Membrane pouch

A membrane pouch especially suitable for producing a sterile solution from non-sterilized fresh water, the pouch comprising:

• a first closed bag of semipermeable membrane material, said membrane material being permeable to water molecules and impermeable to viruses, bacteria and pyrogens;
• a second, waterproof bag substantially enclosing said first bag;
• first sealable port means for providing access to a first compartment within said first bag, said first port means extending through said second bag;
• second sealable port means for providing access to a second compartment, said second compartment lying between said first bag and said second bag, whereby fresh water placed in one of said first and second compartments can be transferred by osmosis to the other of said compartments while the membrane material precludes passage of bacteria, viruses and pyrogens therethrough;
• and
• indicator means for providing an indication if the first bag is not intact, said first and second bags being at least partially transparent, said indicator means providing a color indication of the existence of a discontinuity in the first bag.

Apparatus for producing a sterile solution by hydrating a solute from non-sterilized fresh water, comprising:

• first sealable container means for receiving said solute;
• second waterproof container means for receiving nonsterilized fresh water;
• a semipermeable membrane member common to said first and second container means, said membrane member being permeable to water molecules and impermeable to bacteria, pyrogens, viruses and said solute;
• and
• an osmotic accelerator initially located in said first container means, said osmotic accelerator comprising a water soluble, non-toxic substance having a high osmotic pressure and being permeant to said membrane member, and wherein the osmotic accelerator serves to initially draw a first quantity of water from said second container means into said first container means through said semipermeable membrane member to wet said solute and said accelerator equilibrates throughout the water in said first and second container means, and said wet solute, through osmosis, draws water containing said equilibrated accelerator into said first container means through said membrane member.

A method of rehydrating a solute to produce a sterile aqueous solution of said solute from non-sterilized fresh water, comprising the steps of:

• separating a supply of non-sterilized fresh water from said solute by a semipermeable membrane member;
• employing a membrane material which is permeable to water and impermeable to said solute and to contaminants such as bacteria, virus and pyrogens, as said membrane member;
• and
• initiating and accelerating the osmotic transfer of sterile water from said water supply through said membrane member by including a non-toxic, water soluble substance having a high osmotic pressure and being permeant to said membrane member with said solute.