The present invention relates to modification to permeate channels and permeate materials in a cross-flow filtration system to improve performance in counter current filtration having both retentate channels and permeate channels wherein a solution is pumped through one of the channels and drawn through a membrane to one of the other channels to assist in positive pressure driven filtration by using the osmotic pressure, concentration, or preferential solubility difference between the retentate and permeate flow streams thereby increasing or altering the flux through the membrane separating the flow streams.

The present invention relates to a device (1) for the treatment of biological material (2) comprising a concentration circuit (3) having at least one concentration filter (20), at least one supply conduit (30) of the biological material (2), and a concentration section (40) interposed between separation filter (10) and concentration filter (20) and defining an inner volume configured to accommodate a fraction of interest (2a) of the biological material (2). A discharge conduit (50) is connected to the second access (22) of the concentration filter (20) downstream of the concentration section (40), and an infusion line (60) is connected to the concentration circuit (3). The concentrated fraction of interest (2a) of biological material (2) may be withdrawn from a collection channel (70) or by removing the entire concentration section (40) from the rest of the circuit.

A module comprises a cell stack having a plurality of alternating ion depleting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, an inlet manifold configured to facilitate a flow of fluid into the cell stack, and a first flow distribution system, associated with the inlet manifold, including a first ramp to promote the circulation of the flow of fluid into the cell stack.

A separator element comprising a porous rigid single-piece substrate (2) made of a single porous material, and including internally at least one channel (3) for passing a flow of the fluid medium, which channel opens out in one end of the porous substrate for inlet of the fluid medium for treatment and in another end of the porous substrate for outlet of the retentate. At least one empty space (10) is arranged in the porous substrate so as to be surrounded by a portion of the material constituting the single-piece substrate (2) either completely so as to form a closed cavity or partially so as to form a cavity (10.sub.1) that opens out locally through the peripheral envelope (2.sub.2) of the substrate via a passage (10.sub.2) of section smaller than the section of the cavity (10.sub.1).

Provided are a central tube for a filter cartridge and a filter device having same. The central tube (100) comprises a first half tube (1), a second half tube (2) and a membrane element (3), wherein the first half tube (1) has a first mating surface, and the first mating surface is grooved to form a first flow channel (111); the second half tube (2) has a second mating surface, the second mating surface is grooved to form a second flow channel (21), and the first half tube (1) and the second half tube (2) are butt-jointed to form a hollow, straight tube shape; and the membrane element (3) is arranged between the first half tube (1) and the second half tube (2) and seals the first flow channel (111) and the second flow channel (21), respectively.

A gas separation module includes hollow polymeric fibers held between a pair of tubesheets. The tubesheets are mounted to a core tube, and the distance between the tubesheets is maintained constant. The core tube is formed in telescoping sections, such that the fibers are attached to the tubesheets when the core tube is in its extended position, and the core tube is then collapsed, forming slack in the fibers. The core tube includes two distinct channels, connected to receive permeate and retentate gas streams, and to carry these streams to outlet ports while keeping the streams separate. Because the tubesheets are affixed to the core tube, the tubesheets do not move under the influence of gas pressure in the module. The slack in the fibers compensates for shrinkage of the fibers, prolonging the life of the module.

A means capable of simply and efficiently concentrating a cell suspension. A concentrator has a culture vessel having a first port and a second port, a server bag having a port, a case having a hollow fiber bundle in the internal space, a filtering device having an inlet port, a first outlet port, and a second outlet port, a collection vessel having a port, a liquid supply circuit connected to the first port, the inlet port, and the server bag's port so that flow passages are switchable, a liquid discharge circuit connected to the second port, the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and the collection vessel's port so that flow passages are switchable, a liquid supply mechanism having a switching mechanism, a supply pump, and a discharge pump, and a rotation mechanism rotating the filtering device.

The present invention relates to modification to permeate channels and permeate materials in a cross-flow filtration system to improve performance in counter current filtration having both retentate channels and permeate channels wherein a solution is pumped through one of the channels and drawn through a membrane to one of the other channels to assist in positive pressure driven filtration by using the osmotic pressure, concentration, or preferential solubility difference between the retentate and permeate flow streams thereby increasing or altering the flux through the membrane separating the flow streams.

A whole blood filtration device is provided with a filter membrane separating a feeding volume and a clean side of the filter membrane from each other. The feeding volume communicates with a first feeding side opening and with a second feeding side opening. The filter membrane has pores with a pore size that ensures permeability of the filter membrane to blood plasma/serum and that retains blood cells. The first feeding side opening can be coupled to a first blood pump for feeding blood from the first feeding side opening into the feeding volume so that blood plasma/serum permeates the filter membrane and blood cells, retained by the filter membrane, exit from the feeding volume through the second feeding side opening.

A separation membrane module comprises a hollow module container, and an element unit which is housed in the module container. The element unit comprises a plurality of connected separation membrane elements each of which includes: a separation membrane for separating components of a substance flowing to the inside of the module container; and membrane bundle securing materials for securing both ends of the separation membrane. In the element unit, a flow channel for discharging the components separated by the separation membranes to the outside of the element unit is formed. Passage members though which the components separated by the separation membranes can pass toward the flow channel for discharging are disposed at connections between the plurality of separation membrane elements such that both end surfaces of each of the passage membranes are respectively in contact with the membrane bundle securing materials of the separation membrane elements adjacent thereto.