Patent classifications
B01D65/022
Water purification apparatus and methods for cleaning the water purification apparatus
A water purification apparatus (300) capable of being cleaned at a point of care, and methods for cleaning the water purification apparatus (300) at the point of care. The water purification apparatus (300) and the methods provide an efficient use of a heater (302) for heat disinfection the water purification apparatus (300), e.g. by recirculating heated fluid to further heat the fluid. Several different cleaning programs are provided that may be utilized for cleaning different parts of the water purification apparatus (300).
DIALYZER COMPRISING A FLUORINE-CONTAINING HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dialysis filter comprising fluorine-containing hollow fiber membranes, the fluorine-containing hollow fiber membranes being made by a method comprising at least steps (A) to (C): (A) preparing a spinning solution comprising an aprotic solvent, a hydrophobic base polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a fluorine-comprising surface modifying macromolecule in a concentration less than 1.12% w/w; (B) extruding said spinning solution from an outer annular orifice through a tube-in-orifice spinneret into an aqueous solution, and (C) isolating the formed hollow fiber membrane,
characterized in that the manufacturing of the dialysis filter comprises a steam sterilization procedure. The invention is further related to dialysis filter comprising a fluorine-containing hollow fiber membrane comprising a hydrophobic base polymer, a hydrophilic polymer and a fluorine-comprising surface modifying macromolecule in a concentration less than 3.6% w/w, based on the total weight of the fluorine-containing hollow fiber membrane.
Membrane disinfectant
A non-oxidizing, buffered disinfectant concentrate is provided to be included in a solution used to disinfect a membrane. The solution applied to the membrane is configured to have a pH that is compatible with the membrane. The disinfectant concentrate includes an aqueous solvent; a hydrotrope; a strong acid surface cleanser; a biocidal active, preferably, at least two biocidal actives; a buffer agent; and, optionally, an anionic surfactant. The biodical active may be selected to function both as a biocide and as a weak acid/buffer combination. A disinfectant solution applied to the membrane includes from about 0.1 wt % to about 3.5 wt % of this disinfectant concentrate.
MODULAR PRESSURIZED WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM
Numerous water filtration systems are disclosed. Each filtration system contains one or more filtration units, and each filtration unit contains one or more membrane units. Each membrane unit receives impure water at high-pressure and filters the water with one or more reverse-osmosis membranes, yielding clean water. Leftover brine is discarded or mixed back into the input with the impure water. Each filtration system further comprises a control unit for controlling a feed valve, brine valve, and product valve for each membrane unit. Optionally, the control unit can sequence those activities to achieve constant energy consumption, minimal energy consumption, or constant output of clean water.
MEMBRANE DISINFECTANT
A non-oxidizing, buffered disinfectant concentrate is provided to be included in a solution used to disinfect a membrane. The solution applied to the membrane is configured to have a pH that is compatible with the membrane. The disinfectant concentrate includes an aqueous solvent; a hydrotrope; a strong acid surface cleanser; a biocidal active, preferably, at least two biocidal actives; a buffer agent; and, optionally, an anionic surfactant. The biodical active may be selected to function both as a biocide and as a weak acid/buffer combination. A disinfectant solution applied to the membrane includes from about 0.1 wt % to about 3.5 wt % of this disinfectant concentrate.
Disposable filtration device
A disposable filtration device includes a plurality of disposable filter capsules connected with each other by lines, which are carried by a rigid holder. At least the holder and the lines between the filter capsules preferably are formed of a sterilizable material, so that the filtration device can be sterilized in the pre-mounted, i.e. ready-to-connect condition, and can be packed and transported without a risk of damage.
Charge neutral biocide dosing control for membrane biofouling control applications
Biocide can be controllably added to a feed stream for a membrane. The membrane can separate the feed stream into a purified permeate stream and a concentrate stream containing contaminants from the feed stream. In some examples, a charge neutral biocide is introduced into the feed stream at a first addition rate. The concentration of the charge neutral biocide in the permeate stream is measured to provide a measured concentration of the charge neutral biocide in the permeate stream. The addition rate of the charge neutral biocide can be adjusted based on the measured concentration of the charge neutral biocide in the permeate stream to introduce charge neutral biocide into the feed stream at a second addition rate different than the first addition rate.
Hollow Fibre Membrane With Improved Separating Efficiency, And Production Of A Hollow Fibre Membrane With Improved Separating Efficiency
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane bundle from a plurality of polysulfone and PVP-based hollow fiber membranes which encompasses the providing of a spinning solution comprising a polysulfone-based material, in particular polysulfone, a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer, in particular polyvinylpyrrolidone, an aprotic solvent, in particular dimethylacetamide, providing a coagulant liquid comprising water and an aprotic solvent, in particular dimethylacetamide, co-extruding the spinning solution and the coagulant liquid through a concentric annular spinneret into a hollow strand, whereby the cavity of the strand is filled with coagulant liquid, conducting the strand through a precipitation gap, introducing the strand into a precipitating bath comprised substantially of water so as to obtain a hollow fiber membrane, conducting the hollow fiber membranes through at least one rinsing bath and drying the hollow fiber membrane obtained, arranging the resulting hollow fiber membranes into a hollow fiber membrane bundle, and treating the hollow fiber membrane bundle with water vapor.
WATER PURIFICATION APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLNG AT LEAST ONE FLUID PROPERTY
The present disclosure relates to a water purification apparatus that comprises a reverse osmosis device, RO-device, producing a purified water flow and to a corresponding method. The proposed method comprises detecting at least one fluid property of purified water in the purified water path and regulating a flow rate of water in the recirculation path to fulfil one or more predetermined criteria of the purified water in the purified water path, based on the at least one detected fluid property. The present disclosure also relates to a computer program and a computer program product implementing the method.
SYSTEM AND METHOD TO EFFICIENTLY CLEAN A BLOOD FILTER
A peritoneal dialysis apparatus includes a filter and a dialysis fluid circuit in fluid communication with the filter. The peritoneal dialysis apparatus also includes a pump for pumping fresh dialysis fluid to a peritoneum of a patient via the dialysis fluid circuit and pumping used dialysis fluid from the peritoneum of the patient through the dialysis fluid circuit and the filter. The peritoneal dialysis apparatus further includes a selective air access in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid circuit and a control unit configured to control the pump during a peritoneal dialysis treatment and a filter cleaning sequence. The control unit forms a fluid mixture during a filter cleaning sequence by opening the selective air access to mix air with a physiologically safe fluid. The fluid mixture is transferred across insides and/or outsides of the filter at least one time.