Methods and systems for processing suspensions of biological cells and microcarriers are disclosed. The biological cells are separated from the microcarriers by introducing the suspension into a spinning membrane separator whereby the biological cells pass through the membrane and the microcarriers do not pass through the membrane.

A water purification system is disclosed which, includes a reverse osmosis (RO) system or component that is connectable to a city or other outside water feed that is capable of responding to and compensating for low or no feed water pressure coming into the RO system to ensure the outgoing supply of purified water is provided consistently and at a minimum water pressure. This can be accomplished without the need for communication with another device or system-wide facility, such as a hospital, or a pharmaceutical or semiconductor manufacturing system, requiring a constant water supply.

The present invention includes a method of cleaning a membrane contactor comprising: connecting a membrane contactor having a first and a second surface, the membrane contactor being in liquid communication with a first and a second liquid circulation loop; rerouting the source of oil-containing liquid from the membrane contactor; draining the oil-containing liquid in contact with the first surface of the membrane contactor via a drain; circulating a cleaning oil over the first surface of the membrane contactor; pumping a collection fluid over the second surface of the membrane contactor; and contacting the oil-containing liquid with the first surface of the membrane contactor under pressure to maximize oil coalescence at the first surface of the membrane contactor while also circulating the collection fluid over the second surface of the membrane contactor to capture the coalesced oil.

A technology that provides various modular biomimetic microfluidic modules emulating varieties of microvasculature in body. These microfluidic-base capillaries and lymphatic Technology modules are constructed as multilayered-microfluidic microchannels of various shapes, and aspect ratios using diverse biocompatible microfluidic polymers. Then, various semipermeable membranes are sandwiched in between these multilayered microfluidic microchannels. These membranes have different chemical, physical characteristics and MWCO values. Consequently, this design will produce much smaller dimension channels similar to human vasculature to achieve biomimetic properties like of human organs and tissues. By interchanging microfluidic-layers or the membranes various diverse modules are designed that act as building blocks for constructing various medical devices, various forms of dialysis devices including albumin and lipid dialysis, water purification, bioreactors, bio-artificial organ support systems. Connecting various modules in diverse combinations, permutations, in parallel and/or in series to ultimately design many unrelated medical devices such as dialysis, bioreactors and organ support devices.

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of fish proteases from fish viscera, preferably from cod (Gadus genus) viscera. The fish proteases produced according to the invention have high specific enzymatic activity and are useful for food uses, for biomedical applications, in histology and tissue culture.

A microfluidic device for increasing convective clearance of particles from a fluid is provided. A network of first channels can be separated from a network of second channels by a first membrane. The network of first channels can also be separated from a network of third channels by a second membrane. Fluid containing an analyte can be introduced in the network of first channels. Infusate can be introduced into the network of second channels, and waste-collecting fluid can be introduced into the network of third channels. A pressure gradient can be applied in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in the network of first channels, such that the analyte is transported from the network of first channels into the network of third channels through the second membrane.

Parallel plate devices for hemofiltration or hemodialysis are provided. A parallel plate device includes a parallel plate assembly having an aligned stack of stackable plate subunits, each stackable plate subunit having a through channel for blood, where the blood channels are opened up at opposite ends of the parallel plate assembly. The parallel plate assembly is configured to form filtrate/dialysate channels interleaved with the blood channels, adjacent channels being separated by a silicon nanoporous filtration membrane. A blood conduit adaptor is attached to the parallel plate assembly at each of the ends, and is configured to distribute blood to or collect blood from the blood channels. Also provided are systems and methods for using the parallel plate devices.

The present disclosure relates to a hemodialysis membrane for the treatment of restless leg syndrome (RLS), especially in severe and very severe cases and/or in patients which suffer from kidney failure and already receive hemodialysis. The present disclosure therefore also relates to methods of treating restless leg syndrome. The treatment and method encompasses using a hemodialysis membrane which is characterized in that it comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and in that it has a MWRO of between 8.5 and 14.0 kD and a MWCO of between 55 kD and 130 kD.

A method for producing a composition including a step A of performing ultrafiltration, microfiltration, dialysis membrane treatment, or a combination thereof on a composition containing water and a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer is a polymer having a structural unit M3 derived from a monomer represented by general formula (1):

CX.sub.2═CY(—CZ.sub.2—O—Rf-A)  (1)

where X is the same or different and is —H or —F; Y is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; Z is the same or different and is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group; Rf is a fluorine-containing alkylene group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a fluorine-containing alkylene group having 2 to 100 carbon atoms and having an ether bond; and A is —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, —OSO.sub.3M, or —C(CF.sub.3).sub.2OM, wherein M is as defined herein; provided that at least one of X, Y, and Z includes a fluorine atom.

A method for producing a composition including a step A of performing ultrafiltration, microfiltration, dialysis membrane treatment, or a combination thereof on a composition containing water and a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer is a polymer having a structural unit M3 derived from a monomer represented by general formula (1):

CX.sub.2═CY(—CZ.sub.2—O—Rf-A)  (1)

where X is the same or different and is —H or —F; Y is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluorine-containing alkyl group; Z is the same or different and is —H, —F, an alkyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group; Rf is a fluorine-containing alkylene group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a fluorine-containing alkylene group having 2 to 100 carbon atoms and having an ether bond; and A is —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, —OSO.sub.3M, or —C(CF.sub.3).sub.2OM, wherein M is as defined herein; provided that at least one of X, Y, and Z includes a fluorine atom.