A renal therapy apparatus includes a blood filter, a blood pump, a treatment fluid pump, and a control unit configured to control at least one of the blood pump or the treatment fluid pump during a filter cleaning sequence. In a first phase of the filter cleaning sequence, a first fluid including a blood-compatible and physiologically safe fluid is transferred back and forth across the insides and/or outsides of the blood filter. After the first phase, a second fluid is formed by mixing the first fluid with air. In a second phase of the filter cleaning sequence, the second fluid is transferred across the insides and/or outsides of the blood filter at least one time.

The invention relates to a filtration system for use in a method of determining the presence and/or amount of cells, for example, viable cells, in a liquid sample, and to methods of using and manufacturing such a filtration system. The filtration system includes a cup with an upper portion and a ring portion, where the ring portion is separably coupled to the upper portion.

The present disclosure relates to semipermeable membranes based on acrylonitrile copolymers capable of adsorbing bacteria from fluids, methods of producing such membranes, and devices comprising such membranes.

Methods of cleaning and sanitizing membrane modules within a membrane system are provided. A cleaning solution is circulated through the membrane system for about 2 to about 30 minutes. The cleaning solution includes organic acid and surfactant. A sanitizing solution is added to the cleaning solution to produce a boosted antimicrobial solution comprising an oxidizer. The boosted antimicrobial solution is then circulated through the membrane system for about 1 to about 20 minutes. The methods described are effective for reducing and removing bacterial spores and biofilms from membranes and improving membrane compatibility of effective cleaning and sanitizing solutions.

Provided is a membrane module apparatus capable of allowing an aseptic connection member to be applicable to a hollow fiber membrane module and avoiding the need for a user to perform a sterilization treatment. A membrane module apparatus includes: a hollow fiber membrane module to be filled with a liquid during steam sterilization; thermoplastic tubes, being aseptic connection members, for aseptically connecting the membrane module apparatus to another duct; connecting tubes for connecting liquid ports of the hollow fiber membrane module respectively to the thermoplastic tubes; and closure members capable of pinching and closing the connecting tubes. The connecting tubes have heat resistance to the steam sterilization. An expansion member is connected to a liquid port of the hollow fiber membrane module.

The disclosure pertains to sanitizing the permeate flow path of a reverse osmosis system. A method of sanitizing a filtration system is disclosed that can include injecting a biocide into a permeate compartment of an operating reverse osmosis system. The method can also include maintaining pressure in a concentrate compartment of the reverse osmosis system simultaneously while injecting the biocide.

A hollow-fiber membrane module of the invention includes: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in a height direction thereof; a hollow-fiber membrane bundle being housed in the cylindrical case and having a plurality of hollow-fiber membranes each closed at an end part on the first end side and opened at an end part on the second end side; a first binding part binding the end parts on the first end side of the hollow-fiber membranes; a first flow channel guiding fluid to pass through the first binding part from the first end side to the second end side of the first binding part; and a channel material directing, at a terminal on the second end side of the first flow channel, a flow of at least a part of the fluid flowing out from the terminal on the second end side of the first flow channel toward a direction intersecting the height direction of the cylindrical case.

A water purification apparatus capable of being cleaned at a point of care and methods for cleaning the water purification apparatus at the point of care are disclosed herein. The water purification apparatus and the methods provide an efficient use of a heater for heat disinfection the water purification apparatus. The water purification apparatus and the methods provide heat disinfection 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.

A wound care system comprising a single-layer arrangement of mutually parallel capillary membranes with a porous, semi-permeable wall, a lumen and at least one open end. The capillary membranes are connected to one another by connection elements to form a mat and are held at a distance from one another by the connection elements.

Disclosed herein methods for combating biofouling in a liquid, e.g. an aqueous medium by providing a surface coated with at least one laser-induced graphene (LIG) layer in said liquid medium. Particularly disclosed herein method and devices for treating water comprising passing a water stream through a membrane module equipped with at least one spacer coated with at least one layer of LIG, and optionally by applying an electric potential to the at least one LIG layer to achieve a bactericidal effect in the water stream. Specifically, disclosed herein a polymeric mesh suitable for use as a spacer in a membrane module in water treatment application, said mesh being at least partially coated with LIG.