An apparatus, comprising a film (103) comprising a network of conductive and/or semi-conductive high aspect ratio molecular structures is presented. The apparatus also comprises a frame (102) arranged to support the film (103) at least at least two support positions so that a free-standing region (101) of the film (103) extends between the at least two support positions. The two or more electrical contact areas electrically coupled to the film (103), and these electrical contact areas are arranged to pass electric charge across the free-standing region (101) of the film (103) at a current between 0.01 and 10 amperes.

A filtration element has one or more rigid inserts in a housing. The inserts are covered with membranes. The element is configured to provide open feed channels beside the inserts. The membranes and inserts are potted at an edge, optionally at only part of an edge such as a corner. Permeate flows between the membrane and the insert to the potted edge. The membranes may be potted in a centrifuge.

A tangential flow filtration manifold takes a modular form for interconnection in a manifolded arrangement for aggregating a total filtration area of the aggregate filter (membrane) surface. A plurality of modular TFF cassette filters may be or stacked on the TFF manifold such that it allows the number of interconnected filters, as well as the membrane surface area within each cassette, to be readily reconfigured. A single output, or filtrate connection on the TFF manifold simplifies fluidic plumbing connections for directing and gathering the filtrate (permeate) produced as output.

A method and apparatus for maintaining a free-standing region of a film including a network of High Aspect Ratio Molecular structures (HARM-structures). The method includes electrically coupling the film to two or more electrodes at two or more peripheral locations of the film and passing electric charge across the free-standing region of the film to create a magnetic attraction between the HARM-structures in the network.

A filter holder, a filtration system, a method of filtering a fluid, and a method of manufacturing a filtration system are provided. A filter holder includes a filter holder base having an aperture extending therethrough and a cavity formed at a first end thereof. The filter holder base is shaped to receive and support a backing on a first surface thereof and to receive and support a filter membrane on a second surface thereof. The filter holder includes a seal assembly configured to be coupled to the filter holder base and to sealingly engage a surface of the filter membrane when the filter membrane is on the second surface. The filter holder further includes a cover having an aperture formed therethrough and configured to be disposed over the seal assembly and over at least a portion of the filter holder base and secured to the filter holder base.

The outer edge of a filtration membrane is thermally welded to a filter plate by a first thermal welding part. The first thermal welding part includes an outer boundary line disposed inside an outer edge of the filter plate and an inner boundary line disposed inside the outer boundary line. The outer boundary line has a plurality of first projected portions and first recessed portions that are alternately formed. The first projected portion projects toward the outer edge of the filter plate, and the first recessed portion is formed between the first projected portions and retracts in an inward direction A opposite to the outer edge of the filter plate.

The present invention relates to a filter module comprising an ester-based membrane and at least one boundary member, wherein the peripheral region of the membrane is connected to the at least one boundary member, and wherein the surface of the membrane is saponified in the regions other than the peripheral region connected to the at least one boundary member. Further, the present invention relates to a method of producing such filter module and to the use of such filter module.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an analysis chip for analysing a biological sample (1), which method comprises providing a matrix (10) formed in a solid support material in which at least one through hole has been formed (11) and at least one pellet (3), cut out of a sheet (6) of solid and porous analysis material; inserting at least one pellet (3) into the at least one through hole (11) of the matrix (10) by translation of the pellet (3) in a direction at right angles to the lower and upper surfaces of the matrix (10); mechanically assembling at a temperature lower than the melting points of the support and analysis materials by means of a pressing force applied at right angles to the upper surface of the matrix.