Saint-gobain Performance Plastics Corporation

I3 Membrane Gmbh

ZhenWu Lin

Jacob Andrews

Kenneth James Renfrew

Hong Shen

Hannah C Hertrick

Mark D Lorusso

Kenneth D Adrian

Stephan Brinke-Seiferth

Kenneth D Adnan

A liquid recovery filter assembly for recovering filtered liquid trapped within a core or downstream side of a filter element. Multiple embodiments each include a recovery port and a recovery filter in fluid communication with the core or downstream side of the filter element. The recovery port is opened following filtration operations to permit and to facilitate filtered liquid to flow from a downstream or outlet port, thus allowing recovery of liquid remaining in the filter core or downstream side following filtering operations. The recovery filter permits the introduction of pressurized gas to force the filtered liquids from the filter assembly without compromising the sterility and/or non-contaminant condition of the liquid. Additional aspects include exchangeable filter cartridges or filter elements in single and multi-round configurations, embodiments with aspiration tubes and dip tubes and still others with hydrophilic/hydrophobic recovery filters that function as filters and as valves for the recovery port.

Liquid recovery filter

Filter capsules for showers and sinks used in surgical settings, clean rooms and other contaminant-sensitive settings having modified outlets for improved splash control. Flat, concave, convex, asymmetric concave and asymmetric convex outlet inserts have pluralities of fluid bores with varying orientations to permit enhanced fluid flow control out of the filter capsules including divergent, convergent and mixed divergent/convergent fluid flows. An inlet with an axis offset at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the filter capsule body permits user control over the fluid flow strike point in a sink or shower stall via rotation of the capsule about the inlet connection point. A recessed outlet improves the prevention of contaminant dispersal by recessing the outlet away from contact points and potential contaminant sources. A filter cartridge top cap includes a downwardly extending extension with a concave bottom end to redirect fluids undesirably entering the filter capsule from the outlet away from the enclosed filter media and out the outlet.

Truncated filter capsule

A bio-reactive container and filter assembly to improve flow rates and mass transfer without increased pressure. An inlet filter membrane secured to the container defines a container chamber in combination with the container. An inlet filter membrane element may also be secured to the container to provide structural support to the membrane. An outlet membrane secured to the container defines a container chamber in combination with the container. An outlet filter membrane element may also be secured to the container to provide structural support to the outlet membrane. Inlet and/or outlet filters and/or filter elements are constructed to significantly increase surface area available for fluid and/or gas ingress and/or egress. Single and double layer membranes with mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics are used to maximize perfusion and gasification/degasification of bio-reactive containers.

High gas flow rate bio-reactive container filter apparatus

A filter cartridge constructed to prevent an enclosed pleated filter from collapsing into the through-bores formed in a rigid core in high differential pressure applications. The core is modified with reduced-dimension bores to reduce the area of filter material not supported by the core. Alternatively, or in addition, a semi-rigid or rigid core wrap is superposed about the core to add further structural support to the pleated filter. The wrap is formed as a webbed structure with the thickness and spacing of the webbing segments adjusted to partially occlude the underlying core though-bores. This reduces the effective cross-sectional diameter of the through-bores to reduce the overall area of the pleated filter unsupported by the core. The through-bores may have modified shapes to maintain the area of the through-bore and reduce the distance of the through-bore center point from portions of the core wall defining the through-bore. The core also may be modified with clustered through-bores regions.

High pressure resistant filter

A disposable filter cup and stem assembly with a filter disc or membrane secured between the cup and the stem. A frangible filter cup disengagement strip is formed on the filter cup about an end adjacent the stem. The filter disc or membrane is secured in the assembly in close proximity to the disengagement strip. Force applied to the disengagement strip separates the filter cup from the stem to expose the top, upstream surface of the filter disc or membrane and to permit removal of the filter disc from the assembly in an intact, substantially horizontal position. A disposable filter capsule assembly formed with a frangible filter capsule disengagement strip encloses a filter disc or membrane and permits separation of the capsule into two sections so as to expose an upstream surface of the filter disc or membrane and to permit removal of the filter disc or membrane in an intact condition after fluid processing. Disposable filter capsules with capsule halves having mated snap-fit surfaces and optional O-ring or luer lock type sealing surfaces, permit access to enclosed filter discs or membranes after fluid processing. Upon separation of the filter capsule halves, the upstream surfaces of the enclosed filter discs or membranes are exposed and the discs or membranes are accessible for removal in intact condition. O-ring free media holders constructed with weld spots permit access to enclosed free media by disengaging the weld spots after fluid processing.

Break-away filter housing apparatus

Disclosed are capsule/tube connector/tube assemblies that eliminate a connection point in a filter capsule apparatus. A relatively soft tube is thermally or sonically bonded to a relatively hard tube connector that may have a tube receiving bore, a frustoconical tube receiving channel or a straight tube receiving channel. The tube connector is bonded to a filter capsule port. The manufacturing process can be either a one-step process bonding the tube and capsule during formation of the tube connector in one step, or a two-step process that binds the tube to the tube connector in one step and binds the tube connector to a filter capsule port in a second step. Single and dual-walled tubes may be used as well as single and dual-walled tubes having reinforcing material superposed about or embedded in the tube wall(s). A tube support collar is also disclosed. Also disclosed are capsule port/tube connector/tube combinations in which capsule port tips and tube connectors are combined to create tube-receiving gaps or channels to secure a tube to a capsule assembly. Multiple capsule/tube connector/tube assemblies may be connected to form a filter train.

Connection-free filter capsule apparatus

Disclosed is a tube/tube connector/capsule port assembly that eliminates a connection point in a filter capsule apparatus. A relatively soft tube is thermally or sonically bonded to a relatively hard tube connector that may have a tube receiving bore, frustoconical tube receiving channel or straight tube receiving channel. The tube connector is bonded to a filter capsule port. The manufacturing process can be either a one-step process bonding the tube, tube connector and capsule in one step, or a two-step process that binds the tube to the tube connector in the first step and then binds the tube/tube connector subassembly to a filter capsule housing during the housing's molding procedure. Single and dual-walled tubes may be used as well as single and dual-walled tubes having reinforcing material superposed about or embedded in the tube wall(s). A tube support collar is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a disposable needle filter apparatus with a universal truncated syringe-receiving neck to enable the filtration of fluids/solutions aspirated into a needle-bearing syringe. The apparatus includes a needle seal stopper and needle stop to create a substantially airtight chamber to facilitate fluid aspiration through an enclosed filter and into the syringe. In an alternative embodiment, the filter apparatus includes an extended syringe-receiving neck configured to receive a specifically sized syringe/needle combination. In a further embodiment, the receiving neck is constructed as a modular unit to allow for interchangeable necks to accommodate different needle and syringe sizes with different cross-sectional diameters. In a yet further embodiment, the neck is constructed with stepped tapered segments of serially larger cross-sectional diameters to accommodate differently sized syringes. In a still further embodiment, the apparatus includes an accessory needle secured to the apparatus inlet.

Needle filter apparatus

The liquid recovery filter includes several embodiments, each of which provides for the recovery of liquid otherwise trapped within the filter housing and element. Each embodiment includes a series of vents, purge ports, and passages that communicate fluidly with the filter housing and filter core. Certain vents and purge ports are initially opened following filtration operations to allow pressurized gas to flow into the housing, thereby forcing residual unfiltered liquid through the filter. When this has been accomplished, another vent is opened to the filter core to allow filtered liquid to flow from the downstream or outlet passage from the filter core. Some embodiments have the filter outlet located above the filter, and include a downstream drain port extending from the filter core. The downstream drain port provides for the recovery of filtered liquid when the vent or purge port is opened in these embodiments.

Disclosed is a capsule apparatus having a filter housing defining a filter chamber with a top cap having a plurality of ports extending substantially laterally from a top end of the top cap. The lateral and substantially uniform orientation of the ports facilitates connection to panel mount assemblies and improves filter maintenance processes. A transfer tube extending the length of the capsule allows the introduction of heated fluids from a top mounted inlet port to a bottom of the capsule chamber to allow or a substantially uniform heat gradient in the capsule filter chamber. A dispersion ring or dispersion plate may be secured to a distal end of the transfer tube to promote uniform dispersion of liquids and/or gases introduced into the capsule apparatus. An alternative shield secured in the housing defines a first chamber in fluid communication with an inlet and a second chamber wherein the two chambers are in fluid communication via an opening defined by a lower end of the shield and a bottom of the filter chamber. An alternative capsule apparatus has an outlet tube extending downwardly from a top mounted outlet port in fluid communication with an enclosed filter membrane secured below a column of loose filter media.

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

ZhenWu Lin