Tubular conduits are provided which have an outer surface and/or an inner surface functionalized with at least one antimicrobial peptide having the sequence X.sub.1X.sub.2WVX.sub.3IWVX.sub.4X.sub.5, wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, X.sub.4 and X.sub.5 are independently selected from K and R and wherein each amino acid is independently in the D or L configuration, or a salt or solvate thereof. The tubular conduits are preferably made of biodegradable polymeric material. The functionalization of the tubular conduits with the at least one antimicrobial peptide prevents contamination caused by Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive bacteria, fungi, yeasts and/or viruses.

A drinking straw includes a generally elongate tube having a sidewall defining an internal bore, wherein one end of the straw is provided with a piercing projection formed from a portion of the sidewall and reinforced by a folded portion of the sidewall. The straw is manufactured from an elongate tube on which a piercing projection is formed at one end by folding a portion of the sidewall at that end to reinforce the projection.

The present invention provides an intrinsically anti-microbial hollow fiber membrane for filtration of liquids. The membrane comprises a plurality of porous hollow bilayer membrane fibers wherein the liquid enters from outside of the fiber, passing through the porous membrane into the lumen of the fiber and coming out from the hollow ending of the fiber, wherein this configuration provides a liquid outside-in arrangement and retains the filtrate outside. It means that membrane of the invention has built in characteristics to act against microbes in order to provide the use with a safe liquid free from microbes. The outer side or outer wall of the hollow fibers may be configured to become hydrophobic whereas inner side or inner wall of the hollow fiber membrane may be configured to become hydrophilic to enhance the water permeability to a great extent. The hollow fiber membrane may be configured to give it an intrinsic anti-microbial capability. A device containing above said membrane has also been disclosed.

A drinking utensil having a longitudinal axis has an elongate body having a first end and an opposing second end spaced from the first end along the longitudinal axis. The elongate body defines a lumen therethrough from the first end to the second end. A filter body can be coupled to the first end of the elongate body. The filter body has a housing defining at least one side opening and a top opening that is in communication with the lumen of the elongate body. The filter body has a filter (e.g., a mesh filter) extending across and covering the at least one side opening of the housing.

The present disclosure provides a purification straw and a portable drinking device using the purification straw. The purification straw includes a main body and a filtering element. The main body includes a first cavity, a first inlet communicating with the first cavity and a first outlet communicating with the first cavity. The filtering element is located in the first cavity. The filtering element includes a first pipe portion and a bottom portion connected with a first end of the first pipe portion. A second cavity is surrounded by the first pipe portion and the bottom portion and a second outlet communicating with the second cavity located at a second end of the first pipe portion far away from the first end, the bottom portion is located between the second end and the first inlet, a gap located between the first pipe portion and the main body.

A water sanitization cap for covering a bottle is provided. The cap may screw-fit on a conventional water bottle. The conventional water bottle may store drinking water. The cap may include a UV-C module. When activated, the UV-C module may destroy bacteria and/or viruses within the water. The cap may also include a particulate filter. The particulate filter may filter out particulate matter from the water when water is being suctioned out of the bottle. The water may be suctioned out of the bottle using a foldaway straw included in the cap.

A water sanitization cap for covering a bottle is provided. The cap may screw-fit on a conventional water bottle. The conventional water bottle may store drinking water. The cap may include a UV-C module. When activated, the UV-C module may destroy bacteria and/or viruses within the water. The cap may also include a particulate filter. The particulate filter may filter out particulate matter from the water when water is being suctioned out of the bottle. The water may be suctioned out of the bottle using a foldaway straw included in the cap.

A container system having an access portal is disclosed. The container system may contain a selected material for access and withdraw through the portal. The portal may be engaged in any appropriate manner, such as with the application of a vacuum or pouring out.

In a method for cleaning a portable filter assembly including an elongated housing and a mouthpiece assembled with an outlet end port of the housing, the mouthpiece is disassembled from a female threaded portion of the outlet end port. A male threaded end connection of a cleaning fluid source is assembled to the female threaded portion of the outlet end port. A pressurized cleaning fluid is supplied from the cleaning fluid source to the outlet end port and through a filter element disposed in a fluid passage of the housing to expel the cleaning fluid and trapped contaminants from an inlet end port of the housing.

The present invention provides an intrinsically anti-microbial hollow fiber membrane for filtration of liquids. The membrane comprises a plurality of porous hollow bilayer membrane fibers wherein the liquid enters from outside of the fiber, passing through the porous membrane into the lumen of the fiber and coming out from the hollow ending of the fiber, wherein this configuration provides a liquid outside-in arrangement and retains the filtrate outside. It means that membrane of the invention has built in characteristics to act against microbes in order to provide the use with a safe liquid free from microbes. The outer side or outer wall of the hollow fibers may be configured to become hydrophobic whereas inner side or inner wall of the hollow fiber membrane may be configured to become hydrophilic to enhance the water permeability to a great extent. The hollow fiber membrane may be configured to give it an intrinsic anti-microbial capability. A device containing above said membrane has also been disclosed.