Reinforced filtration apparatus

A filter reinforcement element for use in conjunction with a pleated filtration element having a plurality of planar, spaced apart filtration media sheets, each pair of adjacent filtration media sheets being integrally connected by a pleat at alternating ends of said media sheets, a first plurality of pleats defining a fluid intake boundary and a second plurality of pleats defining a fluid exit boundary, the filter reinforcement element comprising:

• a reinforcement element body positionable between adjacent filtration media sheets of the pleated filtration element, the reinforcement element body being formed from a corrugated member having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, the corrugated member having first parallel ridges extending away from a reinforcement element centerplane in a first direction and alternating second parallel ridges extending away from the reinforcement element centerplane in a second direction generally opposite the first direction, each of the first and second ridges having an apex line, the corrugated member being configured-so that when the reinforcement body is positioned between the adjacent filtration media sheets, the first ridges are in contact with a first sheet of the adjacent filtration media sheets, their apex lines defining a first contact plane parallel to the first sheet and the second ridges are in contact with a second sheet of the adjacent filtration media sheets, their apex lines defining a second contact plane parallel to the second sheet,
• wherein each pair of first ridges and each pair of second ridges defines a flow channel there-between, each said flow channel being substantially parallel to a line extending from the fluid intake boundary to the fluid exit boundary.