Abstract: A column comprising an insoluble carrier and an anti-.beta..sub.2 -microglobulin antibody immobilized to the carrier can specifically adsorb and remove .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin in the blood. This column is useful for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome observed in patients undergoing blood dialysis.

Abstract: An orally operable water filter includes an outer covering formed of a flexible, water impervious material and which defines an elongate enclosure. A flexible microporous filter membrane, having a pore size of not more than one micron, is disposed within the elongate enclosure and divides the enclosure into respective fluid inlet and fluid outlet compartments, such that the outlet may be placed in the mouth of the user and the fluid inlet may be contacted with a source of water to be filtered by drawing the water through the filter using oral suction. Furthermore, the filter includes a flexible separator, disposed at least in the outlet compartment, for preventing the blocking of fluid over the surface of the filter membrane.

Abstract: An improved spiral-wound pressure membrane sorbent bed module is disclosed comprising a central permeate conduit around which said spiral is wound, said module also comprising a collection means for each membrane envelope in said module, said collection means communicating with the interior of said envelope along a substantial fraction of one edge of a permeate spacer in said envelope, all said collection means conveying permeate to the interior of said central permeate conduit at substantially the same cross-section of said conduit, the interior of said conduit containing sorbing means.

Abstract: A filtration unit comprising a filtration media subunit secured in an outer frame. The subunit comprises a fibrous filtration media enclosed in an inner frame having an upstream frame element and a downstream frame element. Each frame element has longitudinal and transverse struts and the intersection of these struts is in a single plane on the side of the frame elements which contact the filtration media. In one embodiment the filtration unit is enclosed in a sock of knit fabric; in another embodiment, there is a piece of knit fabric between the outer frame and the downstream frame element of the inner frame. The longitudinal struts may have portions which are perpendicular to and project beyond the principal plane of the periphery of the downstream frame element. If such perpendicularly projecting portions are provided, they are preferably arcuate in configuration.

Abstract: A fluid filter apparatus uses an outer container configured to receive a removable columnar-like filter having its largest filter elements located at the bottom and its finest filter elements located at the top, from which a port communicates to a space within the housing, outwardly of the filter, for storing the cleaned fluid. The fluid to be cleaned passes through the columnar filter through a pipe through a space immediately below the filter. A pan-like dish communicates to the upper portion of the pipe to receive the fluid to be cleaned. A valve communicates to the storage area adjacent the inner walls of the housing and is used to draw off the cleaned fluid when required.

Abstract: A filtration system is provided for a dry well in the form of a buffer tank made of concrete to remove sediment and pollutants from water supplied from a header to an inlet pipe in the tank, so that the water exiting from an outlet pipe is free of particulate matter and pollutants. This is accomplished by providing a sediment pit and a baffle at the inlet side of the tank and then passing the water through a multiple stage set of filters having different aperture sizes. These filters remove particles and pollutants from the water as it passes through the buffer tank on its way to a dry well drain pipe attached to the outlet of the buffer tank.

Abstract: A filtration unit comprising a filtration media sub-unit secured in an outer frame. The sub-unit comprises a fibrous filtration media enclosed in an inner frame having an upstream frame element and a downstream frame element. Each frame element has longitudinal and transverse struts and the intersections of these struts are in a single plane on the side of the frame elements which contact the filtration media. In one embodiment the filtration unit is enclosed in a sock of knit fabric; in another embodiment, there is a piece of knit fabric between the outer frame and the downstream frame element of the inner frame. The longitudinal struts may have portions which are perpendicular to and project beyond the principal plane of the periphery of the downstream frame element. If such perpendicularly projecting portions are provided, they are preferably arcuate in configuration.

Abstract: In a fluid filter having a filtering medium comprising upper and lower layers defining therebetween a fluid receiving space into which the fluid to be filtered is introduced, and in which the filter supporting structure comprises a part which extends through both of the layers of the filtering medium, a spacer surrounds that part and retains the filter medium layers spaced from one another thereat, thereby significantly to increase the filtering capacity of the filter unit.

Abstract: A fluid filtering device in various embodiments is disclosed. The filter includes, in one embodiment, alternating layers (34', 36') of corrugated filter media which are rolled together and sealed at alternate ends by sealant (38, 42) forming longitudinal flutes and transverse inter-flute passageways. Further embodiments disclose filter packs (112, 212, 312) of alternating layers of oppositely oriented corrugated filter media. In one embodiment, flutes of successive layers are aligned in parallel. In an alternate embodiment flutes are aligned orthogonally. Unfiltered fluids enter tubular passages (44) for example, and must exit by adjacent passages either above, below or beside the flute of entry to exit the filter. Filtering occurs when the fluid crosses a sidewall of filter media.

Abstract: The specification discloses a filter apparatus including spirally wound tissue layer filter elements for filtering fluid and a seal between the filter elements to prevent fluid from bypassing the filter elements. A flow tube extends through the center of the filter elements. A resiliently deformable mesh spacer is located on the flow tube between the filter elements to insure formation of a radial passageway therebetween. The seal is applied between the filter elements along their circumferential edges in a melted state and migrates into and between the tissue layers and interstices of the filter elements and the mesh of the spacer. As the seal cools and hardens it adheres to the filter elements and the spacer. A seal may likewise be applied between the filter elements and the flow tube.

Abstract: A filter comprising a filter case the interior of which is divided by a separator into upper and lower filtration chambers, a compact filter material of a cylindrical shape disposed in said upper filtration chamber so as to define on both outer and inner sides thereof a non-purification chamber communicating with upper suction ports formed at the upper part of said filter case and a purification chamber communicating with a drain pipe disposed on the upper surface of said filter case and having a large capacity, and a coarse filter material housed in said lower filtration chamber and serving also as a weight, said lower filtration chamber communicating with said purification chamber through passage ports formed in said separator while communicating with lower suction ports formed in a bottom surface of said filter case, said purification chamber communicating with an air feed port connected to an air pump.

Abstract: A cartridge fluid filter includes a housing within which are positioned annular, concentrically mounted filter elements that are held together in relative position by first and second end caps to define a gap between the filter elements. A filter core is positioned within the gap that communicates with an outlet defined in the first end cap. An annular reinforcing disc is mounted in the first end cap to support the end cap around the outlet.

Abstract: By providing an open-ended perforate vessel which is rotatable about its central axis and incorporates a removable filter element, a highly efficient easily employable precious metal recovery apparatus is achieved capable of removing precious metal from an aqueous carrier. Preferably, the perforate vessel is supportingly contained within a housing which receives the aqueous carrier after passage through the filter and delivers the aqueous carrier to a disposed area. In addition, the perforate vessel is preferably cylindrically shaped with holes formed throughout and the filter comprises a bag-like or envelope-like construction which is easily mounted about the walls of the vessel as well as easily sealed after filtration with the precious metal contained therein for delivery to a reclamation center.

Abstract: A fluid filtering device in various embodiments is disclosed. The filter includes, in one embodiment, alternating layers (34, 36) of flat and corrugated filter media which are rolled together and sealed at alternate ends by sealant (38, 42). Further embodiments disclose filter packs (112, 212, 312) of alternating layers of flat and corrugated filter media. In one embodiment, corrugations of successive layers are aligned in parallel. In an alternate embodiment corrugations are aligned orthogonally. Unfiltered fluids enter tubular passages (44) for example, and must exit by adjacent passages either above, below or beside the flute of entry to exit the filter. Filtering occurs when the fluid crosses a sidewall of filter media.

Abstract: A coalescing/filtration media composed of yarn-like material held together during normal operation but loosened during backwash to allow "strumming" or vibrating to help loosen media-clogging material, and an armature arrangement by which a cylindrical assembly of yarn segments can be tightened in a helical fashion to perform as filtration/coalescing media or, during backwash, can be loosened to promote the dislodging of clogging material.

Abstract: A device for separating a mixture of, for example, oil and water consists of a number of elements treating the mixture in stages, said elements being arranged in overlying position in order to manufacture a compact device.

Abstract: A coalescer is provided which separates dispersed liquid hydrocarbon phases from continuous liquid aqueous phases by increasing the size of the dispersed phase droplets using a variety of coalescing media, preferably in granular form. The coalescer must contain at least three sides; however any number of sides up to a circle can be used, and a circular cross-section is preferred. Untreated aqueous phase is drawn through the coalescer media, where the dispersed droplets increase in size. The dispersed droplets are coalesced to a sufficiently large degree to rise to the top of the coalescer against the downward flow of the continuous phase, said continuous phase being withdrawn from the bottom portion of the coalescer and the separated, previously dispersed phase withdrawn from the top of the coalescer.

Abstract: Lymphocytes are advantageously separated from blood or other lymphocyte-containing suspensions by a method wherein the lymphocyte-containing suspension is flowed through a second filter having a mass of fibers exhibiting an average fiber diameter of greater than 10 microns but not greater than 60 microns, thereby to entrap a substantial part of granulocytes and monocytes in the mass of fibers and to obtain a granulocyte-poor and monocyte-poor lymphocyte-containing suspension; and then, the obtained suspension is flowed through a first filter having a mass of fibers exhibiting a bulk density of 0.04 to 0.40 g/cm.sup.3 and an average fiber diameter of 5 to 20 microns, said average fiber diameter being less than that of the second filter, thereby to entrap a substantial part of lymphocytes in the mass of fibers; and finally, the lymphocytes entrapped in the mass of fibers of the first filter is collected.

Abstract: A simple, sensitive method and device for detecting pregnancy. The test involves concentration by ultrafiltration of a sample of urine or serum from a subject; followed by determining the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin or of its .beta.-subunit in the concentrated sample.

Abstract: Oil and other contaminants are separated from aqueous effluents by a system which includes means for introducing the contaminated aqueous effluents into a separation zone where they are passed through the labyrinth course of a coalescing chamber to separate oil particles. The oil is removed by means of a skimmer and moved into an oil storage area. The aqueous effluents are then passed from the bottom of the separation zone to an extraction zone where they are passed through a bed of a material capable of adsorbing hydrocarbons and other pollutants. The effluent may then be discarded or may be moved through a fail safe system designed to assure that hydrocarbon removal is complete in all instances.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed which filters moisture and solid contaminants from liquids, and includes full flow and bypass apparatus.

Abstract: An element for filtering and separating fluid mixtures, especially admixed or emulsified fluids and, in particular, mixtures and/or emulsions of oils, fuels and the like and water, in which the fluid to be are removed from the fluid by filtration, and the oil therein is coalesced and separated from the water.

Abstract: Filtration apparatus that is very versatile is disclosed. The apparatus includes a porous filter disc that can be readily interchanged with other filter discs having the same or different porosity. In addition, a membrane filter can be used in conjunction with the porous filter disc. The porous filter disc serves as a support for the membrane filter. The porous filter disc and membrane when provided are designed to interfit with the balance of the filtration apparatus in such a manner that the filtration unit is simple in construction and highly versatile in use.

Abstract: The peripheral surface of a coil of a filter web wound about a hollow shaft is covered by a liquid impervious flexible coating, and the outer periphery of a first end of the coil is secured to a supporting disc so that when liquid to be filtered is caused to pass through the coil in the axial direction thereof, the convolutions of the coil near a second end expand radially outwardly to trap contaminants in the spiral gap. Purified liquid collected at the first end of the coil is discharged through the hollow shaft. The filter unit is constructed such that a number of units can be readily connected in series.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blood filtering bag comprising a bag body provided with a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and a filter supported by a support member and dividing the bag body into two parts -- inlet side part and outlet side part. The support member is thermally fused to a peripheral portion of the bag body.

Abstract: A simple, sensitive method and device for detecting pregnancy. The test involves concentration by ultrafiltration of a sample of urine or serum from a subject; followed by determining the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin or of its .beta.-subunit in the concentrated sample.

Abstract: A combined dialyzer and adsorber unit in one disposable package. The dialyzer is integral with the adsorber which contains a chemical adsorbent to regenerate a dialysate solution. In a preferred embodiment the dialyzer is mounted in the form of a sleeve around the adsorber container as a core. Dialysate is introduced into the dialyzer, then immediately circulated through the chemical adsorbent contained in the adsorber. There the major components of the impurities dialyzed out from the dialyzer can be adsorbed, whereby the dialysate is regenerated. The sleeve can be the adsorber and the core the dialyzer. In addition, the adsorber can have included therein, either mixed in with the adsorbent material or in a separate compartment, a water soluble dialysate material which can be dissolved by circulating water through the unit prior to starting to dialyze the patient.

Abstract: A filter including a housing spanned by a cap. A liner constituting a filtering medium is fitted into the housing with the outer surface of the liner contacting the inner surface of the housing. A wall member supports one end of the liner within the housing. Liquid is introduced into the filter housing through an inlet port where it passes through the liner and out openings formed by the wall member at one end of the liner.

Abstract: A fluid filter and purifying apparatus located within a supportive structure wherein substantially all of the fluid passing therethrough is caused to be conducted through two separate mediums, a stranded fibrous medium in order to remove particulate matter and activated carbon in order to remove chemical pollutants. The granulated carbon is located within a plurality of elongated envelopes with a preferential oval cross-section. Each of the envelopes are mounted within the frame in a spaced apart manner forming a gap between adjacent envelopes. The major axis of each oval shaped envelope is inclined at an acute angle, preferably 45.degree., with respect to the direction of fluid flow. Located within each gap may be a quantity of stranded glass fibers which is to remove particulate matter from the fluid.

Abstract: An artificial kidney apparatus has a dialysing unit including a blood chamber or chambers and a dialysate chamber or chambers disposed adjacent said blood chamber across a semipermeable membrane or membranes. An adsorbent chamber is centrally positioned with the dialysate chamber therearound or vice versa. The dialysing unit is removably mounted in a fluid tank, and a means is provided for circulating the dialysate within the fluid tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a fluid stream with a bed of catalyst wherein solid particulate matter is removed from the fluid stream before contact with the catalyst bed. The fluid stream is tangentially discharged into a circular trough located in an upper section of a vertically disposed cylindrical vessel. The inner wall of the trough is porous to allow drainage of liquids, and vapors exit the trough through its open top. The vapors than pass downward through the open center of the trough and contact the catalyst bed located in the lower section of the vessel.

Abstract: A cartridge filter in a fluid system includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a filter assembly that includes a pair of concentric, telescoped filter elements positioned within the housing. Fluid from the inlet flows from outside and from inside the assembly radially in opposite directions through the filter elements to the region between the elements, which region communicates with the outlet. The pressure differentials resulting from flow through the filter elements results in radially directed forces tending to collapse the elements toward one another. A fluid carrier element positioned between the filter elements communicates with the housing outlet and maintains a distance between the concentric filter elements while allowing radial and longitudinal flow of filtered fluid to the outlet.

Abstract: A sintered porous metal filter having upper and lower surfaces with grooves in the filter alternately in communication with the upper and lower surfaces is strengthened by filling the grooves with granular material. The filter is formed from an alloy containing 30 to 40 percent by weight chromium, about 3 percent by weight silicon, minor amounts of carbon and nitrogen and the remainder iron.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating oily particles from an emulsion thereof in an aqueous liquid. The emulsion is passed through a bed of oleophilic granules supported on a foraminous support, the oleophilic granules, by virtue of their density, pressing against the foraminous support and the bed is unconfined downstream thereof so that the granules in the bed are fluidized by the passage of liquid therethrough. The oily particles are removed from the emulsion by the oleophilic granules in the bed, and the oily material accumulates and agglomerates and is transported out of the bed by the passage of liquid therethrough. The movement of the liquid then carries the oily droplets which are formed in the bed and deposits them upon a screen positioned downstream of the bed, the aqueous liquid passing through the screen in purified form. The oil accumulates on the screen and is propelled by the moving liquid into an oil reservoir positioned downstream of the screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for separating fine oily particles from aqueous liquids at very high flow velocities by passing the mixture upwardly through an unconfined mass of oleophilic granules in a column with adequate velocity to separate and lift the individual granules into the upwardly flowing mixture within the column where movement of the individual granules serves to collect and coalesce the fine oily particles, and finally to release large oil drops back into the mainstream of the upwardly flowing mixture column. These large oil drops are then intercepted and extracted by a steeply inclined screen and caused to flow to storage in the form of a fine oil film propelled by the force of the flow of the aqueous liquid through the screen.

Abstract: A modular filter assembly for cleaning and polishing of potable waters including a fabric turbidity removal module and an adsorptive taste and odor removal module. The modules are connected in series so as to have turbidity removal prior to taste and odor removal to extend the operating life of the taste and odor removal module. The turbidity removal module includes a porous, fabric material assembly which is of a rolled or wrapped construction which provides a large filtration area to prevent its clogging prior to the utilization of the adsorptive capabilities of the taste and odor removal module. The turbidity removal module includes a flow grid assembly having inner and outer flow grid to maximize the distribution of the fluid being filtered over the filtration area of the module and to assure lateral flow of the filtered fluid through the module.