Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: Spacers for filtration membranes that are formed from perforated films. The spacer include unperforated regions, which can serve as integrated lamination strips, advantageously omitting the need for separate lamination steps required with woven and nonwoven spacer fabrics while also providing a spacer with a uniform thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dialysis cell for sample preparation for a chemical analysis method, in particular for ion chromatography. The dialysis cell comprises a donor channel and an acceptor channel extending parallel thereto. The donor channel and the acceptor channel are separated from each other by a selectively permeable dialysis membrane. In particular, an analyte that is dissolved in a donor solution in the donor channel can enter through the dialysis membrane into the acceptor solution in the acceptor channel. The acceptor channel has at least in some sections a volume that is smaller than the volume of the donor channel extending parallel thereto. Acceptor and donor channels are formed from half-cells, between which the dialysis membrane is arranged, wherein the donor channel and the acceptor channel are designed in each case as a recess in a contact surface of one of the half-cells with the dialysis membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygenator for gas exchange in the bloodstream, comprising a housing, a first interior chamber for blood arranged in the housing, a second interior chamber for gas arranged in the housing, and a membrane separating the interior chambers. According to the invention, the membrane has a silicone layer and a reinforcing structure reinforcing the silicone layer.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to a blood purification apparatus in which the connection of a substitution line to a collecting port can be checked accurately and instantly and even during blood purification treatment. A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a dialyzer, a dialysate introduction line, a dialysate drain line, a substitution line one end of which is connected to a collecting port provided at a predetermined position of the dialysate introduction line and an other end of which is connected to the blood circuit, a substitution pump configured to form a pressure-increasing portion that includes the collecting port, and a pressure-measuring device capable of measuring a pressure in the pressure-increasing portion. The blood purification apparatus performs a testing process by increasing a liquid pressure in the pressure-increasing portion by utilizing a liquid-feeding pressure applied from a liquid-feeding device and measuring the pressure with the pressure-measuring device.

Abstract: Fluid treatment assemblies may include first and second end pieces, at least one fluid treatment unit positioned between the first and second end pieces, and a retainer extending between the first and second end pieces and arranged to press the fluid treatment unit(s) and the first and second end pieces together. Each of the end pieces is formed from a nonmetallic material and has a flexural modulus of at least about 1.5×106 psi.

Abstract: An compact hydraulic manifold for transporting shear sensitive fluids is provided. A channel network can include a trunk and branch architecture coupled to a bifurcation architecture. Features such as tapered channel walls, curvatures and angles of channels, and zones of low fluid pressure can be used to reduce the size while maintaining wall shear rates within a narrow range. A hydraulic manifold can be coupled to a series of microfluidic layers to construct a compact microfluidic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are small, lightweight, portable, systems that have the capability of reliably, reproducibly, highly efficiently and relatively inexpensively providing a source of purified water of sufficient volumes for home dialysis. In addition, the systems disclosed herein require much less purified water at any one time than the volumes typically needed for dialysis today, thereby further reducing the expense of running the system at home.

Abstract: A cylindrical pleated filter of charged layer membrane filter material is constructed with minimized filter occlusion and surface area where the filter diameter, a number of filter pleats and pleat width results in the outer pleat apex included angle of each pleat being at least 10-degrees. Other embodiments and the relationship between filter occlusion and performance of a cylindrical pleated filter of charged layer membrane filter material and filter diameter, number of filter pleats and pleat width is part of this disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a spiral cross-flow filter. The spiral cross-flow filter includes a filter element having a continuous web of leaves formed by pleating a laminate filter element. The filter element may include a composite filter material including a first layer of a membrane material adjacent an outer shell, and a second layer of a permeate spacer material adjacent a permeate tube. The plurality of leaves wrap around the permeate tube in a uniform “spiral” configuration and may be separated by feed spacers.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a spiral cross-flow filter. The spiral cross-flow filter includes a filter element having a continuous web of leaves formed by pleating a laminate filter element. The filter element may include a composite filter material including a first layer of a membrane material adjacent an outer shell, and a second layer of a permeate spacer material adjacent a permeate tube. The plurality of leaves wrap around the permeate tube in a uniform “spiral” configuration and may be separated by feed spacers.

Abstract: A serviceable device for filtering lubricating oil includes an inlet and an outlet, a first filtering element and an absorption filtering element. The absorption filtering element is configured to absorb a fluidic contaminant present in the lubricating oil when in contact with the absorption filtering element. A flow path for the lubricating oil is from the inlet, through the first filtering element, and out the outlet. The flow path further includes lubricating oil contact with the absorption filtering element.

Abstract: A blood filter device includes: a housing that includes a dome 2 provided with a blood inlet, a filter retaining portion 3 that is positioned below the dome, and a bottom portion 4 provided with a blood outlet; and a filter 8 that is mounted in a cavity of the filter retaining portion and partitions a cavity of the housing into a dome side and a bottom portion side. A sheet-like filter member 8a of the filter forms a plurality of pleats, and ridgelines of the respective pleats traverse the filter retaining portion in parallel respectively.

Abstract: A filter device having a vent device for inhibiting formation of a vacuum in the filter device. The filter device includes a drum for receiving the liquid wherein the drum includes a drum headspace. The filter device also includes filter sets for filtering the liquid. The drum is rotated to enable cleaning of filter media. The filter device also includes a frame having spaced apart supports for supporting each of the filter sets. A fluid passageway extends between the supports, wherein the fluid passageway provides fluid communication between the tank headspace and a filter set to vent a filter set.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of mass and heat including a membrane having a hydrophilic surface and an opposing hydrophobic surface. The construction prevents transmission or leakage of fluids from one side of the membrane to the other regardless of pressure gradients within the membrane bubble point or water intrusion pressure range, but allows the transfer of vaporized fluid from one side of the membrane to the other.

Abstract: Apparatuses for screening granular solid particulate material include a generally planar first screen and a second screen. A plurality of apertures extends through the first screen. At least a portion of the second screen is oriented at an angle to the first screen, and apertures extend through a perforated region of the second screen. The second screen includes at least one region configured to prevent at least some particles of solid material from passing through the second screen.

Abstract: Liquid-liquid extraction elements are described. A liquid-liquid extraction element includes a first layer pair and a second layer pair disposed adjacent the first layer pair forming a stack of layers. The first layer pair includes a first polymeric microporous membrane, and a first flow channel layer oriented in a first flow direction having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on first opposing sides of the extraction element. The second layer pair includes a second polymeric microporous membrane and a second flow channel layer oriented in a second flow direction different than the first flow direction and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on second opposing sides of the extraction element. The first microporous membrane is disposed between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. Methods of extracting a dissolved solute from a first liquid to a second liquid are also described.

Abstract: A membrane separation module (10) has a shell (11) having inlet port (20), outlet port (21) and a plurality of membrane units (12) disposed therebetween. Each membrane unit (12) has a plurality of elongated membrane elements (13), with at least a portion of each membrane element (13) having a semipermeable surface to permit selective permeation of one or more components of a multi-component feed fluid. The plurality of elongated membrane elements (13) are attached to collecting manifolds (16) (17), with one of those manifolds (16) (17) being unrestrained, permitting axial movement of each membrane element (13) in response to temperature changes. At least one manifold (16) (17) from each membrane unit (12) is in fluid communication with a manifold (16) (17) from one other membrane unit (12).

Abstract: A Reactor (1) for solid phase synthesis comprises a vessel (2), a plurality of filters (3) arranged in the vessel (2) and a plurality of filtrate outlets (4) for evacuating the filtrate out of the filters (3). Each filter (3) is connected to one filtrate outlet (4). The reactor (1) comprises means (3, 4) for delivering a gas into the vessel (2) in a region of the vessel (2) near to the bottom (24) of the vessel (2) and beside the filters (3).

Abstract: A mass transfer or energy transfer module is provided which includes a manifold, a cartridge and a bowl which houses the cartridge. The cartridge and bowl are connected to each other at least two flanges which fit into slots of the bowl to form a unitary construction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrophilic charged microporous membrane comprising a porous hydrophobic substrate and a coating comprising a charge-providing agent. The present invention further provides a hydrophilic charged membrane comprising a porous hydrophobic substrate and a hydrophilic charge-providing agent distributed within the substrate. The present invention further provides a filter as well as a filter device comprising the inventive hydrophilic charged membrane. The present invention further provides a process for treating a fluid containing bacterial contaminants such as endotoxins comprising contacting the membrane with the fluid to provide a bacterial contaminant depleted fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in certain embodiments, a negatively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating having fixed negative charges. The crosslinked coating can be prepared, e.g., from a polymerized composition comprising an unsaturated monomer having an anionic group, an N-(hydroxymethyl)- and/or N-(alkoxymethyl)-acrylamide, a hydrophilic unsaturated monomer, and an initiator. The present invention further provides, in some embodiments, a negatively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating prepared from a polymerized composition comprising an unsaturated monomer having an anionic group, an N-(hydroxymethyl)- or N-(alkoxymethyl)-acrylamide, a polysaccharide, and an initiator. The membranes of the present invention are suitable for use in ion exchange chromatography, for example, in the separation and purification of positively charged species such as proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-resolution membrane-based method for removing a virus from a manufactured protein-containing solution, the method being particularly characterized by its capacity to be performed quickly (i.e., as measured by flux) and efficiently (i.e., as measured by log reduction value, LRV). Towards such results, the present invention employs a plurality (i.e., greater than 2) of interfacially-contiguous asymmetric ultrafiltration membranes, the foremost of which is oriented with its “tight side” facing downstream. The present invention also provides a filtration capsule, useful in the conduct of the method, comprising a pleated tube formed of three interfacially-contiguous asymmetric ultrafiltration membranes.

Abstract: A barrier filter useful for aseptically discharging both gaseous and liquid fluids from a chemical process system is disclosed The barrier filter comprises, within a common enclosure, one or several filter membranes having singularly or collectively a mixture or hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. The common enclosure of the barrier filter is provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. All filter membranes are located within the fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A variety of membrane-based systems, into which such barrier filter is installed, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filtration module is provided which includes a manifold (100), a filtration cartridge (104) and a bowl (102) that houses the filter cartridge. The filtration cartridge and bowl are connected to each other to form a unitary construction. The filtration cartridge and bowl are in fluid communication with the manifold in a manner which prevents mixing of a fluid feed to the module and a permeate removed from the module.

Abstract: A filter for removing microorganisms from a fluid is provided by the invention. The filter includes a substrate having a reactive surface, and a polymer covalently bonded to the reactive surface of the substrate. The polymer includes a plurality of cationic groups for attracting microorganisms. Faucet mounted filters and pour through filters containing the polymer coated substrate are provided. Also disclosed are methods for using and manufacturing filters for removing microorganisms from a fluid.

Abstract: A filter filters fluid flowing along an axial flow direction and includes a plurality of concentric cylindrical pleated filter elements having a common axis. A plurality of annular radial gaps between filter elements provide additional flow axially through the filter, providing equalized flow and reducing restriction. In further embodiments, a central filter element is concentrically surrounded by a cylindrical pleated outer filter element and provides additional flow axially therethrough.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for removing metallic ions and/or particulate material from a pH neutral solution using particle-removing membranes (e.g., ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) having immobilized ligands that possess the capacity and high equilibrium binding constants for ion removal. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously filtering/purifying deionized water.

Abstract: A fluid separation element assembly comprises a fluid separation element having a membrane unit and a wrapping material formed around the membrane unit, an anti-telescoping plate attached to at least one end of the fluid separation element at a condition free to be detached, and a feed water seal member for preventing feed water from leaking through a gap between the fluid separation element and the anti-telescoping plate. The membrane unit is formed by a separation membrane, a permeate carrier material and a feed carrier material which are spirally wound around a permeate collection tube. By providing the anti-telescoping plate detachably, when the separation membrane has reached its life, it is possible to reuse other members.

Abstract: A spiral wound type membrane element is formed by winding independent or continuous envelope-like membranes around the peripheral surface of a water collection pipe and interposing raw water spacers between the envelope-like membranes. When running, raw water is supplied from at least the periphery side of the spiral wound type membrane element and permeate is taken out from an opening end of the water collection pipe. In back wash reverse filtration, permeate is introduced from the opening end of the water collection pipe and permeate guided out from the peripheral surface of the water collection pipe is discharged from at least the periphery side of the spiral wound type membrane element.