Including Cleaning Or Sterilizing Of Apparatus Patents (Class 210/636)
  • Patent number: 11027989
    Abstract: A membrane filtration system with reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) elements is adapted to provide high recovery from difficult wastewater. The system has a plurality of stages. The system is configured to provide concentrate staging. The last stage also has concentrate recirculation. The valves and pumps of the system are arranged such that the order of flow and a recirculation pump may be switched between the first stage and the last stage at some times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jianwen Zhai
  • Patent number: 10995016
    Abstract: A membrane filtration system with reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) elements is adapted to provide high recovery from difficult wastewater. The system has a plurality of stages. The system is configured to provide concentrate staging. The last stage also has concentrate recirculation. The valves and pumps of the system are arranged such that the order of flow and a recirculation pump may be switched between the first stage and the last stage at some times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jianwen Zhai
  • Patent number: 10994245
    Abstract: A method of treatment of liquid in a liquid treatment system comprising: at least one liquid treatment module including at least one membrane and having a feed liquid inlet at a feed side of said at least one membrane, a permeate outlet at a permeate side of said at least one membrane, and a concentrate outlet at a brine side of said at least one membrane; a high pressure pump operative for pressurizing feed liquid to be received at said feed liquid inlet; and a system controller for controlling operation of the system including providing instructions to operate said high pressure pump in one of at least two operation modes including: a first mode in which the high pressure pump maintains a fixed flow rate of the feed liquid at said feed liquid inlet or of a permeate liquid at said permeate outlet, while energy consumption of said high pressure pump being a function of variations of a first operational parameter measured in the system and indicative of salinity of liquid within said at least one liquid treatm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Benaya Hoz
  • Patent number: 10933379
    Abstract: Provided are a plate-type filter module for water treatment and a filter assembly for water treatment comprising the same. The plate-type filter module for water treatment according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of filter units having a predetermined area and formed in a plate shape; a block frame to which the plurality of filter units is engaged so that the filter units are kept parallel to each other; and a collecting/receiving tube fixed on one side of the block frame and including a plurality of first fittings respectively connected to the plurality of the filter units to allow filtered water produced in the filter units to be introduced thereinto and at least one second fitting for discharging the filtered water introduced through the plurality of first fittings to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Amogreentech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Gu Han
  • Patent number: 10919020
    Abstract: Nanotube compositions may be employed in many different forms alone, and/or with surfactants, with antiviral metals, with antigens, and/or with various drugs to control pathogens like viruses e.g., SARS COVID-2, bacteria, mold, fungi, chemical or biological agents etc in masks or other personal protection equipment. The personal protection equipment such as masks reduce, control, absorb, deactivate, detoxify, and/or kill the pathogens such that a pathogen or pathogens deleterious effects are reduced and/or eliminated to a user of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Molecular Rebar Design, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt W. Swogger, Gregory L. Porter, Milos Marinkovic
  • Patent number: 10882765
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system and method includes a feed pump pressurizing a feed stream, a first and second membrane array that generates permeate and brine streams. A first turbocharger uses first energy from the second brine stream to pressurize the first brine stream. A first and second auxiliary and bypass valves are associated with the first and second turbocharger. A second turbocharger uses second energy from the second brine stream to increase a second pressure of the feed stream. A first flow meter generates a first flow signal for the first permeate stream. A second flow meter generates a second flow signal for of the second permeate stream. A third flow meter generates a third flow signal for the second brine stream or the feed stream. A motor drives the first turbocharger or the feed pump. A controller controls the motor in response to the flow signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FLUID EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10780210
    Abstract: An enclosure for containing a portable hemodialysis unit includes a housing suitable to support components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer. The housing may have a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are located, e.g., blood line connections for patient blood access, connections for a reagent supply, dialyzer connections for both blood flow and dialysate, etc. The enclosure may also include a pair of vertical, side-by-side doors hingedly mounted to the housing. With the doors in the closed position, access to the patient access and dialysate fluidic connections may be blocked, and the doors may allow for the retention of heat in the housing suitable for disinfection during a disinfection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Jason A. Demers, James D. Dale, Arun D. Chawan, David E. Collins
  • Patent number: 10767236
    Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes a step of filtering a saccharified liquid derived from cellulose-containing biomass, through a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane; and a two-step washing step of washing the nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane after the filtration, with an acid washing liquid and then with an alkali washing liquid; is provided. The method of producing a sugar liquid in which a cellulose-derived sugar liquid is processed through a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane is/are effectively washed in a contaminated separation membrane(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa
  • Patent number: 10751460
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of flushing a dialyzer with a flushing liquid, wherein the dialyzer is arranged in a dialyzate-side circuit of a blood treatment device and wherein the dialyzer has at least one dialyzate-side chamber which has at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the flushing liquid and which is flowed through by the flushing liquid, wherein at least one property of the flushing liquid is measured at the outlet of the dialyzer or downstream of the dialyzer in the dialyzate-side circuit to obtain one or more outlet-side measured values, wherein the property depends on the quantity of the air in the flushing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Pascal Kopperschmidt
  • Patent number: 10744427
    Abstract: The present patent document discloses filters and methods of filtering bucket wash water by stacking identical filters in a rotated position. In preferred embodiments, the method comprises: placing a first filter in a bucket; placing an identical second filter on top of the first filter wherein: the second filter is rotated by a radial angle with respect to the first filter and a first pair of tapered passages on the second filter that are longer than typical passages on the second filter are inserted into a second pair of tapered passages on the first filter such that a typical passage on the second filter is held above the first filter and a typical passage on the second filter does not axially align with a typical passage on the first filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SMART, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Schneider
  • Patent number: 10737302
    Abstract: Peroxyformic acid compositions for removal of biofilm growth and mineral deposits on membranes are disclosed. In particular, peroxyformic acid compositions are generated in situ or on site generation for the reduction and prevention, of biofilms and the mitigation of mineral buildup on the membranes. The compositions according to the invention are compatible with the membranes under application of use conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Junzhong Li, Cynthia Bunders, Richard Staub, Paul Frazer Schacht, Caleb Power
  • Patent number: 10717022
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating and preserving biomolecules of a biological fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CHROMOLOGIC LLC
    Inventors: Naresh Menon, Peter Bui, Cheryl Tan
  • Patent number: 10710024
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a membrane housing comprising a reverse osmosis membrane therein. The membrane housing has a feed fluid input, a brine outlet and a permeate outlet; The system further includes a charge pump, a plurality of valves and a tank having a volume comprising a movable partition dividing the volume into a first volume and a second volume. The plurality of valves selectively couples the charge pump to the first volume or the second volume and the brine outlet to the second volume or the first volume respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FLUID EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10646868
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of microfluidic filtering includes activating a first fluid pump within a microfluidic channel to cause a forward flow of fluid through the microfluidic channel and through a filter of a filter loop. The filter loop intersects the microfluidic channel at a loop entry and at a loop exit. The method includes activating a second fluid pump to cause a reverse flow of fluid through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Erik D. Torniainen, Nick McGuinness, David P. Markel, Alexander Govyadinov
  • Patent number: 10576428
    Abstract: An apparatus includes 1) a filtration device including a filtration module to generate a filtrate from an input stream; 2) a desalination device fluidly connected to the filtration device; and 3) a controller configured to direct operation of the filtration device and the desalination device. In a first mode of operation, the filtration module is configured to perform filtration as part of generating the filtrate. In a second mode of operation, the filtration module is configured to receive an output from the desalination device such that the output backwashes the filtration module. The controller is configured to monitor a change in membrane resistance of the filtration module during the first mode of operation, and is configured to trigger the filtration module to enter the second mode of operation based on the change in membrane resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yoram Cohen, Panagiotis D. Christofides, Han Gu, Larry Xingming Gao, Anditya Rahardianto
  • Patent number: 10576474
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reagent cartridge configured for use in an automated multi-module cell processing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Inscripta, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Masquelier, Phillip Belgrader, Brian Van Hatten, Jorge Bernate, Bruce Chabansky
  • Patent number: 10570042
    Abstract: A method of operating osmotic membrane bioreactors (OMBRs) includes the steps of feeding the synthetic wastewater from wastewater tank to the reactor with the help of wastewater pump, and transferring of diluted draw solution through TuNFO membrane to the draw solution tank. The draw solution is diluted through passing of high flux water from the reactor into the membrane by means of osmotic force and vacuum force obtained by operating the vacuum pump at higher velocity than the force pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ISTANBUL TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Serkan Arslan, Ismail Koyuncu, Murat Eyvaz, Derya Imer, Taha Aslan, Ebubekir Yuksel
  • Patent number: 10544445
    Abstract: A rapid one-pass liquid filtration system efficiently concentrates biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. Additional concentration stages may be added in “cascade” fashion, in order to concentrate particles below the size cut of each preceding stage remaining in the separated fluid in a concentrated sample suspension. This process can also be used to create a “band-pass” concentration for concentration of a particular target size particle within a narrow range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: InnovaPrep, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Alburty, Andrew E. Page, Zachary A. Packingham, Daniel B. Marske
  • Patent number: 10543305
    Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Quanta Dialysis Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Clive Buckberry, Keith Heyes, Eduardo Esser
  • Patent number: 10532303
    Abstract: Additively manufactured ceramic filters are disclosed. A plurality of pores, each having a uniform geometry, are arranged between an inlet surface and an outlet surface of a single unit of ceramic such that the plurality of pores change in size uniformly from the inlet surface to the outlet surface. The pores are respectively interconnected, and the size, shape, orientation, and/or interconnection of the pores are chosen to provide hydrodynamic features that provide effective filtration for a given liquid and contamination. The pores are additively manufactured with optimized precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeff Gibson, Steven Ray
  • Patent number: 10525188
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of purging gas bubbles from at least one target zone of an extracorporeal blood circuit, preferably of an extracorporeal blood circuit of a dialysis machine, with a flushing liquid, wherein the flow rate and/or the pressure of the flushing liquid in the extracorporeal blood circuit is/are inconstant at least at times during the flushing process; and/or wherein the flow rate of the flushing liquid in the extracorporeal blood circuit lies above a range of possible flow rates at least at times during the flushing process, which range is used during the treatment for the blood. The invention furthermore relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment unit having an extracorporeal blood circuit, a pump and a control unit, with the control unit being configured to carry out a flushing process in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Wojke, Paul Wieneke
  • Patent number: 10500545
    Abstract: A siphon-type air diffusion device for intermittently performing aeration, comprising: at least two siphon-type air diffusion pipes; and an air supply member that supplies air to the siphon-type air diffusion pipes, wherein the siphon-type air diffusion pipe includes a siphon chamber which includes a first siphon chamber and a second siphon chamber on the downstream side of the first siphon chamber, a communication portion which communicates the first siphon chamber and the second siphon chamber with each other, an air diffusion hole which is provided on the downstream side of the siphon chamber, a path which extends from the siphon chamber to the air diffusion hole, and a treatment water inlet which is provided on the upstream side of the siphon chamber, wherein the air supply member includes a distribution pipe which extends in an arrangement direction of the siphon-type air diffusion pipe, and an introduction portion which is branched from the distribution pipe and includes at least one air supply port sup
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yunje Lee, Makoto Ideguchi
  • Patent number: 10441920
    Abstract: In a first membrane filtration module comprises a membrane module comprising a plurality of permeable hollow membranes; a fluid distribution device adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the membranes of the membrane module, the fluid distribution device comprising a plurality of through-hole openings for distributing a fluid, and the fluid distribution device adapted to distribute a flow of fluid along a surface of the permeable hollow membranes. In a second membrane filtration device comprises a membrane module comprising a plurality of permeable hollow membranes, each of the permeable hollow membranes having a surface; and a gas distribution device: adapted to distribute gas bubbles to the surface of the permeable hollow membrane, adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the plurality of permeable hollow membranes, and defining a plurality of through openings for distributing the gas bubbles to the membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Zhiyi Cao, Jen Thai Law, Huw Alexander Lazaredes
  • Patent number: 10434472
    Abstract: Provided is a seawater desalination system including reverse osmosis membrane modules each including: a reverse osmosis membrane; and a pressure vessel installing the reverse osmosis membrane, and configured to obtain permeated water and concentrated water using the reverse osmosis membranes housed in the reverse osmosis membrane modules by supplying seawater to the reverse osmosis membrane modules. The seawater desalination system includes a module group including the reverse osmosis membrane modules connected together in parallel. The seawater is supplied to each of the reverse osmosis membrane modules by being supplied to the module group through first and second seawater supply routes. The first and second seawater supply routes are each provided with a liquid transport pump configured to supply the seawater flowing through the seawater supply route to the module group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitamura, Shinichi Yoshikawa, Masayuki Matsuura, Takanori Oshikiri, Yusuke Okawa
  • Patent number: 10420344
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a one-liquid stabilized hypobromous acid composition which contains substantially no bromate ions, has excellent sterilization performance, exhibits almost no corrosiveness relative to metals, and displays excellent storage stability. This method for producing the stabilized hypobromous acid composition includes a step in which a reaction is induced by adding, under an inert gas atmosphere, bromine to a mixed solution including water, an alkali hydroxide, and sulfamic acid, wherein the proportion of bromine added is not more than 25 wt % relative to the total weight of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiro Yoshikawa, Shintaro Someya, Masato Tsuji, Chiharu Ohmori
  • Patent number: 10399021
    Abstract: A water purification system (1) includes a composite filter cartridge (100) that includes a pretreatment filter cartridge (110) and a filtration membrane assembly (120), and is provided with a raw water inlet (130), a pretreatment water outlet (140), a pressurizing pretreatment water inlet (150), a pure water outlet (160) and a condensed water outlet (170); a raw water inlet pipe (200) connected with the raw water inlet (130); a pure water outlet pipe (300) connected with the pure water outlet (160); a condensed water outlet pipe (400) connected with the condensed water outlet (170); a pretreatment water outlet pipe (500) connected with the pretreatment water outlet (140); a pressurizing pretreatment water inlet pipe (600) connected with the pressurizing pretreatment water inlet (150) and the pretreatment water outlet pipe (500) respectively; and a booster pump (900) disposed on the pretreatment water outlet pipe (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventors: Xuegang Cai, Xingzhi Zhang
  • Patent number: 10328392
    Abstract: Pleated, tapered, and spiral-wound cross-flow filter elements are described. The filter elements have pleated and tapered membrane leaves. The pleated and tapered membrane leaves maintain retentate fluid velocity in high permeate flux applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventors: Scott P. Yaeger, Walter E. Yaeger
  • Patent number: 10286363
    Abstract: Components, systems, and methods for producing highly hydrophilitic, functionalized inorganic filtration membranes, pre-treating organic and biological-containing waste waters for minimal membrane fouling and scaling when processed using such functionalized membranes, and use of such functionalized membranes of the present invention in filtration systems for separating such pre-treated waste waters, all with respect to optimal permeate production rates, purity of permeate and resistance to fouling and scale formation on the membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: LANCE ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Waymon R. Votaw, Jacob L. Davis, Edward E. Munson, Andrew R. Barron, Samuel J. Maguire-Boyle
  • Patent number: 10246817
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method of treating a fabric article so that it has a characteristic smell normally associated with garments that have been exposed to natural sunlight, the method comprising positioning a fabric article (1) to be treated in an enclosure (8) and irradiating said fabric article positioned in said enclosure with ultraviolet light with a wavelength of between 280 nm and 400 nm and so that it is subjected to a predetermined radiant exposure. A device for treating a fabric article to replicate the characteristic effect of exposing said fabric article to natural sunlight is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Yuqi Wang, Weiran Wang, Yong Jiang, Boon Teck Tan, Jiuyu Zhou
  • Patent number: 10239021
    Abstract: A conformal coating that resists fouling by waterborne contamination in aquatic environments, a method for fabricating the coating, and a filter having such a coating are disclosed. The coating comprises a hydrophilic polymer and a surfactant wherein the surfactant undergoes a phase change upon exposure to a saline solution. Also disclosed are in situ methods for regenerating anti-fouling filters having the fouling resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Ganguli, Vivek Mehrotra, Tony Ten-Luen Liao
  • Patent number: 10195327
    Abstract: A sensing and storage system for fluid balance during dialysis is provided. The sensing and storage system has flow sensors on either side of a dialyzer in a controlled volume dialysate flow path. The sensors are positioned so that no fluid can be added to or removed from the dialysate flow path between the sensors except for that which is added or removed by action of a control pump. The sensing and storage system can have a fluid removal line for the removal of fluid from the dialysate flow loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, William P. Hajko, Thomas P. Hartranft
  • Patent number: 10155677
    Abstract: A method of operating a pressure-retarded osmosis plant, the plant comprising at least one osmosis element having a semi-permeable membrane, the semi-permeable membrane defining a feed side and a permeate side of the osmosis element, the method comprising, in a first mode of operation, supplying a feed stream having a relatively high concentration of solute to the feed side, supplying a permeate stream having a relatively low concentration of solute to an inlet of the permeate side, and receiving a feed outlet stream from the feed side wherein permeate has passed through the semi-permeable membrane from the permeate side to the feed side, in a second mode of operation, supplying a backwash stream having a relatively low concentration to the feed side of the osmosis element such that water passes through the semi-permeable membrane, and receiving a permeate outlet stream from an outlet of the permeate side, the method further comprising alternately performing the first mode of operation, to perform a productio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: I.D.E. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Boris Liberman
  • Patent number: 10143972
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrafiltration membrane comprising a sulfone polymer membrane matrix with pores and an organic polymer sealing layer, wherein the pores are filled with nanoadsorbents. The present invention further provides a method for preparing the ultrafiltration membrane, which includes the following steps: (1) synthesizing nanoadsorbents; (2) preparing the sulfone polymer membrane matrix by immersion-precipitation phase inversion; and (3) immobilizing nanoadsorbents in the pores of the sulfone polymer membrane matrix by reverse filling, then sealing the pores with organic polymers to form a multifunctional ultrafiltration membrane. In the present invention, colloidal gold, polyethylene glycol molecules and Pb(II) ions (and so forth) are utilized as models of viruses, macromolecular organic pollutants, and small molecular pollutants, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jiansheng Li, Shunlong Pan, Xiaofeng Fang, Lianjun Wang, Xiuyun Sun, Jinyou Shen, Weiqing Han, Xiaodong Liu
  • Patent number: 10118850
    Abstract: In order to treat a flow of waste water, there is applied to this flow, after at most an optional pre-treatment of screening/degritting or deoiling, a filtration treatment by means of microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes, by causing the flow to circulate tangentially to the membranes at a velocity of at least 0.1 m/s, in the presence of an organic sequestering agent composed based on organic phosphate at a concentration that is effective for sequestering metal ions contained in the flow and minimizing the formation of calcium carbonate, with a differential pressure on either side of the membranes that is less than or equal to 5 bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Catherine Daines-Martinez, Sebastien Logette, Christophe Amiel
  • Patent number: 10106440
    Abstract: A membrane separation device is provided with membrane modules comprising multiple membrane elements, a frame body accommodating the membrane modules stacked in multiple stages, a stopper for closing an end portion of the frame body to prevent the membrane modules accommodated in the frame from being released, and elastic members which, arranged in a state of elastic deformation in the vertical direction in the frame with the end portion of the frame being closed, suppress vertical vibration of the membrane modules accommodated in the frame, whereby making it possible to avoid vibration of the membrane modules inside the frame body even if the volume of the membrane modules accommodated in the frame body varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Masutani, Yasunobu Okajima
  • Patent number: 10099952
    Abstract: A method for treating organic wastewater includes: proceeding with anaerobic fermentation on organic wastewater to obtain a fermentation liquid; nitrifying a portion of the fermentation liquid to obtain a first fermentation liquid containing nitrate nitrogen, and separating the remaining portion of the fermentation liquid to obtain a second fermentation liquid containing propionic acid; mixing the first and second fermentation liquids to obtain a mixture; and removing nitrogen and phosphorus from the mixture and then proceeding with sedimentation to obtain a sediment and a supernatant discharged as purified water. An organic wastewater treating system includes an anaerobic fermentation reactor, an aeration tank, a fermentation liquid separating equipment, a biological removal reactor for removing nitrogen and phosphorus, and a sedimentation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: Tongji University, Nanjing University
    Inventors: Yinguang Chen, Hongqiang Ren, Xiong Zheng, Haining Huang, Hui Liu
  • Patent number: 10098993
    Abstract: A sensing and storage system for fluid balance during dialysis is provided. The sensing and storage system has flow sensors on either side of a dialyzer in a controlled volume dialysate flow path. The sensors are positioned so that no fluid can be added to or removed from the dialysate flow path between the sensors except for that which is added or removed by action of a control pump. The sensing and storage system can have a fluid removal line for the removal of fluid from the dialysate flow loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, William P. Hajko, Thomas P. Hartranft
  • Patent number: 10098345
    Abstract: A disinfestation sheet includes a carrier layer with a first and second surface with active pesticidal particles formed therein. The active pesticidal particles contain pesticidal ingredients selected from pyrethroid family or the like. The carrier layer has channels formed therein. The channels form one or more paths between one or more pesticidal particles and at least one of the first and the second surfaces to allow diffusion of the active pesticidal ingredient from the pesticidal particles to at least one of the first and the second surfaces of the carrier layer. The disinfestation sheet may further comprise antioxidant compounds. The disinfestation sheet may also have a base layer attached to the second surface of the carrier layer, an adhesive grip layer attached to the base layer and a support layer attached to the grip layer, where in the support layer is detachable. The carrier layer may also comprise ridges extending outwardly from the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Dong Lin Eugene Tan
  • Patent number: 10099180
    Abstract: Provided is a seawater desalination system including reverse osmosis membrane modules each including: a reverse osmosis membrane; and a pressure vessel installing the reverse osmosis membrane, and configured to obtain permeated water and concentrated water using the reverse osmosis membranes housed in the reverse osmosis membrane modules by supplying seawater to the reverse osmosis membrane modules. The seawater desalination system includes a module group including the reverse osmosis membrane modules connected together in parallel. The seawater is supplied to each of the reverse osmosis membrane modules by being supplied to the module group through first and second seawater supply routes. The first and second seawater supply routes are each provided with a liquid transport pump configured to supply the seawater flowing through the seawater supply route to the module group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kitamura, Shinichi Yoshikawa, Masayuki Matsuura, Takanori Oshikiri, Yusuke Okawa
  • Patent number: 10082452
    Abstract: A filter arrangement with a top element and a bottom element and a filter element therebetween captures oversized particles on the upper surface of the filter element and tangentially rinses these particles using an elution fluid to provide a concentration of particles in a relatively low volume of fluid for further analysis. In an intermediate step, the particles captured by the filter may be rinsed with a rinsing fluid such as water to pass additional undersized particles through the filter, thereby providing a purer sample. To improve efficiency, check valves may be used for passageways with one-way flow. Additionally, a configuration of three-way stopcocks may also be utilized. Finally, a sandwich arrangement is possible, wherein a single bottom element is sandwiched between two opposing top elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: POCARED Diagnostics LTD.
    Inventor: Gal Ingber
  • Patent number: 10065153
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment system in which explosions can be prevented even when filtering water to be treated that is able to generate flammable gas. A water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a water-to-be-treated tank which stores water to be treated, a crossflow-type filtration membrane module which filters the water to be treated, a supply passage through which the water to be treated is supplied to the filtration membrane module from the water-to-be-treated tank by using a supply pump, and a recirculation passage through which the water to be treated is recirculated from the filtration membrane module to the water-to-be-treated tank. The supply passage is provided with an aspirator which mixes a gas with the supplied water to be treated, the gas being recirculated through the recirculation passage to the water-to-be-treated tank together with the water to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hideki Kashihara
  • Patent number: 10052591
    Abstract: Disclosed are system and method for filtration which can minimize the contamination of the filtering membrane through a pretreatment and perform the pretreatment and the filtration with a filtering membrane in a single filtering unit so that any need for separate and additional space and facility for the pretreatment can be obviated. The system for filtration of the present invention comprises a fine bubble supplier for providing fine bubbles into the feed water. The pretreatment is performed by supplying the feed water to be treated into the filtering unit through a dynamic filtration layer which is formed in the filtering unit as the fine bubbles rise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC., KOLON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Lee, Ah Reum Lee, Yong-Cheol Shin, Joon Yul Yang
  • Patent number: 10029213
    Abstract: A system for separating solids from fluid including a solid-laden fluid may include a base fluid, a first separator configured to receive the solid-laden fluid and separate the fluid into a solids portion and an effluent, and a membrane separator configured to receive the effluent and separate the effluent into a permeate and a concentrate. A method for separating solids from fluid may include obtaining a solid-laden fluid, wherein the solid-laden fluid comprises a base fluid, feeding the solid-laden fluid through a centrifuge, removing at least a portion of high gravity solids from the solid-laden fluids, flowing the solid-laden fluid through a membrane separator, removing at least a portion of low gravity solids from the solid-laden fluid, and collecting a permeate from the membrane separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Rahul Dixit, Mukesh Kapila, Yanling Wu
  • Patent number: 10010831
    Abstract: A disposable filtration system can include a disposable filter housing having an ultrafiltration filter contained therein. The disposable filtration system can further include a feed inlet and retentate outlet in fluid communication on one side of the filter and a permeate conduit on the other side of the filter for withdrawing permeate that passes through the filter. The system can include at least one disposable pressure control valve in fluid communication with either the retentate outlet or the permeate conduit and configured to regulate the pressure within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES CORP.
    Inventors: Scott A. Mangiacotti, Parrish M. Galliher, Joseph J. Arduino, Michael Fisher, John J. Vicalvi, Jr., Joseph Makowiecki
  • Patent number: 9987377
    Abstract: A method of targeting bacterially-derived, intact minicells to specific, non-phagocytic mammalian cells employs bispecific ligands to deliver nucleic acids efficiently to the mammalian cells. Bispecific ligands, comprising (i) a first arm that carries specificity for a bacterially-derived minicell surface structure and (ii) a second arm that carries specificity for a non-phagocytic mammalian cell surface receptor are useful for targeting minicells to specific, non-phagocytic mammalian cells and causing endocytosis of minicells by non-phagocytic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: EnGeneIC Molecular Delivery Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Himanshu Brahmbhatt, Jennifer MacDiarmid
  • Patent number: 9950088
    Abstract: A system and method for disinfecting hard surfaces in an area such as a hospital room including a light source emitting UV light and a reflector mounted behind the light source for concentrating and directing the light toward a target. The light source and reflector rotate to direct the concentrated beam around a room, thereby making more efficient use of the energy being emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Surfacide, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Scott Garner, Thomas Smigelski, Timothy Mathew G. Escolin, Waldemar John Lyslo
  • Patent number: 9950103
    Abstract: A combination kidney and liver dialysis system and method provides a portable, lightweight hemodialysis device that removes uremic toxins, hepatic toxins, water, and impurities from the blood. The method comprises separating the blood into a plasma portion and a cellular portion, immediately returning the cellular portion to the body, providing large volumes of replacement fluids, diluting the plasma portion with replacement fluids, and then manipulating the plasma portion of the blood to pass through hemoperfusion membranes, hemodiafiltration membranes, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation membranes. Dialysis is performed on the plasma portion of the blood with an albumin dialyzer against an albumin dialysate and a high molecular weight cut off membrane. Dialysis is performed on the plasma portion of blood with a lipid dialysate comprising 10-30% lipid composition, and a high flux dialyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Saeid Mordechai Nosrati
  • Patent number: 9901883
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a porous hollow-fiber membrane having high strength while maintaining high pure-water permeation performance. A porous hollow-fiber membrane of the present invention is a porous hollow-fiber membrane including a fluororesin-based polymer, in which the porous hollow-fiber membrane has a columnar texture oriented in a longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane, and a molecular chain of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hanakawa, Kenta Iwai, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 9890228
    Abstract: Cross-linked tetrapolymers made up of different diallyl zwitterionic diallyl quaternary ammonium salt monomers, with one of them functioning as a cross-linking monomer. The cross-linked terpolymers include a repeating unit with multiple ligand centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked tetrapolymers are cationic, zwitterionic and anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method of removing metal ions from an aqueous solution with these cross-linked tetrapolymers is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Shamsuddeen Abdullahi Haladu, Shaikh Asrof Ali, Tawfik Abdo Saleh
  • Patent number: 9833744
    Abstract: Provided are processes of removing particulate fouling from a filtration membrane or for preventing membrane fouling by particulate matter. A process capitalizes on reversal of a naturally occurring diisophoretic particle deposition to actively move particulate material away from a membrane. A process includes placing a microparticle including a salt in proximity to a membrane such that the microparticle creates a gradient generated spontaneous electric field or a gradient generated spontaneous chemiphoretic field in the solvent proximal to the membrane that actively draws charged particles away from the membrane thereby removing charged particulate matter away from the membrane or preventing its deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Darrell Velegol, Abhishek Kar, Rajarshi Guha, Manish Kumar