Embodiments of the present invention provide for the deposition of spacing elements for spiral wound elements which promote mixing within the feed space during element operation thereby improving element performance and reducing concentration polarization and potential for biological fouling.

Embodiments of the invention pertain to cartridges, systems and methods for performing hemodialysis and related extracorporeal blood treatment modalities and therapies, in which blood flows in the inter fiber space and dialysate flows in the lumens of hollow fibers. Appropriate connectors and fitting orientations may be provided. There may be provided orbital distributors, fanning of fibers, and features to promote uniformity of fiber spacing in the fiber bundle. Orbital distributors may contain contoured surfaces, flow redirectors, non-uniform-conductance flow elements, through-wall distributors, and other features. There may be subdivision of the fiber bundle into two groups of fibers with separate control fluid to each group. Appropriate systems may be provided for various therapies. Flow past the fibers may be parallel, transverse or other configuration. These various features may enable long-term application to all dialysis and ultrafiltration related therapies, and also to other therapies and to applications including implantables, portables and wearables.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the deposition of spacing elements for spiral wound elements which promote mixing within the feed space during element operation thereby improving element performance and reducing concentration polarization and potential for biological fouling.

A filtration apparatus includes a tubular casing having a longitudinal axis and first and second casing ends, a plurality of partition plates positioned in the casing and sealed thereto to thereby define a plurality of axially successive chambers within the casing, including an intake collection chamber between a first of the partition plates and the first casing end, a discharge collection chamber between a second of the partition plates and the second casing end, and a reject collection chamber opposite the second partition plate from the second casing end. A plurality of elongated filtration membrane stacks are positioned side-by-side in the casing generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each filtration membrane stack includes an intake end which is fluidly connected to the intake collection chamber, a discharge end which is fluidly connected to the reject collection chamber, and a permeate channel which extends between the intake and discharge ends and is fluidly connected to the discharge collection chamber, an end of the permeate channel located adjacent the intake end being sealed from the intake collection chamber. The filtration apparatus also includes an intake pipe having a first end fluidly connected to the intake collection chamber and a second end fluidly connected to a first connector located proximate the second casing end; a discharge pipe having a first end fluidly connected to the discharge collection chamber and a second end fluidly connected to a second connector located proximate the first connector; and a reject pipe having a first end fluidly connected to the reject collection chamber and a second end fluidly connected to a third connector located proximate the first and second connectors. Each filtration membrane stack includes a plurality of filtration membranes, and the plurality of filtration membrane stacks together define a plurality of axially successive sets of radially adjacent filtration membranes. Also, each filtration membrane of each of the sets of filtration membranes is sealed to a corresponding hole in a respective one of the partition plates.

A filtration apparatus includes a tubular casing having a longitudinal axis and first and second casing ends, a plurality of partition plates positioned in the casing and sealed thereto to thereby define an intake collection chamber between a first of said partition plates and the first casing end, a discharge collection chamber between a second of said partition plates and the second casing end, and a reject collection chamber opposite the second partition plate from the second casing end, a plurality of elongated filtration membrane stacks positioned side-by-side in the casing generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, each filtration membrane stack comprising an intake end fluidly connected to the intake collection chamber, a discharge end fluidly connected to the reject collection chamber, and a permeate channel extending between the first and second ends and fluidly connected to the discharge collection chamber. The filtration apparatus also includes an intake pipe connected to the intake collection chamber, a discharge pipe connected to the discharge collection chamber, and a reject pipe connected to the reject collection chamber. Each filtration membrane stack is made of a plurality of filtration membranes which are each sealed to a corresponding hole in a corresponding partition plate, each filtration membrane having an inlet end and an outlet end and being sealed to the corresponding hole between the inlet and outlet ends, and the outlet end being spaced apart from an adjacent partition plate located closer to the second casing end.

A blood treatment system and method controlling same are provided. The system comprises a blood pump for urging blood from an arterial or venous interface through a blood flow path; a dialyser in fluid communication with said blood flow path for ultrafiltering the blood to remove fluid therefrom; a fluid removal pump in fluid communication with said dialyser for urging ultrafiltered fluid away from said dialyser; a controller in signal communication with said blood pump; and a reversing valve for selectively reversing direction of blood flow in at least a portion of the blood flow path under signal control of said controller. The blood pump is selectively activatable under signal control of the controller.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for removing carbon dioxide from a target fluid, such as, for example, blood, to treat hypercarbic respiratory failure or another condition. A device is provided including first and second membrane components for removing dissolved gaseous carbon dioxide and bicarbonate from the fluid, which can be done simultaneously. The device can be in the form of a cartridge configured for use in a dialysis system. A method of treatment is also provided, involving drawing blood from a patient and bringing the patient's blood in contact with a first membrane component having a sweep gas passing therethrough, and a second membrane component having a dialysate passing therethrough. The dialysate's composition can be selected such that charge neutrality is maintained.

A water-treating ceramic filter module comprising a filter unit, and a housing containing the filter unit; the filter unit comprising pluralities of cylindrical honeycomb structures each having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous ceramic cell walls and extending in one direction, and sheet-shaped connecting members connecting the honeycomb structures in series in the flow path direction; each connecting member having pluralities of penetrating holes for achieving the communication of the corresponding flow paths of adjacent honeycomb structures, to constitute pluralities of communicating flow paths; the communicating flow paths being composed of first communicating flow paths plugged only at one-side end, and second communicating flow paths plugged only at the other-side end; and the housing has an inlet on the side of the one-side end for receiving the water to be treated from outside, and an outlet on the side of the other-side end for discharging the treated water.

In embodiments of the present invention, flow dividing strips are used in the construction of the spiral wound element to segregate and direct feed to reject flow of a reverse osmosis element Flow dividing strips isolate the flow of fluid through distinct regions of the spiral-wound element. The flow dividing features can also be used to direct flow within the element in order to create a longer flow path for the fluid through the element, enabling even higher recovery in some applications.

The present invention relates to a spiral wound membrane element designs that utilize entrance and exit points in the feed space channel and utilize barriers on the perimeter of the feed space as well as barriers in the feed space area to direct fluid flow in the membrane element.