Abstract:
A method is provided for processing donated blood, particularly a platelet-containing solution such as platelet-containing plasma, involving separating blood into a red cell containing sediment layer and a supernatant layer, and passing the supernatant layer through a filter until the filter is blocked, thereby leaving platelets to be harvested. The preferred filter comprises a housing (1) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) defining a liquid flow path between the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) and a porous medium (4) having a plurality of zones of progressively increasing density positioned inside the housing (1) across the liquid flow path.
Abstract:
A rectangular parallel piped filter arrangement formed of inlet cells (40), outlet cells (42) and filter elements (57) compressed between impervious end plates (46, 48) which are integrally formed with inlet cells (40, 42). Each cell (40, 42) includes four frame members (40a-40d, 42a-42d). Also support elements (59) are provided on each side of the filter elements (57).
Abstract:
A filter for filtering a highly viscous material comprises a filter element including a glass fiber filter medium, preferably resin-bonded, having upstream and downstream sides and a polymeric mesh situated on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the filter medium, and preferably on both sides of the filer medium. A non-woven sheet, such as a cellulose paper sheet, may be disposed between the downstream side of the filter medium and the downstream polymeric mesh. The filter element is typically cylindrical and longitudinally pleated to maximize the filtration area in as small a volume as possible. Also provided is a method of filtering a highly viscous material, particularly magnetic coating mixes.
Abstract:
A filter for use in a process for the filtration of liquor cerbrospinalis comprises a membrane filter layer having a pore size of from 0.04 to 0.45 mu m and a thickness of from 0.1 to 1 mm, wherein said filter has a geometric surface area of from 15 to 300 cm and a pyrogen separation capacity of at least 500 mu g.
Abstract:
A microcomputer-based programmable control system for desiccant air dryers (20) monitors the level of moisture saturation of the desiccant beds and adjusts the regeneration cycle accordingly to optimize energy efficiency. The moisture sensors have capacitance probes (32), (33) and adjustable resistors (68) as frequency determining components for precision oscillators (65). A multiple counter integrated circuit (58) is controlled by the microcomputer (55) to establish a predetermined time interval and to count cycles of the precision oscillators during the predetermined time interval to obtain final counts for each probe (32), (33) indicative of the level of moisture saturation in the respective desiccant beds. The microcomputer (55) compares the final counts to a predetermined threshold number in order to determine whether a regeneration cycle is required, and also compares the final counts to maximum and minimum threshold numbers to detect and indicate probe failure. A pair of high and low pressure sensitive switches (59) is provided for each desiccant bed, and the microcomputer (55) tests for coincidence of the high switches and the low switches to monitor full depressurization and repressurization of the regenerating bed and to analyze and indicate valve malfunction. The control system directly activates low current, low capacity solenoid valves (201) which in turn operate high pressure pneumatic relays to drive the valves in the air dryer.
Abstract:
A component is washed with a fluid to release particulate contaminant. The particulate-containing fluid is passed through a screen (22) having a known number of apertures of identical known size. The change in pressure caused by the accumulation of particles in the screen is measured and compared with the pressure when the screen is clean. From this, a control system (54) determines the number of particles in the fluid having a size greater than the aperture size. This is related to a unit volume by measuring the volume of fluid passing through the screen (22). If the screen blocks before all the fluid is passed through the screen (22), the fluid is pulsed in forward and reverse flow to re-distribute the particles on the screen. The fluid is then back washed from the screen to a second screen (28) having a known number of apertures of identical size. The number of particles per unit volume having a size greater than the size of the apertures of the second screen is then determined. If the second screen (28) blocks, the second screen (28) is pulsed and the fluid back washed to a third screen (32) having a known number of apertures of identical size. The number of particles per unit volume having a size greater than the size of the third screen (38) is then determined. These values are displayed by the control system (54).
Abstract:
A biological fluid filter assembly (100) including a plurality of porous media (6a, 6b) and essentially lacking a solid partition between the media is disclosed. Preferably, the assembly has a space (12) between the media (6a, 6b). The filter assembly is especially suitable for depleting leukocytes from a biological fluid such as packed red cells, and can be used to deplete leukocytes from two or more units of biological fluid. A method of using the filter assembly is also provided.
Abstract:
A coalescing system, assembly, and element is provided which is capable of separating a first fluid from a second fluid. The coalescing system, assembly, and element is designed such that the coalescing element may be rapidly and easily removed and replaced. Additionally, the coalescing element includes a minimal amount of components and the coalescing assembly provides the necessary components to ensure an efficient coalescing process.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method of preparing polyarylene sulfide fibers, particularly polyphenylene sulfide fibers, comprising melt blowing a blend of polyarylene sulfide and a polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin is present in the blend in an amount of up to about 40 % by weight of the total blend. The present invention also provides fibers, webs, and other products prepared in accordance with the present inventive method.