Back to results
US 7,094,346 B2Granted
Cross-flow filtration cassettes and methods for fabrication of same
AssigneeProtonex Technology Corporation
InventorsPaul Osenar, Paul Sabin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates generally to filtration cassettes, and, more particularly to methods of fabricating cross-flow filtration cassettes. Cassettes of the invention are characterized, in part, by an internal porting (e.g., manifolding) feature which eliminates the need for a separate step to seal individual components prior to assembly of the filtration cassette. Filtration cassettes of the present invention can be manufactured from conventional membrane and flow screen components and can utilize both injection molding and vacuum assisted resin transfer molding fabrication processes.
Claims25
A filtration cassette comprising:
- one or more filter membranes, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow;
- one or more filtrate flow screens, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow and further having one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the port for retentate flow, wherein the one or more channels on the filtrate flow screen permit introduction of a sealant such that the port for retentate flow on the filtrate flow screen may be selectively blocked;
- and
- one or more retentate flow screens, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow and further having one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the port for filtrate flow, wherein the one or more channels on the retentate flow screen permit introduction of a sealant such that the port for filtrate flow on the retentate flow screen may be selectively blocked;
- wherein the one or more filter membranes, filtrate flow screens and retentate flow screens are assembled and encapsulated about the periphery thereof by sealant;
- and
- wherein the sealant contemporaneously seals the respective channels of the one or more filtrate flow screens and retentate flow screens to selectively block one or more ports in proximity thereto.
4 more elements
A filtration stack assembly comprising one or more filtration cassettes and a first and a second end plate attached at either end thereof, wherein each filtration cassette comprises:
- one or more filter membranes, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow;
- one or more filtrate flow screens, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow and further having one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the port for retentate flow, wherein the one or more channels on the filtrate flow screen permit introduction of a sealant such that the port for retentate flow on the filtrate flow screen may be selectively blocked;
- and
- one or more retentate flow screens, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow and further having one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the port for filtrate flow, wherein the one or more channels on the retentate flow screen permit introduction of a sealant such that the port for filtrate flow on the retentate flow screen may be selectively blocked;
- wherein the one or more filter membranes, filtrate flow screens and retentate flow screens are assembled and encapsulated about the periphery thereof by sealant;
- and
- wherein the sealant contemporaneously seals the respective channels of the one or more filtrate flow screens and retentate flow screens to selectively block one or more ports in proximity thereto.
4 more elements
A method of fabricating a filtration cassette comprising:
- providing one or more filter membranes, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow;
- providing one or more filtrate flow screens, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow and further having one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the port for retentate flow, wherein the one or more channels on the filtrate flow screen permit introduction of a sealant such that the port for retentate flow on the filtrate flow screen may be selectively blocked;
- and
- providing one or more retentate flow screens, each having at least one port for filtrate flow and at least one port for retentate flow and further having one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the port for filtrate flow, wherein the one or more channels on the retentate flow screen permit introduction of a sealant such that the port for filtrate flow on the retentate flow screen may be selectively blocked;
- introducing a sealant about the periphery of the filter membrane, the filtrate flow screen, and the retentate flow screen wherein the sealant conteporaneously encapsulates the periphery thereof and seals the one or more channels in proximity to and at least partially surrounding the ports for retentate flow and the port for filtrate flow.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.