A porous membrane includes a porous membrane base containing a polymer compound and having pores interconnected in a thickness direction, and a metal oxide film on inner wall surfaces of the pores.

An apparatus for ultrafiltration of a patient being overhydrated due to congestive heart failure, comprising a tube set including a connector (21) for connection to a patient line (3) for access to the peritoneal cavity of the patient. A flow pump (41-43) is arranged for addition and removal outflow and inflow (recirculation) of fluid from/to the peritoneal cavity. An osmotic agent peristaltic pump (16) is arranged for replenishment of glucose solution to the fluid added to the peritoneal cavity for promoting ultrafiltration. The glucose is replenished intermittently for keeping a concentration of glucose substantially constant in the peritoneal cavity. The flow pump comprises a pressure chamber (43) with rigid walls and a flexible pump bag (41) arranged therein. An air pump (45) pressurizes the chamber for outflow of fluid from the peritoneal cavity by a sub pressure and inflow of fluid to the peritoneal cavity by an overpressure, which pressures are maintained within safe limits.

The invention relates to the providing of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer-based hollow fiber membranes containing a water-insoluble antioxidant; in particular, the invention relates to the providing of hollow fiber membranes for the extracorporeal treatment of blood, wherein the hollow fiber membranes have improved biocompatibility relative to treatment blood, in particular improved complement activation and lower platelet loss vis--vis treatment blood. At the same time, the elution of hydrophilic polymers from the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane is reduced.

Provided are monolithic structures comprising one or more suspended, nanoporous membranes that are in contact with one or more fluidic cavities, methods of making same, and exemplary uses of same. The monolithic structures can be formed using a transmembrane etch. The monolithic structures can be used, as examples, as filters and filtration modules in microfluidic devices, dialysis devices, and concentration devices in laboratory, industrial, and medical processes.

Systems and methods suitable for extracorporeal lung support are provided that expose blood, across a semipermeable membrane, to a dialysis liquid. The dialysis liquid features a buffering agent and has a high buffering capacity for H.sup.+ ions. Carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and hydrogen cations are transported across a semipermeable membrane into the dialysis liquid. The dialysis fluid may be recycled and repeatedly used, and its pH may be adjusted, and other fluids added to it. Certain substances may be removed from the blood, and the amount of these substances removed from the blood may be substantially automatically or substantially continuously monitored or quantified. The systems and methods are suitable for treating or preventing respiratory acidosis, metabolic acidosis, and diseases featuring lung malfunction, kidney malfunction, or liver malfunction.

The present disclosure relates to semipermeable membranes which are suitable for blood purification, e.g. by hemodialysis, which have an increased ability to remove larger molecules while at the same time effectively retaining albumin. The membranes are characterized by a molecular retention onset (MWRO) of between 9.0 kD and 14.5 kD and a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of between 55 kD and 130 kD as determined by dextran sieving curves and can be prepared by industrially feasible processes excluding a treatment with salt before drying. The invention therefore also relates to a process for the production of the membranes and to their use in medical applications.

The present disclosure relates to a dialyzer comprising a bundle of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes which is suitable for blood purification, wherein the dialyzer has an increased ability to remove larger molecules while at the same time it is able to effectively remove small uremic toxins and efficiently retain albumin and larger proteins. The invention also relates to using said dialyzer in hemodialysis.

The invention relates to a spinning nozzle (10) for the extrusion of a hollow fiber from one or more spinning masses and an apparatus comprising a spinning nozzle (10) as well as method for extruding a hollow fiber by means of a spinning nozzle (10), wherein the spinning nozzle (10) has an inlet port (12, 13, 14) for each spinning mass to be extruded for introducing the spinning mass into the spinning nozzle (14), an outlet port for the exit of spinning mass along an outlet axis (A), and at least one spinning mass flow channel for guiding at least one spinning mass to be extruded from the inlet port (12, 13, 14) to the outlet port, wherein at least one spinning mass flow channel comprises a flow manipulation section having an inlet and an outlet, which comprises a flow-guiding structure (18, 19, 20) for influencing a spinning mass flowing through the spinning mass flow channel, wherein the flow-guiding structure (18, 19, 20) is thereby designed to influence spinning mass flow such that the spinning mass flowing through the spinning mass flow channel at least partially flows through said spinning mass flow channel along at least two different flow paths, wherein the flow paths running through the spinning mass flow channel exhibit a substantially identical path length between the inlet of the flow manipulation section and the outlet port of the spinning mass flow channel.

The present disclosure relates to a filter capsule that supports direct integrity testing of an internal filter element. The filter capsule includes a filter housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, a passage running longitudinally between the inlet port and outlet port and holding a filter element, and an aseptic vent assembly. The filter housing also includes an integrity test assembly that can be used as a direct connection for integrity testing hardware, as opposed to upstream of the filter capsule. In one embodiment, the integrity test assembly comprises a body having a bore formed through its interior and a movable plunger within the bore. The plunger includes a handle to move the plunger between a closed position and an open position. Various seals between the plunger and the bore form a fluid tight seal between various portions of the plunger and the bore.

Various systems and methods relating to two-dimensional materials such as graphene. A membrane include a cross-linked graphene platelet polymer that includes a plurality of cross-linked graphene platelets. The cross-linked graphene platelets include a graphene portion and a cross-linking portion. The cross-linking portion contains a 4 to 10 atom link. The cross-linked graphene platelet polymer is produced by reaction of an epoxide functionalized graphene platelet and a (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide functionalized cross-linker.