Abstract: A filter device has two flow paths. The first flow path has at least one cap and fluid port. The second flow path surrounds the first fluid flow path and has at least one cap that overlaps the cap of the first fluid flow path. The second flow path also has at least one fluid port. The filter device provides a simple arrangement that is easily disinfected or sterilized.

Abstract: A blood processing apparatus which retains little residual blood is provided by a hollow fiber flux fixed to a housing by a partition, with the end portion opened. A blood port provided with a blood intake is attached to the opened end plane. The angle of the blood intake interior wall of the blood port has an inclination &thgr; of 1.5° or less as to the center axis of the blood port. The distance h of the interior face of the blood port and the flux-holding partition it faces is 0.08 D≦h≦0.13 D where Q represents the intersection between a hypothetical line which passes through the end portion P of the inner plane of the blood port and is orthogonal with the partition and a hypothetical extension line from the ceiling plane of the blood port, h represents the distance between the partition and the intersection Q, and D represents the diameter at the end portion of the inner plane of the blood port. The blood processing apparatus is used for blood purifying, dialysis, ultrafiltration, and the like.

Abstract: An infusion filter comprising a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers with the outside of both ends fixed with a potting material and a housing that has a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port and that is packed with the hollow fibers, wherein a filtration portion is provided between the liquid inlet port and the liquid outlet port, and wherein a packing rate of the hollow fibers packed in the housing is set in the range from 15 to 40%. With such a structure, the infusion filter having the great filtration capacity can be provided at low cost.

Abstract: The reactor includes a hollow fiber membrane bundle. Pressurized hydrogen and water are introduced into a volume containing the fiber bundle. The fibers are free to separate and more independently over most of their length. The fibers have microporous inner and outer layers and a nonporous layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers and are sealed on one end. Hydrogen is introduced inside the fibers, which are sealed on one end to prevent direct escape of the hydrogen gas. The H2 gas dissolves then diffuses through the nonporous layer. Water is introduced around the fibers, and the biofilm reaction occurs on the outer surface of the fibers. Oxidized contaminants are removed from the water by the biofilm reaction, which consumes H2 gas that diffuses through the membrane. The individual fibers are free, over most of their length, to separate in response to the water flow. This prevents excessive biofilm-to-biofilm contact.

Abstract: A dual-stage filtration cartridge is provided. The cartridge can be embodied as a mid-dilution hemodiafiltration cartridge or a redundant sterilization filtration cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing having a first end and an opposing second end. The housing has a primary fluid inlet and outlet at the first end of the cartridge. The housing also defines first and second filtration stages with the first filtration stage including first filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing. Each stage has a separate inter-lumen fiber space, but shares a common extra-lumen space. The primary fluid inlet communicates with the first filtering elements at the first end so that fluid flows through the first filtering elements toward the second end. The second filtration stage includes second filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing with the fluid outlet communicating with the second filtering elements at the first end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device for the physical elimination of microbes, suspended matter and solids from water, which in a housing has a filter insert made of 200 to 10000 hollow-fiber membranes with a defined pore width between 0.001 and 1.0 &mgr;m and which can be mounted on a water tap with its top side. A disadvantage of previously known filter devices is that deposits will adhere to the fibers. In order to remedy this drawback, the bottom side of the device of the invention features separate outlets for filtered and unfiltered water and at least in the outlet for the unfiltered water a valve is fitted with which this outlet can be closed.

Abstract: A filter includes a plurality of filter units formed of a porous ceramic medium arranged and housed in a casing, and having therethrough a circulatory line for passing a feed fluid and a discharging route for passing a permeated fluid. The circulatory line and the discharging route are separated from each other by partially sealing those portions of the filter units which are fixed to opposite ends of the casing. The filter unit is structured to basically have a large number of open channels communicating with the circulatory line and passing the feed fluid and closed channels passing the permeated fluid, and a large number of discharge holes penetrating a solid portion of the porous ceramic medium to discharge the permeated fluid. As seen in any cross section of the filter orthogonal to one direction thereof, the plurality of filter units occupy an area corresponding to at least 35% of an internal area of the casing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for concentrating a blood fraction. The device includes an ultrafiltration unit connected to a fluid delivery system for delivering the blood fraction to be concentrated into the ultrafiltration unit. The device also includes a purge fluid delivery system for expelling concentrate from the ultrafiltration unit. In one embodiment, the device accommodates multiple cycles of concentration. A blood fraction concentration method is also provided. The device and method of the present invention are particularly useful for preparing a plasma concentrate suitable for use in a coagulum-based wound sealant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filtering device comprising a pressure vessel provided with a feed connection and a filtrate connection, and one or more capillary filtration membrane modules, said membrane modules comprising an inlet coupled with the feed connection, an outlet coupled with the filtrate connection, and a filter housing provided with a membrane compartment accommodating a bundle of capillary filtration membranes, and said capillary filtration membranes being cased at both ends of the membrane module in membrane holders. At least one of the membrane modules is provided with at least one feed-through conduit extending substantially in the longitudinal direction through the membrane module.

Abstract: A hollow fiber separation membrane element and a module thereof which comprise a bundle of a great number of bunches of hollow fiber separation membranes, the bunches of hollow fiber separation membranes being each reinforced with a filament wound therearound. Breakage or rupture of the hollow fiber separation membranes is prevented during production and use.

Abstract: A membrane filtration module, comprising a housing, a semi-permeable membrane, which is accommodated in the housing and has a liquid side for the introduction of liquid to be filtered and a concentrate side opposite the liquid side, as well as a permeate chamber, which surrounds the membrane and is in communication with a permeate-discharge line for discharging permeate. According to the invention, the wall of the housing comprises one or more channels which are closed towards the liquid side and the concentrate side and are in communication with the permeate chamber. These channels act as a permeate discharge.

Abstract: An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.

Abstract: A system for preparing autologous plasma comprises a single use filter unit having two inlets in fluid communication with each other, an outlet, and a filtration membrane selectively permeable to blood plasma separating the inlets from the outlet. Manually operable, single use pumps, preferably syringes, connect to the inlets. A flow path is defined along the membrane between the pumps, whereby, whole blood can be repeatedly exchanged between the two pumps, past the membrane, to cause plasma to flow across the membrane and out of the outlet. A syringe can collect plasma from the outlet. Plasma thus collected can be simultaneously applied with a thrombin solution to a site on the body, thereby forming a fibrin gel.

Abstract: A filter module for filtering raw liquid that includes an outer housing having a longitudinal axis and raw liquid inlet and outlet ends. A non-porous member is attached to each end of the outer housing to form a seal between a hollow tube and the outer housing. A plurality of fins are disposed among hollow fiber filter elements to separate the elements into a plurality of bundles. Each of the fins has a plurality of spacers abutting the hollow tube to form liquid pathways between each of the respective fins in the hollow tube.

Abstract: An antimicrobial microfiltration filter is made from a bundle of polymeric semipermeable hollow fibers treated with an antimicrobial agent and a microporous filter medium which may also be treated with an antimicrobial agent.