Filter device

A device for reducing the amount of contaminant in a liquid sample comprising:

• a hollow elongate member having an opening means;
• a hydrophobic filter fixedly positioned in said hollow elongate member, said depth filter in combination with said hollow elongate member defining a reservoir between said depth filter and said opening means;
• and
• means associated with said opening means for generating a pressure differential between the interior of said hollow elongate member and the exterior thereof, for introducing a contaminant-containing liquid to said elongate member exclusively through said opening means, for drawing liquid through said depth filter into said reservoir, and for removing a liquid with a reduced amount of contaminant from said hollow elongate member exclusively through said depth filter and said opening means, whereby contaminant is trapped within said depth filter.

A device for reducing the amount of particulate contaminant in a liquid comprising:

• a hollow elongate member having an opening;
• filter means positioned in said elongate member and having first and second sides, said first side facing said opening and said second side in combination with the internal walls of said hollow elongate member defining a reservoir;
• and
• valve means associated with said filter means for permitting substantially unfiltered liquid flow from said opening to said reservoir in a first direction and filtered flow from said reservoir through said filter means to said opening in a second direction, said valve means being a one way valve including:
• at least one aperture formed in said filter means extending from said first side to said second side;
• and
• movable means completely detached from said filter means and located in said reservoir for sealing said aperture.

A device for reducing the amount of particulate contaminant in a liquid comprising:

• a hollow elongate member having at least first and second openings;
• means associated with said first opening in a wall of said hollow elongate member for permitting ingress of unfiltered liquid into said elongate member through said first opening while retarding egress of liquid out of said elongate member through said first opening;
• means associated with said second opening for permitting egress of filtered liquid out of said elongate member through said second opening while retarding ingress of liquid into said elongate member through said second opening;
• and
• filter means positioned in said elongate member between said first and second openings.

A device for reducing the amount of particulate contaminant in a liquid comprising:

• a hollow elongate member having first, second, and third openings;
• means associated with said first opening in a wall of said hollow elongate member for permitting ingress of liquid into said elongate member through said first opening while retarding egress of liquid out of said elongate member through said first opening;
• means associated with said second opening for permitting egress of liquid out of said elongate member through said second opening while retarding ingress of liquid into said elongate member through said second opening;
• filter means positioned in said elongate member between said first and second openings;
• and
• means associated with said third opening for generating a pressure differential between the interior of said hollow elongate member and the exterior thereof to introduce unfiltered liquid to said hollow elongate member through said first opening and discharge filtered liquid through said second opening.

A device for reducing the amount of particulate contaminant in a liquid comprising:

• a hollow elongate member having at least first and second openings;
• means associated with said first opening in a wall of said hollow elongate member for permitting ingress of liquid into said elongate member through said first opening while retarding egress of liquid out of said elongate member through said first opening;
• means associated with said second opening for permitting egress of liquid out of said elongate member through said second opening while retarding ingress of liquid into said elongate member through said second opening;
• filter means positioned in said elongate member between said first and second openings;
• and
• means formed integrally with said elongate member for generating a pressure differential between the interior of said elongate member and the exterior thereof to introduce unfiltered liquid to said hollow elongate member through said first opening and discharged filtered liquid through said second opening.