A hollow fiber membrane bundle configured to be used in an artificial lung and comprised of integrated hollow fiber membranes 31 has hollow portions through which a fluid passes. The hollow fiber membrane bundle is shaped as a cylinder body. In addition, the hollow fiber membrane 31 is tilted with respect to a central axis O of the cylinder body, is wound around the central axis O of the cylinder body, and satisfies the following conditions. An inner diameter d.sub.1 of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is equal to or smaller than 150 m, a tilt angle with respect to the central axis O of the cylinder body of the hollow fiber membrane 31 is equal to or smaller than 60, and a ratio D.sub.1/L of an outer diameter D.sub.1 of the cylinder body to a length L of the cylinder body is equal to or greater than 0.4.

A natural gas stream is passed through a single membrane element that is fabricated with two or more distinct types of membrane fibers. The membrane fibers have different characteristics in order to reduce the number of membrane elements required for gas separation and to improve gas separation performance due to changing gas composition because of permeation as the gas travels through the membrane element.

Provided is a multi-functional filter including a first filter and a second filter to purify a biological fluid, a housing defining an adsorption section outside of the first filter and the second filter, a flow partitioning connector connecting the first filter and the second filter, and a housing port allowing a fluid to flow through the adsorption section. The housing may comprise a wall, a first cap coupled to the first filter at one end of the wall along a longitudinal direction, and a second cap coupled to the second filter at the other end of the wall along a longitudinal direction. The multi-functional filter according to the present invention in which dialysis, adsorption, and plasma separation or ultrafiltration are integrated to purify blood or dialysate and the internal flow is facilitated may provide a blood purifying apparatus that simplifies the whole apparatus, provides convenience in installation and use, and reduces a treatment cost.

Methods and systems for filtering of biological particles are disclosed. Filtering membranes separate adjacent chambers. Through osmotic or electrokinetic processes, flow of particles is carried out through the filtering membranes. Cells, viruses and cell waste can be filtered depending on the size of the pores of the membrane. A polymer brush can be applied to a surface of the membrane to enhance filtering and prevent fouling.

A system and method are provided, including an integrated single-use kit, for processing whole blood to produce platelet rich plasma. A two stage spinning membrane separator, has a first stage for receiving whole blood and separating substantially all red blood cells from plasma and platelets, and a second stage for further separating platelet rich plasma from plasma. A first waste container is in fluid communication with the first stage of the separator for receiving separated red blood cells, while a second waste container is in fluid communication with the second stage of the separator for receiving separated plasma. An outlet line is in fluid communication with the second stage of the separator for receiving platelet rich plasma, and a reinfusion container is removably connected to the outlet line for receiving platelet rich plasma from the second stage of the separator.

A process for separating a feed gas comprising polar and non-polar gases into a gas mixture enriched in polar gas(es) and a gas mixture depleted in polar gas(es), the process comprising passing the feed gas through a gas separation unit comprising at least two gas-separation modules in order of decreasing selectivity for the polar gas(es), wherein the feed gas entering the gas separation unit comprises 1 to 35 mol % of polar gas(es).

Herein, systems and methods are disclosed including a sample acquisition component (SAC) for user-friendly sample collection, a separation component for optional separation of plasma, and one or more stabilization components for stabilizing analytes. In a particular embodiment, the system and methods are directed towards sample collection and stabilization with optional sample separation. Other embodiments can perform any combination of collection, separation, stabilization or detection.

A separation membrane module 100 of the present invention includes: a container 10; a degassing membrane element 20 that is disposed inside the container 10; and a separation membrane element 60 that is disposed inside the container 10, is located upstream or downstream of the degassing membrane element 20 in a flow direction of a liquid to be treated, and filters the liquid. The separation membrane element 60 is for example, an NF membrane element or an RO membrane element.

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 filter device includes one or more filter membranes, and a filter housing enclosing the one or more filter membranes. Each of the filter membranes includes a base membrane made of a ceramic material, and a plurality of through holes. The base membrane is coated with a coating material.