Filter media surface modification for enhanced sealing and apparatus utilizing the same
AssigneeHemerus Medical, LLC
InventorMajid Zia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel surface treatment is provided for portions of filter media coming in contact with the filter media holder, such as a filter housing. In certain applications, the treatment is also applied to the filter media holder, depending on the application. Filter media having at least two distinct surface property modifications are provided in liquid filtration applications to enhance the performance of a filtration system, reduce the cost of the system, provide a visual means of detecting fluid bypass, and minimize fluid hold-up volume within the filter media, all with substantially no loss of performance performances parameters, even in steam sterilization applications.
Claims41
An apparatus for filtering fluid, the fluid being received into the apparatus from a fluid container placed in fluid communication with an inlet port on the apparatus, the fluid passing through a flat porous filter element contained within the housing, and the filtered fluid exiting the apparatus through an outlet port being in flow communication with a fluid receiving container, said apparatus comprising:
- a. A housing comprising:
- i. an inlet section having at least a portion of an inlet chamber formed therein, and a passageway in fluid communication with said inlet chamber at one end thereof, and with atmosphere at the other end thereof;
- ii. an outlet section having at least a portion of an outlet chamber formed therein, and a passageway in fluid communication with said outlet chamber at one end thereof, and with atmosphere at the other end thereof, bonded to said inlet section;
- iii. a filter element pinch sealed between said inlet section and said outlet section when said outlet section and said inlet section are bonded together, and forming the remainder of said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said filter element, wherein at least a portion of said filter element is treated to be liquiphobic.
An apparatus for filtering fluid, the fluid being received into the apparatus from a fluid container placed in fluid communication with an inlet port on the apparatus, the fluid passing through a tubular porous filter element contained within the housing, and the filtered fluid exiting the apparatus through an outlet port being in flow communication with a fluid receiving container, said apparatus comprising:
- a. A housing comprising:
- i. A filter bowl sealed to a filter head, forming a chamber, the inlet port and the outlet port located on said filter head, said inlet port in fluid communication with the atmosphere at one end thereof and the chamber at the other end thereof, said outlet port in fluid communication with the atmosphere at one end thereof and the chamber at the other end thereof;
- ii. a tubular filter element within said chamber, said tubular filter element having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end sealed to said filter head, and the lower end sealed between an outer upstanding peripheral wall and an inner upstanding peripheral wall of said filter end cap, said inner upstanding peripheral wall spaced inwardly a predetermined distance from the outer upstanding peripheral wall, wherein at least one portion of said tubular filter element is treated to be liquiphobic.
A flat filter element, having been modified such that at least one portion of said filter element is liquiphobic.
A flat filter media of a predetermined shape comprising at least two regions with distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said filter media between said filter media and a sealing means.
A flat filter media of a predetermined shape comprising at least two regions with distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said filter media between said filter media and a filter housing.
A flat filter media of a predetermined shape comprising at least two regions with distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said filter media between said filter media and a filter housing having an opposed pair of upstanding ridges holding said flat media in a pinch seal.
A flat filter media of a predetermined shape comprising at least two layers, each one of said at least two layers having at least two substantially identical regions with distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said filter media between said filter media and a sealing means.
A flat filter media of a predetermined shape comprising at least two layers, each one of said at least two layers having at least two substantially identical regions with distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said filter media between said filter media and a filter housing.
A flat filter media of a predetermined shape comprising at least two layers, each one of said at least two layers having at least two substantially identical regions with distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said filter media between said filter media and a filter housing having an opposed pair of upstanding ridges holding said flat media in a pinch seal.
A flat sheet of filter media of a predetermined shape having an edge region, and
- a) an annular shaped portion proximate said edge region treated with a liquid repellant to lower the surface tension of said annular region.
A flat sheet of filter media of a predetermined shape having an edge region, and
- a) an annular shaped portion proximate said edge region treated with a liquid repellant on each side of said flat sheet of filter media to form a first annular liquid repellant portion and a second annular liquid repellant portion.
A flat sheet of filter media of a predetermined shape having an edge region, and
- a) an annular shaped portion spaced a predetermined distance from said edge region and treated with a liquid repellant to lower the surface tension of said annular region.
A flat sheet of filter media of a predetermined shape having an edge region,
- a) an annular shaped portion proximate said edge region treated with a liquid repellant to lower the surface tension of said annular region, said annular shaped portion further including,
- i) a filter vent proximate the bottom of said annular shaped portion.
A flat sheet of filter media of a predetermined shape having an edge region,
- a) an annular shaped portion spaced a predetermined distance from said edge region treated with a liquid repellant to lower the surface tension of said annular region, said annular shaped portion further including,
- i) a filter vent proximate the bottom of said annular shaped portion.
In a filter housing for pinch sealing a flat sheet of filter media between a pair of opposed upstanding ridges, each of said pair of opposed upstanding ridges being treated to increase the surface tension thereof.
In a filter housing for pinch sealing a flat sheet of filter media between a pair of opposed upstanding ridges, each of said pair of opposed upstanding ridges being treated to make them water repellent.
In a filter housing for sealing a tubular filter between a pair of opposed end caps, each of said pair of opposed end caps being treated to make them water repellent.
A tubular filter element, having been modified such that at least one portion of said filter element is liquiphobic.
A tubular filter having at least two end sealing regions, at least one of said at least two end sealing regions having distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said tubular filter between said tubular filter and a sealing means.
A tubular filter having at least two end sealing regions, at least one of said at least two end sealing regions having distinct media properties which result in enhanced sealing of said tubular filter in a filter housing.
A filter media having a liquid repellant porous sealing region and a liquid wetting filter area.
A filter media having a liquid repellant porous sealing region and a liquid wetting filter area with a minimum fluid loss and substantially no loss of performance parameters.
A filter media having a liquid repellant porous sealing region and a liquid wetting filter area which results in a leak free media when used in a steam sterilization application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.