Filter assembly having a flexible housing
AssigneeBaxter International Inc.
InventorsDaryl R. Calhoun, Randy Murphey, Allen R. Wons, Roberto E. Perez
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Abstract
A fluid filter assembly for filtering fluids such as blood is described. The assembly includes first and second filter housing elements formed by an injection molding process. Each element is flexible and includes a peripheral flange formed thereabout and a fluid communicating port formed therein. Filter media, such as a filter membrane, is sealed between the mating flanges of two elements. The fluid filter assembly is capable of collapsing and expanding during the filtration process depending upon the composition of the fluid passed there through. A method for making the filter assembly and systems for using the filter assembly are also disclosed.
Claims10
A blood filter device comprising:
- first and second generally flexible filter housing elements, each flexible filter housing element comprising a domed region having a peripheral outer flange and a fluid port on the respective domed region in a region spaced from the respective outer flange, the flexible filter housing elements each comprising a sheet of generally flexible thermoplastic material from which the domed region, the peripheral outer flange, and the fluid port are integrally molded, forming first and second flexible unitary components that, when joined about the outer flanges, form an entire flexible filter housing that is subject to flexure;
- a filter media;
- and
- a peripheral heat seal joining the outer flanges of the first and second flexible filter housing elements directly to the filter media to encapsulate the filter media within the domed regions between the first and second flexible filter housing elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.