A microfluidic device for increasing convective clearance of particles from a fluid is provided. In some implementations, described herein the microfluidic device includes multiple layers that each define infusate, blood, and filtrate channels. Each of the channels have a pressure profile. The device can also include one or more pressure control features. The pressure control feature controls a difference between the pressure profiles along a length of the device. For example, the pressure control feature can control the difference between the pressure profile of the filtrate channel and the pressure profile of the blood channel. In some implementations, the pressure control feature controls the pressure difference between two channels such that the difference varies along the length of the channels by less than 50% of the pressure difference between the channels at the channels' inlets.

A microfluidic device for increasing convective clearance of particles from a fluid is provided. In some implementations, described herein the microfluidic device includes multiple layers that each define infusate, blood, and filtrate channels. Each of the channels have a pressure profile. The device can also include one or more pressure control features. The pressure control feature controls a difference between the pressure profiles along a length of the device. For example, the pressure control feature can control the difference between the pressure profile of the filtrate channel and the pressure profile of the blood channel. In some implementations, the pressure control feature controls the pressure difference between two channels such that the difference varies along the length of the channels by less than 50% of the pressure difference between the channels at the channels' inlets.

The filter system having a filter and a filter holder, wherein the filter is connected to an upper and a lower filter cap, wherein on the circumference of the filter caps a cross-sectionally T-shaped fixing aid is respectively mounted, having a laterally projecting transverse web, which are vertically aligned with each other, wherein on an outer side of the housing of the filter holder two filter fixings are mounted with grooves in which the transverse webs can be suspended, is characterized in that four hydraulic ports project laterally from the filter and/or the filter caps, which are vertically aligned with each other, and that the filter holder has four connection connectors, which can be advanced by an upper and a lower closure mechanism against spring force until they engage in an end position in which the connection connectors are tightly connected to the hydraulic connections.

Provided are: an economically superior protein crystallization method capable of efficiently finding conditions for crystallization by using a small amount of protein; and a crystallization device used for the method. According to the present invention, a transparent sealed container 1 is filled with a solution of protein, a part of the transparent sealed container 1 being formed of a semipermeable membrane 2 with a molecular weight cut-off that inhibits passage of the protein while allowing passage of a precipitant, and then, a precipitant solution with changed concentration and/or pH of the precipitant is continuously supplied to the semipermeable membrane 2, to crystallize the protein with the precipitant that infiltrates from the semipermeable membrane 2 into the sealed container 1.

A blood filtering device has a filtration section with filter medium separating raw side and clean side. A first communication path connects raw side and a first variable blood reservoir volume; a second communication path connects raw side and a second variable blood reservoir volume coupled to a receptacle. When varying the first variable blood reservoir volume, blood contained therein flows through first communication path to raw side, plasma/serum passes through the filter medium from raw side to clean side, and residual blood flows from raw side through second communication path into the second variable blood reservoir volume. When varying the second variable blood reservoir volume, blood contained therein flows through second communication path to raw side, plasma/serum passes through the filter medium from raw side to clean side, and residual blood flows from raw side through first communication path into first variable blood reservoir volume.

A blood filtering device has a filtration section with filter medium separating raw side and clean side. A first communication path connects raw side and a first variable blood reservoir volume; a second communication path connects raw side and a second variable blood reservoir volume coupled to a receptacle. When varying the first variable blood reservoir volume, blood contained therein flows through first communication path to raw side, plasma/serum passes through the filter medium from raw side to clean side, and residual blood flows from raw side through second communication path into the second variable blood reservoir volume. When varying the second variable blood reservoir volume, blood contained therein flows through second communication path to raw side, plasma/serum passes through the filter medium from raw side to clean side, and residual blood flows from raw side through first communication path into first variable blood reservoir volume.

A connector for connecting a dialyzer to a hole in a side wall of a water pipe, the connector including a connector body including a cavity crossing the connector body from a first end of the connector body to a second end, for enabling water flow from the first end to the second end, wherein the cavity at the first end is shaped and sized for pressing onto a port of a dialyzer, and the cavity at the second end is shaped and sized for pressing into a hole in a side wall of a water pipe. In a water filtration system including dialyzers for water filtration, a method of cleaning a dialyzer including providing clean water from a clean water output of one first dialyzer to a clean water output of one second dialyzer, to backwash the second dialyzer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

A connector for connecting a dialyzer to a hole in a side wall of a water pipe, the connector including a connector body including a cavity crossing the connector body from a first end of the connector body to a second end, for enabling water flow from the first end to the second end, wherein the cavity at the first end is shaped and sized for pressing onto a port of a dialyzer, and the cavity at the second end is shaped and sized for pressing into a hole in a side wall of a water pipe. In a water filtration system including dialyzers for water filtration, a method of cleaning a dialyzer including providing clean water from a clean water output of one first dialyzer to a clean water output of one second dialyzer, to backwash the second dialyzer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Dialysis devices include a frame defined by a plurality of sidewalls that are impermeable to a sample being dialyzed, a pair of dialysis membranes that are each associated with an opposing face of the plurality of sidewalls such that the plurality of sidewalls and the pair of dialysis membranes define a sample chamber, an outer shell surrounding at least a portion of the pair of dialysis membranes, and a cap selectively associated with the sample chamber. The cap can be selectively associated with the sample chamber via an attachment mechanism that is configured to provide aural and/or haptic feedback when the cap forms a tight association with the sample chamber. The cap can be a sensor cap having one or more probes for measuring at least one property of fluid inside and/or outside the sample chamber and a transmitter for transmitting data captured at the probe(s) to a destination device.

The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.