet through which wastewater which has been used to treat the pollutant gas is discharged. The oxidizing-absorbing agent generator generates an oxidizing-absorbing agent by electrolyzing saline water or seawater in the scrubber, and supplies the generated oxidizing-absorbing agent into the scrubber to treat the pollutant gas introduced through the pollution gas inlet, thereby removing harmful substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Su Shin, Jung Sik Kim, Boong Ik Jung
  • Patent number: 9409402
    Abstract: A liquid filling device includes a supply tube, a filter capable of removing a foreign matter, a first on-off valve provided between the supply tube and the filter, a first connector provided between the first on-off valve and the filter, a second on-off valve provided downstream of the filter, a second connector connected to the second on-off valve. A first ink pack and a second ink pack are respectively connected to the first connector and the second connector. After the liquid is filled in the first ink pack, the liquid thus filled is transferred from the first ink pack to the second ink pack connected to the second connector through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsumi Shinkai
  • Publication number: 20150144542
    Abstract: A module for optionally recharging sorbent materials in-line, including zirconium phosphate, with an optional bypass and conduits for a sorbent cartridge. The sorbent cartridge can have one or more modules contained therein having connectors connecting each of the modules. One or more of the modules can be reusable and the sorbent materials therein recharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant J. PUDIL, Martin T. GERBER, David B. LURA, Thomas E. MEYER
  • Publication number: 20150136668
    Abstract: An oil separating apparatus includes a preliminary separator and a main separator. The preliminary separator is for collecting wastewater. The main separator has a main separating chamber, a wastewater exit channel and a communicating channel. The main separating chamber communicates with the preliminary separator, and has upper and lower openings. The communicating channel communicates the wastewater exit channel and the lower opening. A distance between the upper and lower openings ranges from 300 millimeters to 3000 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Chin-Lun Chang
  • Publication number: 20150108073
    Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus separates solid impurities from a fluid containing solid impurities. The method and apparatus allow the introduction of influent comprising a fluid containing solid impurities into a plurality of channels and allowing at least a portion of the solid impurities initially present in the influent to settle on upward-facing surfaces of a plurality of plates forming the channels or slide down the upward-facing surfaces, while permitting fluid, which has been depleted of at least a portion of solid impurities, to flow upward toward the top edges of the plurality of plates. The influent is introduced into the plurality of channels in a manner that inhibits a disrupting or disturbing of the solid impurities, which have separated from the influent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: PARKSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell L. COOK, Alejandro MEJIA, Lakshminarasimha KRISHNAPURA
  • Patent number: 9010548
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for separating two solutions mixed in dispersion into two solution phases in a liquid-liquid extraction separation cell. A lighter solution phase placed on the heavier solution phase is forced to flow as a thin overflow layer over the top edge of a front panel such that the dispersion thickens A rear panel is essentially parallel with the front panel so that in between the front panel and the rear panel, there is formed an uptake shaft along which the thickened dispersion can rise and be compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman, Pertti Pekkala, Hannu Laitala, Rami Saario
  • Patent number: 9005440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis having integrated electrodialysis and electrodeionization capabilities are provided. In an embodiment, the dialysis system includes a carbon source, a urease source, an ED/EDI unit. The carbon source, urease source, and/or the ED/EDI unit can be in the form of removable cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Rongsheng Lin, Yuanpang Samuel Ding, James M. White, Ye Chen, Ying-Cheng Lo, Joshua Miller, Justin Rohde
  • Patent number: 8980086
    Abstract: A multi-stage method of reducing solids and contaminants from liquid waste and other suitable streams without the use of chemical flocculants or polymers is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Midwestern IP, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Vanier, Rick Simmons, Bryan Thibodeaux
  • Patent number: 8974672
    Abstract: A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Wasserwerk, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Hawks
  • Patent number: 8974677
    Abstract: Fluid processing apparatuses and systems are disclosed. In some embodiments the fluid processing apparatuses include a movable enclosure, a plurality of filter housings disposed substantially within the movable enclosure, and a stand disposed within the enclosure. The filter housings are in fluid communication with one another. Each filter housing defines an elongate path and is configured to support a respective filter along the elongate flow path to filter a substantially continuous flow of fluid. The stand supports each filter housing such that the elongate flow path of each filter housing is substantially parallel to a vertical axis, wherein each filter housing is independently rotatable, relative to the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Saeed H. Mohseni, Deepak Mahulikar
  • Publication number: 20150053617
    Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering water according to its isotopic forms. In some embodiments, a stream of water comprising at least two distinct isotopic forms of water may be directed into one or more filtration modules comprising a graphene oxide membrane. The graphene oxide membrane(s) may be used to separate the stream into a permeate and a retentate, wherein the permeate comprises an increased concentration of light water relative to the retentate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: James H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8956538
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for desalination of salt water based on an engineered acoustic field that causes constructive and destructive interference at pre-computed spatial positions. The engineered acoustic field can cause high-pressure and low-pressure regions where desalination membranes are located. The induced pressure from the acoustic field can force pure water through the membranes leaving ionic and dissolved molecular species behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Rietman, Bart Lipkens
  • Patent number: 8940176
    Abstract: A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising: injecting said suspension into a duct presenting a first section that is straight and a second section that is curved; and at the outlet from said curved section of the duct, extracting a liquid-enriched fraction of said suspension that is spatially separated from a particle-enriched fraction of the suspension; the method being characterized in that the injection flow rate of the suspension and the geometry of the duct are selected in such a manner that: in the straight section, lift forces cause particles to be superconcentrated in a ring around the longitudinal axis of the duct; and in the curved section, Dean secondary flows deform said ring and give rise to spatial separation between said liquid-enriched fraction and said particle-enriched fraction. A device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean Luc Achard, Elodie Sollier, Hervé Rostaing
  • Publication number: 20150021281
    Abstract: A hybrid scavenger operates downstream of a separator such as a gunbarrel separator for petroleum production. The separator may be overdriven to maximize use of a permitted reinjection rate. The hybrid scavenger then extracts water from the oil and oil from the water without having to treat the entire stream of incoming production fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: C. Michael Miller, David A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20150014248
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating strong brines are disclosed in which a feed stream and a draw inlet stream are passed through a forward osmosis membrane to create a concentrate and a draw outlet stream, the draw outlet stream is passed through a reverse osmosis membrane to create a reverse osmosis permeate flow and a reverse osmosis retentate flow, the reverse osmosis retentate flow is passed through a first nanofiltration membrane to create a first nanofiltration permeate flow and a first nanofiltration retentate flow; and the first nanofiltration retentate flow is passed through a second nanofiltration membrane to create a second nanofiltration permeate flow and a second nanofiltration retentate flow. In some embodiments, the process is repeated through a third nanofiltration membrane. The process may be repeated through a third nanofiltration membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: John R. Herron, Edward Beaudry, Keith A. Lampi
  • Patent number: 8920653
    Abstract: A desalination apparatus includes a pretreatment device 13 having a pretreatment membrane 13a that filters suspended matters in raw water 11 with added chlorine-containing water 12, a reverse osmosis membrane device 17 having a reverse osmosis membrane 16 that removes a salt content from filtrate water 14 supplied from the pretreatment device 13 to produce permeated water 15, and a reducing-agent injection device 30 that neutralizes the added chlorine on an upstream side of the reverse osmosis membrane device 17. The reducing-agent injection device 30 extracts a part 14a of the filtrate water 14, adds metering SBS solution 18 to the part, obtains a maximum change point (equivalence point) of the oxidation-reduction potential of a reducing agent and chlorine, obtains reducing-agent additive concentration (Csm) corresponding to the equivalence point, and supplies the SBS solution 18 corresponding to the concentration to the filtrate water 14 to thereby neutralize the chlorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Ito, Hidemasa Kakigami, Hideo Iwahashi, Katsunori Matsui, Kenji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140374351
    Abstract: A process for treating feed water for desalination, the process comprising: (a) removing one or more polyvalent anions from the feed water by feeding the feed water into a bed comprising one or more anion exchange resins under conditions sufficient to exchange the polyvalent ions in the feed water with one or more monovalent anions in the resin; and (b) regenerating the bed by feeding a brine stream into the bed under conditions sufficient to exchange one or more polyvalent anions in the resins with one or more monovalent anions in the brine stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Lehigh University
    Inventors: Arup K. SenGupta, Ryan C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140374355
    Abstract: There is disclosed a pretreatment device for membrane separation including a honeycomb structure having porous partition walls with which a plurality of cells extending from one end surface to the other end surface are formed to become through channels of a fluid, and a storage container in which the honeycomb structure is stored and which has an inflow port and an outflow port of the fluid, and the partition walls include an adsorbent as a main component, a membrane-like adsorbent is disposed on the surfaces of the partition walls, or the partition walls include the adsorbent as the main component and the membrane-like adsorbent is disposed on the surfaces of the partition walls. The pretreatment device for membrane separation is disclosed in which impurities in the fluid to be treated which influence (adversely affect) a separation membrane are efficiently adsorbed, to enable suppression of deterioration of the separation membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Mariko TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20140360941
    Abstract: Provided is a reverse osmosis treatment apparatus which decreases operation power by utilizing a back pressure caused by regulating an amount of permeated water. The reverse osmosis treatment apparatus includes a first pressure vessel for a primary treatment of untreated water, and a second pressure vessel for a secondary treatment of the water treated by the primary treatment, wherein a reverse osmosis membrane element having a reverse osmosis membrane or the plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements are arranged in series along a water collection pipe in the first pressure vessel and the second pressure vessel. The first pressure vessel includes a first outlet pipe which discharges permeated water, and a permeated water flow control valve connected to the first outlet pipe and regulating a pressure in the first pressure vessel. An energy recovery apparatus is provided between the first outlet pipe and the permeated water flow control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitamura, Shinichi Yoshikawa, Hiroki Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 8906240
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to early detection of low bicarbonate level. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a first signal from a conductivity detector connected to a line through which a solution of salt concentrate and fluid flows and determining a first conductivity of the solution based on the first signal. The method also includes receiving a second signal from the conductivity detector at a time after receiving the first signal, determining a second conductivity of the solution based on the second signal, and determining whether the second conductivity is less than the first conductivity by at least a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crnkovich, Aiyuan Wang, Fei Wang
  • Publication number: 20140346109
    Abstract: There is described a number of biological nutrient removal processes including Anammox Process, Biological Phosphorus Removal (BPR), Partial Nitrification, Full Nitrification, Partial Denitrification, Full Denitrification and Denitrification via BPR taking place in a Simultaneous Treatment of Anammox/PAOs Reactor (STAR) coupled with an Anaerobic Lateral Unit (ALU). In one aspect, there is a wastewater treatment system comprises a bioreactor having three consecutive stages: and an anaerobic lateral unit (ALU) coupled to the bioreactor; the bioreactor and A LU are configured to conduct biological removal of nutrients from the wastewater using a plurality of biological processes simultaneously. The three consecutive stages of the bioreactor comprise two Anoxic stages configured consecutively followed by one Aerobic stage. The stages may be oriented vertically and use gravity for fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Manuel Alvarez-Cuenca, Maryam Reza
  • Publication number: 20140347661
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering species in a fluid includes a body having a first side and a second side, a first set of nano-fingers positioned on the body near the first side, a second set of nano-fingers positioned on the body closer to the second side than the first set of nano-fingers, wherein the nano-fingers in the second set of nano-fingers are arranged on the body at a relatively more densely than the nano-fingers in the first set of nano-fingers, and a cover positioned over the first set of nano-fingers and the second set of nano-fingers to form a channel with the body within which the first and second sets of nano-fingers are positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Ansoon Kim, Zhiyong Li, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8889001
    Abstract: A maple sap reverse osmosis system that comprises a feed pressure pump configured for receiving maple tree sap, a filter bank, at least one pressure pump operatively connected to the feed pressure pump through the filter bank, at least one recirculation pump operatively connected to the at least one pressure pump, each recirculation pump having an associated housing having an input positioned at a bottom portion of the housing, a permeate output and a concentrate output, the housing enclosing a membrane producing permeate and concentrate from the maple sap and an air inlet operatively connected to a housing in a exit position. The housings are serially connected from an entrance position housing to the exit position housing through associated inputs and concentrate outputs and wherein the housings can be completely drained of liquid through the input of the entrance position housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Memprotec Inc.
    Inventor: Denis Cote
  • Patent number: 8883006
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system for treating feed water includes a first tubular member having first and second ends, at least one second tubular member having first and second ends, a pump positioned within the first tubular member, a filtering membrane positioned within the second tubular member, a first end cap for receiving the first ends of the first and second tubular members, and a second end cap for receiving the second ends of the first and second tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kinetico Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerome Kovach, Stuart L. Park, Peter R. Halemba
  • Patent number: 8871062
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the thickness of a flowing, laminar fluid film. The film flow may be gravity-induced or the result of an alternative force. The fluid is deposited on an upper end of a flow surface where a relatively thick layer of the film forms. The film flows over a fluid dispersal region where the surface area is rapidly expanding, which results in rapid thinning of the film thickness. The fluid then flows over an active region where the surface area is designed to control the fluid film thickness. For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to maintain an approximately constant film thickness as the fluid flows over the active region of the surface. The geometry of the flow surface is used to obtain the desired control over the fluid film thickness. The flow surface is the outer surface of a solid with a closed upper end and a lower end that may be open or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Charles David Gilliam, Stefanie Renee Gilliam
  • Patent number: 8858792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis having integrated electrodeionization capabilities are provided. In an embodiment, the dialysis system includes a carbon source, a urease source and an electrodeionization unit. The carbon source and urease source can be in the form of removable cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A., EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Yuanpang Samuel Ding, Ying-Cheng Lo, Joshua James Miller, Justin Rohde, Sujatha Karoor, Stephane Dupont
  • Patent number: 8852140
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting the operational parameters of a blood separation procedure. A blood separation device has an inlet for passing fluid thereinto and an outlet for removing fluid therefrom. A pump system is provided for moving fluid into and out of the device. In use, blood is conveyed into the device, where platelets are separated from at least a portion of the blood. A controller determines the amount of platelets in the device. Based at least in part on the amount of platelets in the device, corrective action is taken to avoid platelet aggregation in the device. The corrective action may be conveying an elevated amount of anticoagulant into the blood and/or the device and may be initiated when the determined amount of platelets approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold predicted likelihood of platelet aggregation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Barry, Jr., Brian C. Case, Lan T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8852433
    Abstract: Device (5) for filtering blood including a filter unit (7) having a blood filter, an inlet (8) for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient and a blood outlet (9) for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient, and having a filtrate container (6,14), that encloses the filter unit (7), for receiving filtrate (12) passing through the blood filter during a filtering process and that the filtrate container (6,14) is a closed container, which in a filled state is arranged to establish a counter-pressure over the blood filter, whereby the filtering process is interrupted. The invention also concerns a system including the above device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Anders Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20140263013
    Abstract: Provided is a fresh water generation system which filters biotreated water produced by microbiologically treating waste water via a primary semi-permeable membrane (8), and then mixes concentrated water rejected by the filtration with seawater, thereby to filter the mixed water via a secondary semi-permeable membrane (14). This system enables frequencies of chemical cleaning and replacement of the secondary semi-permeable membrane to be reduced. The fresh water generation system comprises: a primary semi-permeable membrane apparatus (9) which separates microorganism treating waste water into permeated water and concentrated water; a secondary semi-permeable membrane apparatus (13) which filters mixed water prepared by mixing the concentrated water into seawater. In the fresh water generation system, the primary semi-permeable membrane (8) has an equal to or a higher microorganism adhesive property than the secondary semi-permeable membrane (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Noto, Kotaro Kitamura, Yusuke Okawa, Hiroo Takabatake
  • Publication number: 20140263055
    Abstract: Cations that can precipitate from an aqueous composition to produce scaling are sequestered by adding a multi-dentate ligand to the aqueous composition. The multi-dentate ligand bonds with the cation to form a non-scaling ionic complex; and the aqueous solution with the ionic complex is used in a process that produces substantially pure water from the aqueous composition, where the cation, absent formation of the ionic complex, is subject to scaling. The pH of the aqueous composition (or a brine including components of the aqueous composition) is then reduced to release the cation from the multi-dentate ligand; and the multi-dentate ligand, after the cation is released, is then reused in a predominantly closed loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Windsor Sung, Steven Lam, Maximus G. St. John, John H. Lienhard, V, Mohammed Mirhi, Anurag Bajpayee
  • Publication number: 20140246388
    Abstract: A method and a plant for the treatment of water or wastewater having impurities by filtration of the water through two granular media filter stages of the moving bed type operated in series. The method includes the steps of feeding the water/wastewater as a first influent to first stage granular media filters; filtration of the first influent in the first stage granular media filters to produce a first effluent; feeding the first effluent as a second influent to second stage granular media filters; and filtration of the second influent in the second stage granular media filters to produce a second effluent. The second stage granular media filters are operated with intermittent washing of the granular filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Nordic Water Products AB
    Inventor: Hans F. Larsson
  • Publication number: 20140246368
    Abstract: A membrane separation device that treats water constructed such that at least two permeate streams of different electrical conductivity are generated therein, including at least two membrane modules arranged in a common pressure vessel such that they can be successively subjected to incoming flow of the water to be treated, wherein the pressure vessel is a tube in which the at least two membrane modules are arranged one behind the other in an axial direction and the at least two membrane modules are spirally wound modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: P & LS Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Neubrand, Juergen Johann, Swen Beusshausen
  • Publication number: 20140238938
    Abstract: An energy efficient membrane based desalination process, which utilizes an osmotically driven energy recovery sub-process. Energy recovery sub-process involves the extraction of water from low salinity first aqueous solution by using a high salinity content, pressurized second aqueous solution to draw the water from first aqueous solution across a semi-permeable membrane. High salinity content, pressurized second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the low salinity content first solution to drive water from first solution to the second solution with respect to chemical potential differences. The process also harvests the Gibbs free energy of mixing in terms of pressure conservation in the second solution, while the volume of second solution is increasing by the drawn water from the first solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION CORP.
    Inventors: Sarper SARP, In-Ho YEO, Yong Gyun PARK
  • Patent number: 8801928
    Abstract: A fuel supply device (1), particularly for an internal combustion engine (6), is equipped with a particulate filter and a water trap. In order to improve the separation effect, while simultaneously reducing the separation material that is required, it is proposed to configure the water trap (5, 8, 30) as a separate component connected downstream of the fuel filer (4) and to provide it with a first separation stage made of coalescent material and a second separation stage made of hydrophobic material, and to dispose the separation stages such that between them the fuel is diverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Steffi Kiedaisch, Martin Klein
  • Patent number: 8795517
    Abstract: A machine-readable medium with instructions for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Lannoy