W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Christopher J Shultz

Kenneth Stephen Zukor

John C Allen

Brian C Martonik

A filtration article including a composite filtration structure, a seal region positioned within the composite filtration structure, and an attachment weld that interconnects the seal region and an outer casing is provided. The composite filtration structure includes a stacked filter material including at least two fluoropolymer membranes and a support layer. The support layer may be formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. When heated, the polymer in the support layer melts and flows into the fluoropolymer membranes. In exemplary embodiments, the polymer is imbibed through the thickness of the fluoropolymer membranes. The attachment weld may be positioned at any location within the seal region so long as the attachment weld is positioned a distance from the outer periphery of the composite filtration structure. The filtration article is small in size, is lightweight, and may be used as a sterilizing grade filter. Methods of producing the filtration article also provided.

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Baldwin, MD, United States of America

Christopher J Shultz