Hollow Fiber Or Cylinder Patents (Class 210/500.23)
  • Patent number: 8075773
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module unit using the hollow fiber membrane module, and a water treatment method using the module or the module unit enable the efficient contact of microorganisms on the surface of a membrane with a gas, the module and the unit having excellent durability. The hollow fiber membrane module is formed in such a manner that the end parts of sheet-form hollow fiber membranes are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and the end face of the anchoring member on a side where the hollow fiber membranes open is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow fiber membrane module unit is formed in such a manner that a plurality of modules is disposed. The water treatment method is used to purify treated water with the microorganisms adhered onto the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes by using the module or the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Watari, Satoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8070964
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that a base material comprises ester groups in the main chain and/or in the side chain(s), and comprises a polymer having hydrophobic groups. Particularly, the hydrophobic groups can be introduced by irradiating the base material with a radiation during the base material contacts an aqueous solution of a monohydric alcohol or an aqueous solution of an alcohol having not less than 2 hydroxyl groups, which is a monomer or a polymer, and which has one or more carbon atoms between the carbon atoms to each of which the hydroxyl group is bound in the monomer or in each monomer constituting the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: TORAY Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Miho Araki, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Hiroyuki Sugaya
  • Publication number: 20110290716
    Abstract: A porous membrane of vinylidene fluoride resin, having two major surfaces sandwiching a certain thickness, including a dense layer which governs filtration performance on the one major surface side and a sparse layer which contributes to reinforcement on the other opposite major surface side, and having an asymmetrical gradient network texture including pore sizes which increase continuously from the one major surface to the other opposite major surface, wherein the dense layer includes a 7 ?m-thick portion contiguous to the one major surface showing a porosity A1 of at least 50%, and the one major surface shows a pore size of at most 0.30 ?m. The vinylidene-fluoride-resin porous membrane is generally useful as a porous membrane for separation and particularly exhibits good water-permeation-rate retentivity even in continuous filtration of cloudy water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tada, Takeo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110290709
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane where the membrane strength and pressure resistance to pressurization from the dialysate side is ensured, the retaining rate of water permeability after the repeated pressure load from outside is high, the resistance to the pressure from outside is excellent and the assembling property into module (low leakage rate at the adhered part) is satisfactory at the same time. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the same, and a blood purification module. An annealing spinning method was found where a spinning dope is discharged from a nozzle into a coagulation bath, an appropriate elongation is applied so as to enhance the membrane strength, an elongation is continued during a water-washing step so as not to relax the elongation, and no elongation is applied during drying whereby the strain is relaxed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: TOYO BOSEKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ohno, Isamu Yamamoto, Takahito Sagara, Kimihiro Mabuchi, Tohru Uenishi, Shinya Koyama
  • Patent number: 8051991
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing of an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane, comprising the steps of extruding a polymer solution through the outer ring slit of a hollow fiber spinning nozzle, simultaneously extruding a center fluid through the inner bore of the hollow fiber spinning nozzle, into a precipitation bath, whereby the polymer solution contains 10 to 26 wt-% of polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES) or polyarylethersulfone (PAES), 8 to 15 wt-% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), 55 to 75 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 3 to 9 wt-% water the centre fluid contains 70 to 90 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 10 to 30 wt-% water, and the precipitation bath contains 0 to 20 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 80 to 100 wt-% water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Bernd Krause, Markus Hornung, Herman Goehl
  • Publication number: 20110266222
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane has an outer layer of polybenzimidazole (PBI) and an inner support layer, e.g., polyetherimide (PEI). The hollow fiber membrane is made by a co-extrusion (spinning) process. The hollow fiber membrane may be used in a pervaporation process, such as a pervaporation dehydration of an organic liquid, e.g., ethylene glycol (EG). A contactor is made with the hollow fiber membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Yan WANG, Michael Gruender, Tai-shung Chung
  • Publication number: 20110259816
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a porous hollow fiber membrane that can efficiently separate and remove the substances to be removed such as small-particle virus contained in a solution and, at the same time, useful recovering substances such as protein can be efficiently permeated and the decrease of its transmission rate with elapse of time is small. The porous hollow fiber membrane of the present invention is characterized in that the filtration downstream surface thereof has dot-shaped or slit-shaped pores, the filtration upstream surface thereof is a network structure or a fine particle aggregate structure, the central region of the membrane is composed of a substantially homogeneous structure, the membrane wall is composed of a structure having substantially no macrovoids, the permeability for pure water is 10 to 300 L/(h·m2·bar) and the permeability for a 0.1% by weight solution of bovine ?-globulin is 30 to 100% of the permeability for pure water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYO BOSEKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yokota, Noriaki Kato, Hirofumi Ogawa, Junsuke Morita
  • Publication number: 20110259815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing man-made devices which have the properties and functions of biological membranes and membrane proteins, and to the structure of such devices. Briefly, in one aspect of the invention, natural or genetically engineered proteins are incorporated into a polymeric vesicle that is conjugated to a thread to form a vesicle-thread conjugate. The engineered protein is preferably a transmembrane protein embedded in the wall of the polymeric vesicle. The vesicle-thread conjugate is then formed into a membrane or thin fabric having a wide variety of inherent functionality, including the ability to selectively transport and/or filter compounds between fluids. By selecting proteins with specific properties, membranes can be fabricated with a defined functionality including molecular scale addressability via directed electrostatic, electromagnetic, and chemical forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Carlo D. Montemagno
  • Patent number: 8043508
    Abstract: A method for membrane filtration purification of suspended water, comprising filtering the suspended water under an external pressure through a porous hollow fiber membrane comprising a polyolefin, a copolymer of olefin and halogenated olefin, halogenated polyolefin or a mixture thereof and having an open area ratio in an outer surface of not less than 20% and a pore diameter in a minimum pore diameter layer of not smaller than 0.03 ?m and not larger than 1 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Kubota, Takashi Ikemoto, Hiroshi Hatayama
  • Patent number: 8042695
    Abstract: An external pressure type hollow fiber membrane module, comprising a hollow fiber membrane bundle formed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, a housing, and an inlet/outlet nozzle for fluid, wherein hollow fiber membranes are fixedly adhered to each other and the hollow fiber membranes are fixedly adhered to the inner wall of the housing at both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The hollow part at one or both side adhesively-fixed ends is opened, and the inlet/outlet nozzle for fluid is installed at the side face of the housing at least at one adhesively-fixed end in which the hollow part is opened. Where the membrane occupied rates of the nozzle in a neighboring area (A) and a non-neighboring area (B) among membrane chargeable areas on the inside of the adhesively-fixed part at at least one adhesively-fixed end positioned near the nozzle and where the hollow part is opened are PA and PB, the ratio of the membrane occupied rates PB/PA is 0.50 to 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventor: Yuzuru Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8039206
    Abstract: Improved methods for detecting microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria in mixtures, are disclosed. Methods include passing a sample mixture through a filter device, which has been pretreated with a detergent, resuspending the filtrand in the filter membranes and detecting the presence of microorganisms in the filtrand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Elizabeth Ann Keenan
  • Publication number: 20110233138
    Abstract: A biocompatible polymer composition suited to forming a dialysis membrane includes a matrix material and at least one xanthone. The composition may be formed into a membrane for inserting into a dialyzer filter whereby free radicals in the fluid are removed by the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Thein Kyu, Neelakandan Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 8025158
    Abstract: A poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having a high molecular weight and a reduced content of low molecular weight species can be prepared by a method that includes specific conditions for the oxidative polymerization, chelation, and isolation steps. The poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) is particularly useful for the fabrication of fluid separation membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Erik René Delsman, Gert-Jan Schoenmakers
  • Patent number: 8012351
    Abstract: A concentrator is used for concentrating a fluid, particularly a plasma component out of blood, for treatment of a patient. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing defining a centrifuge chamber, that also holds the filter. The concentrator allows viewing of the fluid after centrifuging, with an outlet port positionable at a height corresponding to the level of the fraction of the fluid to be further concentrated. Once the fluid is centrifuged, a portion of the fluid is drawn through the outlet, and then pressured past the filter to further concentrate the fluid using the same vessel as used for centrifuging. The same plunger is preferably used to draw centrifuged fluid from the centrifuge chamber as to pressure the centrifuged fluid past the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Circle Biologics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Coull, Matthew R. Kyle, Louis S. Kidder
  • Publication number: 20110192787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a through-one-end water collection type hollow fiber membrane and a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, an internal sealing part is formed in the hollow part of the membrane at its free end. The internal sealing part supports an external sealing part surrounding the external surface of the free end such that the durability of the whole sealing part might be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: JaeHee RYU, Moo-Seok LEE
  • Publication number: 20110186518
    Abstract: A biocompatible polymer composition which includes a matrix material and at least one of an isoflavone and a flavone at least partially dispersed in the matrix material is suited to use in a membrane for hemodialysis and other in vivo and in vitro applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Neelakandan Chandrasekaran, Thein Kyu
  • Patent number: 7985337
    Abstract: A device for reducing the number of leucocytes in blood comprising a plurality of hollow fibers based on organic polymers, whereby the hollow fibers have a lumen and a wall surrounding the lumen, said wall having an internal surface facing the lumen and an external surface, whereby the hollow fibers are arranged in a cylindrical housing with an inlet arrangement and an outlet arrangement and whereby an outer space is formed between the hollow fibers and the housing, which space is accessible for a fluid via the inlet arrangement and the outlet arrangement, characterized in that only the external surfaces of the hollow fibers are accessible for a fluid, that the lumina of the hollow fibers are not accessible for a fluid, that the arrangement of the hollow fibers shows a high degree of order and that the hollow fibers based on organic polymers cause a generation of the complement activation product C5a in a concentration of at least 10 ?g per m2 of fiber surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Membrana GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Heuser, Martin König, Horst-Dieter Lemke, Bodo Von Harten
  • Publication number: 20110168628
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane is produced through a thermally induced phase separation process by dissolving a highly hydrophilic polyamide resin in a high-boiling-point solvent such as an aprotic polar solvent at a temperature of not lower than 100° C. The hollow fiber membrane has a membrane surface having a water contact angle of not greater than 80 degrees, and has a water permeability of not less than 100 L/m2·atm·h and a 0.1-?m particle rejection percentage of not less than 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: UNITIKA LTD.
    Inventors: Hideto Matsuyama, Takahiro Ono, Satoshi Kawanaka, Kazuo Hirota
  • Publication number: 20110163035
    Abstract: A nanofiber-containing membrane has a specific surface area of 0.1 to 1000 m2/g, porosity of 10 to 99.5% and a pore size of 0.01 to 10 ?m. This provides a nanofiber-containing membrane having properties of high specific surface area, high porosity, nanoscale pore size, high pore uniformity and so on. A process for producing a nanofiber-containing membrane comprising producing a membrane from a polymer solution by electrospinning technology under optimal operation conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: TAIWAN TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Tai-Hong Cheng, Cheng-Chiang Huang
  • Publication number: 20110155659
    Abstract: Disclosed is a porous membrane with high tensile strength, good elongation at break, and good water permeability, and a method for manufacturing the same. The porous membrane comprises a bead structure including plural spherical crystallites, wherein macro voids isolated from one another with the plural spherical crystallites are formed in an outer surface side of the porous membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joon-Khee Yoon, Moo-Seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20110147308
    Abstract: A charged porous polymeric membrane comprises a porous polymeric membrane substrate comprising a polymeric membrane material and a first polymer having a first functional group, the first polymer is compatible with the membrane material, and a charged polymer has a second functional group, the charged polymer can react with the first polymer to bond the charged polymer to the first polymer, forming a charged coating on the membrane outer and inner surfaces. The membrane may be a microporous or an ultrafiltration membrane. The membrane may be a hollow fiber, flat sheet, or tubular membrane. Methods of manufacturing the membranes and method of using of the membranes to remove viral particles from contaminated water are further described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Geoffrey JOHNSTON-HALL, Heinz-Joachim Muller, Dongliang Wang
  • Publication number: 20110147300
    Abstract: A composition for preparation of a hollow fiber porous membrane including 40-60 wt. % a polymer matrix, 20-30 wt. % an organic mixed solution, and 20-40 wt. % a water-soluble substance. The polymer matrix is a polymer capable of dissolving in an organic solvent and melt processing. The organic mixed solution is a mixture comprising 60-90 wt. % a first liquid soluble to the polymer matrix and 10-40 wt. % a second liquid insoluble to the polymer matrix. The water-soluble substance is a water-soluble polymer, a low molecular weight water-soluble particle, or a mixture thereof. A method for producing the hollow fiber porous membrane using the composition including a) preparing the organic mixed solution, b) mixing the components of the composition, c) applying melt spinning, d) drawing, and e) washing. The hollow fiber membrane has high strength, large flux, and low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: TIANJIN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Changfa XIAO, Xiaoyu HU, Haixian LIANG, Shulin AN
  • Patent number: 7964097
    Abstract: A multicapillary column especially useful for liquid chromatography and sample preparation comprising a plurality of uniform capillaries coated with an insoluble stationary phase, wherein the thickness of the stationary phase is correlated with the radius of the individual capillaries for high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventors: Yuri P. Belov, Carlo G. Pantano, Subramania Ramachandran, Vladimir N. Sidelnikov
  • Patent number: 7950529
    Abstract: A membrane for fluid separation made of a blend of at least a polyimide polymer and a polyimidazole polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Sudhir S. Kulkarni, Dean W. Kratzer
  • Patent number: 7950528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a through-one-end water collection type hollow fiber membrane and a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, an internal sealing part is formed in the hollow part of the membrane at its free end. The internal sealing part supports an external sealing part surrounding the external surface of the free end such that the durability of the whole sealing part might be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: JaeHee Ryu, Moo-Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 7935071
    Abstract: A fluid removal apparatus comprising a blood removal catheter for insertion into a peripheral vein or artery and having a size 16 standard gage needle or less; a filter having a blood inlet port coupled to the blood removal catheter, a blood outlet port, an excess fluid removal port, and a blood flow passage with porous membrane which passes fluids to the fluid removal port and retains solutes of 60,000 Daltons or greater, and a blood return catheter for inserting into a peripheral vein or artery and having a size of 16 standard gage needle or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: CHF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand, John O'Mahony, Hans-Dietrich Polaschegg
  • Patent number: 7935418
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of porous polymeric fibres comprising functionalized or active particles. By extruding a mixture of one or more dissolved polymers with particulate material a porous fibre is obtained in which the particulate material is entrapped. Extrusion of the fibre occurs under two-step phase inversion conditions. In particular the porous fibres can be used for the isolation of macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, nucleic acids or other organic compounds from complex reaction mixtures, in particular from fermentation broths. Another application is the immobilization of a catalyst in a reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Mosaic Systems B.V.
    Inventors: Geert-Hendrik Koops, Maria Elena Avramescu, Zandrie Borneman, Ryotaro Kiyono, Matthias Wessling
  • Patent number: 7931154
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing of an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane, comprising the steps of extruding a polymer solution through the outer ring slit of a hollow fiber spinning nozzle, simultaneously extruding a center fluid through the inner bore of the hollow fiber spinning nozzle, into a precipitation bath, whereby the polymer solution contains 10 to 26 wt-% of polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES) or polyarylethersulfone (PAES), 8 to 15 wt-% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and 60 to 80 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP), the center fluid contains 60 to 70 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 30 to 40 wt-% water, and the precipitation bath contains 70 to 82 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 18 to 30 wt-% water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Bernd Krause, Markus Hornung, Herman Goehl
  • Patent number: 7923060
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a thin and uniform ceramic filter formed with less membrane formation times and having less defects. A ceramic sol whose average pore diameter after the sol itself has been formed into a membrane is larger than that of a ceramic separation membrane and is 10 nm or less is brought into contact with the surface of a ceramic separation membrane having an average pore diameter of 0.5 to 10 nm, and the ceramic separation membrane having the ceramic sol is dried and then fired to repair a defect portion of the ceramic separation membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Isomura, Tatsuya Hishiki, Ichiro Wada
  • Patent number: 7922007
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a permselective separation membrane that can be used in blood purifying treatment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a polysulfone-based permselective separation membrane which has well-balanced separation properties, highly stable safety and performance, and also can be smoothly assembled into a module, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimihiro Mabuchi, Hideyuki Yokota, Katsuaki Kuze, Noriyuki Tamamura, Makoto Ono, Noriko Monden, Noriaki Kato, Hiroshi Shibano, Katsuhiko Nose
  • Patent number: 7922902
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module unit using the hollow fiber membrane module, and a water treatment method using the module or the module unit enable the efficient contact of microorganisms on the surface of a membrane with a gas, the module and the unit having excellent durability. The hollow fiber membrane module is formed in such a manner that the end parts of sheet-form hollow fiber membranes are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and the end face of the anchoring member on a side where the hollow fiber membranes open is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow fiber membrane module unit is formed in such a manner that a plurality of modules is disposed. The water treatment method is used to purify treated water with the microorganisms adhered onto the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes by using the module or the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Watari, Satoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 7918921
    Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membrane elements, arranged within a housing. The housing contains tube sheets that divide the space within the housing into three separate, gas-tight spaces, with the tubes mounted in the central space. Feed gas enters the tubes through apertures positioned to feed multiple membrane elements within a tube in parallel, and one or more manifolds are used to collect residue gas from the membrane elements and direct the gas to the residue port or to a second group of membrane elements within the tube. The assembly can be used in various ways to carry out gas separation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventor: Nicholas P Wynn
  • Patent number: 7910009
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of water borne oxidized contaminants, using hydrogen as an electron donor for denitrification and reduction of other oxidized contaminants. Preliminary results reported here show that a biofilm of autotrophic denitrifiers accumulates rapidly in the wastewater setting, the MBfR can drive NO3? concentrations below 1 mgN/L, and the H2 pressure controls the NO3? flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Bruce E. Rittmann, Robert Nerenberg, César I. Torres
  • Patent number: 7909178
    Abstract: A porous membrane, made of polyvinylidene fluoride which is excellent in fractionating capability, permeating capability and physical strength and suitable for use in water treatment such as water purification, preparation of drinking water, preparation of water for industrial use and wastewater treatment, and which can be manufactured inexpensively and easily. The porous membrane has one surface formed with round or oval micropores and the opposite surface formed with substantially slit shaped micropores. The round or oval micropores have an average ratio between the major axis and the minor axis, which is within the range of 1:1 to 5:1, and the substantially slit shaped micropores have an average ratio between the major axis and the minor axis, which is not smaller than 5:1 and the particle cutoff of the membrane is not smaller than 0.2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Arata Ishiodori, Kensaku Komatsu, Koji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7909177
    Abstract: A braid-reinforced composite hollow fiber membrane is disclosed. The braid-reinforced composite hollow fiber membrane comprising a reinforcing material of a tubular braid and a polymer resinous thin film coated on the surface of the tubular braid is characterized in that: the tubular braid comprises multifilaments made of monofilaments having a fineness of 0.01 to 0.4 denier, and the peeling strength of the tubular braid and a polymer resinous thin film coated on the surface thereof is 1 to 10 MPa. In the composite hollow fiber membrane, the fineness of the mono filaments constituting the tubular braid of the reinforcing material is small, that is, 0.01 to 0.4 denier, thus the surface area of the tubular braid contacted with the polymer resinous thin film is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Moo Seok Lee, Kwang Jin Lee, Yong-Cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20110031184
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a semipermeable hollow fiber membrane having an outer wall surface, an inner wall surface and an interior lumen extending along the length thereof and having the selective layer on the outer wall surface with a surface roughness below 10 nm. According to the invention the membrane has the smallest pore size on the outer wall surface, and has an outer wall surface which is smooth, continuous and homogeneous in a nanoscopic scale and four to five distinct layers of different pore size and density. Further the present invention concerns a process for manufacturing thereof and the use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Bernd Krause, Hermann Gohl, Markus Hornung, Carina Kraft
  • Patent number: 7883048
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the combining of hollow fibers to form a bundle, wherein after a batch-wise taking of continuously manufactured hollow fibers onto a reel apparatus the hollow fibers placed together to form bundles are wound around by means of a winding film and are subsequently welded. Such hollow fibers represent intermediate products in the manufacture of dialyzers for use in hemodialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Jörn Hörmann
  • Publication number: 20110017660
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane that can be used in treatment in various aqueous fluids such as water purification, beverage treatment, seawater clarification, and that has excellent fractionation characteristics and permeability, while deterioration of its performance due to passage of time is minimized, and that has excellent recovery of the membrane-separation characteristics by cleaning. The main feature of the hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane of the present invention is that the specific surface area of the membrane surface to which raw water is supplied falls within the range from not less than 1.10 to not greater than 1.55. The present invention also provides a process for producing a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane, wherein a heat treatment is conducted under the condition that the membrane having a residual organic solvent content of not greater than 300 mg/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYO BOSEKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kochi, Tsuyoshi Hoshiyama, Hideki Sugihara, Akihiro Ariji, Koichi Baba, Hideki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110017654
    Abstract: A separation membrane includes a membrane comprising a polymer, characterized in that a functional layer is formed on the surface in one side of the membrane, the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface of the preceding functional layer is 0.1% (by atomic number) or more but not more than 10 (% by atomic number), and the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface opposite to the functional layer is not more than 10 (% by atomic number). A separation membrane module suffering from little sticking of organic matters, proteins, platelets and so on is provided with the separation membrane as a built-in membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ueno, Masaki Fujita, Hiroyuki Sugaya
  • Patent number: 7875176
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a membrane module including a first plurality of fibers capable of filtering fluids that are helically wound in layers creating a mono helix. Fluids to be treated can flow radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mono helix or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mono helix. The membrane module can further include a second plurality of fibers that are helically wound with the first plurality of fibers to create a dual helix. The second plurality of fibers can have different properties than the first plurality of fibers in order to achieve different filtering functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Porous Media Corporation
    Inventors: Philip M. Rolchigo, John H. Burban, John Shanahan, Robert O. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20110011794
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is a method of forming a nanochannel including depositing a photosensitive film stack over a substrate and forming a pattern on the film stack using interferometric lithography. The method can further include depositing a plurality of silica nanoparticles to form a structure over the pattern and removing the pattern while retaining the structure formed by the plurality of silica nanoparticles, wherein the structure comprises an enclosed nanochannel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Steven R. J. Brueck, Deying Xia
  • Patent number: 7871566
    Abstract: A device and method for enriching and/or depleting substances in a liquid is disclosed. An exemplary device comprises a membrane module that consists essentially of concentric elements and that has a separation element in which the substance to be enriched and/or depleted is carried, and whereby the liquid is carried outside of the separation element. The exemplary device also comprises a drive module that encompasses a drive unit for driving a conveying element that conveys the liquid, the drive unit having a radial magnetic coupling for a central impeller located on the inside. The exemplary device further comprises a conveying module for conveying the liquid through the device, housing the conveying element, whereby the drive module is adapted to be inserted into and removed from the membrane module with a liquid-tight closure. The exemplary device further an oxygenator having an outside fiber bundle and an inside fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ilias-medical GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Strauss, Mustafa Akdis
  • Publication number: 20110009799
    Abstract: The invention relates to extracorporeal blood circuits, and components thereof (e.g., hollow fiber membranes, potted bundles, and blood tubing), including 0.005% to 10% (w/w) surface modifying macromolecule. The extracorporeal blood circuits have an antithrombogenic surface and can be used in hemofiltration, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, hemoconcentration, blood oxygenation, and related uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Interface Biologics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjoy Mullick, Weilun Chang, Hanje Chen, Mark Steedman, Roseita Esfand
  • Patent number: 7867319
    Abstract: A filled epoxy tubesheet comprises an epoxy filled with a metal, such as aluminum flakes. Embodiments of the filled epoxy tubesheets can bend due to stress on the surface rather than crack. Embodiments of the filled epoxy tubesheet can be used to improve Air Separation Module performance by reducing or eliminating leakage through crack in the tubesheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Rehan Zaki, Stephen Yates, Tihomir Tonev
  • Patent number: 7866486
    Abstract: Composites comprising at least one hollow fiber of oxygen-transporting ceramic material, which is a ceramic material which conducts oxygen anions and electrons or a combination of ceramic material which conducts oxygen anions and a ceramic or nonceramic material which conducts electrons, with the outer surface of the hollow fiber being in contact with the outer surface of the same hollow fiber or another hollow fiber and the contact points being joined by sintering, are described. Further composites comprise at least one hollow fiber of oxygen-transporting ceramic material which is a ceramic material which conducts oxygen anions and electrons or a combination of ceramic material which conducts oxygen anions and ceramic or nonceramic material which conducts electrons and a connection element for the introduction or discharge of fluids at at least one end face, with hollow fibers and connection element being joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Uhde GmbH, BORSIG Process Heat Exchanger GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Werth, Nicole Dinges, Mirjam Kilgus, Thomas Schiestel
  • Patent number: 7862719
    Abstract: A membrane module (3) comprising a plurality of porous hollow membranes (8). The membranes (8) extend between and are fixed at each end in a header (5, 6). One header (6) has one or more of openings (12) formed therein. The openings (12) are in fluid communication with a source of gas and/or liquid (13, 14, 15). The other of the headers (5) is sealingly connected to and in fluid communication with a head-piece (9). The head-piece (9) is adapted to couple to an associated head-piece of a further module to form a rack of modules (17). A potting head (6) for use in mounting porous hollow membranes (8) is also disclosed comprising a preformed potting element (29). The potting element (29) includes one or more cavities (30) for receiving curate potting material which, in use, supports said membranes (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Robert James McMahon, David John Cox, Fufang Zha, Roger William Phelps, Warren Thomas Johnson, Sargon Barkho
  • Publication number: 20100320146
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrophilic membranes which are supplemented or treated with a non-ionic surfactant and processes for preparing such membranes. The membranes are particularly suitable for plasma separation or for haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration, but can also advantageously be used in other applications. Accordingly, the invention is further directed to the use of such membranes for plasma separation, plasma filtration, micro filtration, plasma therapy, haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration or cell filtration applications, respectively. The treated hydrophilic membranes show excellent biocompatibility, such as reduced platelet drop and decreased TAT levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Bernd Krause, Markus Hornung, Reinhold Deppisch, Doris Deppisch, Silvia Koch
  • Patent number: 7850853
    Abstract: The invention discloses a kind of porous membrane filtration component for treating water, specifically it discloses a kind of suspending porous hollow fiber membrane bundle for treating highly turbid waste water. The component includes some porous hollow fiber membrane yarns and casting heads arranged at both ends of respective yarns, wherein the connections between the said casting heads and membrane filtration module are flexible connections, at least one end of the flexible connection the cast header is connected with a hollow tube or cord, and the membrane bundle hangs on the said membrane filtration module, suspending freely. The invention provides a suspending porous hollow membrane bundle that can effectively remove contaminants adhered to the surface of the membrane yarns, makes its membrane yarns difficult to rupture, has a longer service life, and produces water with steady quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Zhejiang Environmental Engineering Company Limited
    Inventors: Yang Wu, Xiang Li, Zhiming Tong
  • Publication number: 20100307974
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyaniline, comprising aniline units and organosulphur units, characterized in that the polyaniline is doped and has a number average degree of polymerization of approximately 5 to approximately 50. The scope of the invention also includes a process for the preparation of polyaniline, wherein aniline and at least one organosulphur unit are converted to a polyaniline derivative in an oxidative, acid-catalyzed polymerization reaction. A subject of the invention is also a coated substrate which is coated with the polyaniline according to the invention and also a process for the coating of the substrate. The scope of the invention furthermore also includes a coating composition which is suitable for the coating of the substrate. The invention thus also relates to a process for the preparation of the coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: SUD-CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Pettinger, Franz-Xaver Muller, Gerhard Illing, Mathias Ulbricht
  • Patent number: RE42669
    Abstract: A gas-scrubbed vertical cylindrical skein of “fibers” has their opposed terminal portions held in headers unconfined in a modular shell, and aerated with a cleansing gas supplied by a gas-distribution means which produces a mass of bubbles serving the function of a scrub-brush for the outer surfaces of the fibers. The skein is surprisingly effective with relatively little cleansing gas, the specific flux through the membranes reaching an essentially constant relatively high value because the vertical deployment of fibers allows bubbles to rise upwards along the outer surfaces of the fibers. The effectiveness is critically dependent upon the length of each fiber in the skein. That length is in the range from at least 0.1% more than the fixed distance between opposed faces of the skein's headers, but less than 5% greater than the fixed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
    Inventors: Wayne Jerald Henshaw, Mailvaganam Mahendran, Henry Behmann