The disclosure relates to devices and methods for extracorporeal conditioning of blood. Extracorporeal blood oxygenators and blood oxygenator components, such as conditioning modules, are described. An extracorporeal blood oxygenator includes a conditioning module having an external frame, an inlet cover, an outlet cover, and an internal chamber. A fiber assembly is disposed within the internal chamber and a potting material on the fiber assembly creates a circumferential seal that defines a passageway through the fiber assembly having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. A fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the passageway, has a lumen that extends along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the fiber assembly, and has an internal curvilinear surface adjacent the fiber assembly. A fluid outlet on the opposite side of the fiber assembly also has a lumen that extends along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the fiber assembly.

A desalination apparatus and a method of desalinating thereof, wherein the desalination apparatus comprises a perforated vessel and at least one engineered semi-permeable membrane that covers perforations on the perforated vessel, wherein the desalination apparatus forms a purified water from saline water when submerged in the saline water to a depth of 50-250 m to create sufficient pressure differential on both sides of the engineered semi-permeable membrane, wherein low-saline water flows through the engineered semi-permeable membrane and collected within an internal cavity of the desalination apparatus. Various embodiments of the desalination apparatus and the method of desalinating are also provided.

A dialyzer composed of: first and second dialyzation chambers, and an intermediate chamber interposed between the first and second dialyzation chambers. Each of the chambers has a respective one of a blood inlet or outlet and a dialysate inlet or outlet arranged so that blood and dialysate flow in counter-current to one another in both chambers. The intermediate chamber is connected to form a dialysate-free blood flow passage between the blood chambers and is configured to maintain a substantially uniform blood flow.

A portable or personal water filtration apparatus comprising upstream and downstream removable reservoirs and a back-washable filter interposed therebetween. The back-washable filter comprises an upstream housing and a downstream housing, inside of which are fitted a membrane cartridge and a slidable plunger. The downstream housing is rotatable relative to the upstream housing between two or more positions, including, for example, an open flow position, a closed flow position, and a back-wash position. In the back-wash position, the downstream housing and plunger are axially extendable relative to the upstream housing and membrane cartridge in order to obtain a charge of clean water in the plunger that may then be forced backward through the filter by returning the plunger to its starting position. This dislodges accumulated debris from the membrane and reverses the slowing of flow observed through repeated use of the filter.

Disclosed is a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell, which can prevent, without a separate gas filtering device, performance deterioration of a fuel cell due to harmful gases during a humidifying process. The humidifier comprises: a housing unit comprising a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, a second fluid inlet, and a second fluid outlet, wherein the humidity of the first fluid introduced via the first fluid inlet is different from the humidity of the second fluid introduced via the second fluid inlet; at least one first cartridge installed inside the housing unit, the first cartridge having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes therein; and a gas filter provided in the first cartridge or between the inner circumferential surface of the housing unit and the first cartridge so as to capture harmful gases contained in the first or second fluid.

A membrane distillation module comprising a membrane distillation cartridge and a membrane distillation housing, wherein: the cartridge comprises a anchoring part in which porous membranes are anchored by resin; the housing comprises a housing body and a housing lid; the membrane distillation module comprises a support part where the outer surface of the anchoring part is supported by the inner surface of the housing with a seal member interposed therebetween; and a value C in the cross section of the support part is at least 30 C. as represented by the formula, where d.sub.F is the equivalent circular diameter (mm) of the outer circumference of the anchoring part, k.sub.F is the linear expansion coefficient (1/ C.) of the resin, d.sub.E is the equivalent diameter (mm) of the inner circumference of the housing, and k.sub.E is the linear expansion coefficient (1/ C.) of a portion where the housing contacts the seal member.

A movable seal for interfacing between a first surface and a second surface includes a floating portion attached to a non-floating portion by a flexible coupling portion, wherein the non-floating portion is coupled to the first surface by nesting in a groove on the first surface, and wherein the non-floating portion forms a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a first direction, and wherein the non-floating portion does not form a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a second opposite direction.

A membrane filtration cell is provided which includes a fluid passageway and a filtration membrane positioned within the passageway, the filtration membrane dividing the fluid passageway into two chambers, a retentate chamber and a permeate chamber. A first electrode is positioned in the retentate chamber and a second electrode is positioned in the permeate chamber, where the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to apply an electric field across the filtration membrane. The membrane filtration cell also includes an acoustic device configured to apply an acoustic field across the retentate chamber, where the synergistic combination of the electric field and the acoustic field prevents fouling on the filtration membrane. A method of filtering water is provided which includes generating an electric field across a filtration membrane with a first electrode positioned in the retentate chamber and a second electrode positioned in the permeate chamber, and generating an acoustic field across the retentate chamber with an acoustic device, where the synergistic combination of the electric field and the acoustic field prevents fouling on the filtration membrane.

A water filtration system utilizes a housing configured to utilize various types of filter media and having a press-sealed closing system. The closing system includes a head portion defining a head opening, a lock member, and a lid member. The lock member releasably engages the head portion such that an abutment section of the lock member projects into the head opening. The lid member is received by the head portion to cover the head opening, and has an outward-facing press section configured to abut an inward facing portion of the abutment section of the lock member when the lid member is covering the head opening. Pressure generated within the housing during water filtration presses the lid member in an outward direction and causes the lid member press section to press against the abutment section of the lock member to substantially prevent disengagement of the lock member from the head portion.

An air separation module includes a housing, an air separation element, and an insulating element. The housing has an inlet and two outlets. The air separation element is enclosed within the housing and extends along a length of the housing. The insulating element is positioned inward of an outer perimeter of the housing and substantially surrounds an outer perimeter of the air separation element along a length of the air separation element.