Ibio Limited

Elmex Limited

Kazuo Shiraiwa

Nobuyuki Sugiyama

Shin-ichi Waku

Yuichi Nishimura

Masamichi Tawara

A filter bag ( ) comprises a first thin plastic film ( ); a second thin plastic film ( ) having substantially the same size with the first plastic film and sealed to the first plastic film at a first side-peripheral edge ( ), a second side-peripheral edge ( ) opposite to the first side-peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge ( ) thereof to provide an open-top interior, and a filter sheet ( ) having a length substantially equal to the first and second plastic films and a width smaller than the first and second plastic films. The filter sheet has a first longitudinal edge ( ) interposed and sealed together between the first side-peripheral edges of the first and second plastic films and a second longitudinal edge ( ), opposite to the first longitudinal edge, sealed to the inside of the first plastic film at an intermediate position in width of the filter bag. The filter sheet is also sealed to the inside of the second plastic film, in vicinity to the first longitudinal edge, to provide a half-length seam ( ) extending from the open top edge halfway toward the bottom of the filter bag. A sample receiving section ( ) of a larger volume is defined between the first and second plastic films and the filter sheet whereas a suspension collection section ( ) of a smaller volume is defined between the first plastic film and the filter sheet. The first plastic film preferably includes a pull-tab ( ) near the open top edge, between the second longitudinal edge and the half-length seam. The pull-tab is manually pulled down over a given length to provide a pipette-inserting window.

Filter bag

Disclosed is a membrane filter system comprising an integral plastic holder ( ) having a filter receiving section ( ) for receiving a membrane filter ( ) that collects target microorganism contained in sample solution, a funnel mount ( ) positioned at a level higher than the filter receiving section for carrying thereon a cup-shaped paper funnel ( ) adapted to receive the sample solution, and a drainage ( ) communicated with the filter receiving section. The funnel has a bottom sheet or a paper filter ( ) and a bottom peripheral flange ( ) surrounding the bottom sheet. Resin seal means ( ) is fitted to the funnel mount to provide liquid-tight engagement between the funnel and the holder. The bottom sheet of the funnel is positioned above the membrane filter and serves as a primary filter for collecting particles in the sample solution larger than the target microorganism before the sample solution reaches the membrane filter.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Kazuo Shiraiwa