Water purification pack

• US 20030105435A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/252
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/00 Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor separation of gases or vapours by diffusion B01D53/22
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/002 Forward osmosis or direct osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/0021 comprising multiple forward osmosis steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/0022 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0079 Manufacture of membranes comprising organic and inorganic components
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0093 Chemical modification
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/20 using flow mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/221 comprising constructions for blocking or redispersing undissolved solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2202 Mixing compositions or mixers in the medical or veterinary field
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7179 using sprayers, nozzles or jets
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/688 Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/422 using anionic exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/425 : using cation exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/026 : Treating water for medical or cosmetic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/04 : for obtaining ultra-pure water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 : Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/208 : Off-grid powered water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/90 : Ultra pure water, e.g. conductivity water
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/908 : Organic

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are disclosed for purifying fluid, such as potable water, to quality levels suitable for medical application, particularly to applications involving injection of the fluid into a human body. The apparatus comprises a portable purification pack constructed for a single use. The pack houses depth filtration, activated carbon, mixed bed ion exchange resins and terminal filtration stages in series. The terminal filter comprises a fine (microfiltration or ultrafiltration), permeable membrane, treated with an endotoxin-binding chemistry. In contrast with semi-permeable osmotic membranes, the permeable membrane produces high flow rates at relatively low pressures, while still safely purifying fluid to injection quality.

Claims

1. A method of producing injectable quality of water, comprising:

providing a portable purification pack comprising a housing surrounding a plurality of purification elements in series;

providing non-sterile water to an inlet of the housing under a feed pressure of less than about 20 psi;

passing the water through the plurality of purification elements; and

outputting purified water from an outlet of the housing, wherein the purified water has an organic content, conductivity, pH level and particulate contamination level suitable for injection into the human body.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting the purified water into a human body.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising dissolving reagents within the purified water prior to injecting the purified water into the human being.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein dissolving reagents in the purified water comprises passing the purified water from the outlet into a drug reagent cartridge housing dry formulations suitable for forming a medical treatment solution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the medical solution comprises peritoneal dialysate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the purified water has a flux rate of greater than about 30 mL/min.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein outputting the purified water has a flux rate of greater than about 100 mL/min.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the feed pressure is between about 5 psi and 10 psi.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of purification elements comprises a terminal filter having a porosity of no more than about 0.5 μ

m.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the purified water has a total organic content of less than about 500 ppb;

conductivity of less than about 2.0 μ

Siemens;

pH between about 4.5 and 7.5;

fewer than about 12 particles/mL of particles greater than 10 μ

m;

fewer than about 2 particles/mL of particles greater than 25 μ

m; and

lower than about 0.025 ng/mL of endotoxins.

11. A method for producing fluid for medical application, comprising:

providing a portable housing;

passing non-sterile fluid through the housing;

retaining particulate contamination, organic matter, dissociated ions, and endotoxins from the feed fluid within purification elements in the housing; and

outputting fluid suitable for medical applications from the housing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the purification elements include a mixed bed of anion-exchange and cation-exchange resins.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the purification elements further comprise a depth filtration stage and an organic adsorption stage.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein retaining endotoxins comprises passing the feed fluid through a permeable membrane treated with a quaternary amine exchange chemistry.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein retaining endotoxins comprises passing the feed fluid through a permeable ultrafiltration membrane having a nominal cut-off porosity of between about 10,000 and 30,000 molecular weight.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein retaining particulate contamination comprises passing the feed fluid through a depth filtration stage.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the housing contains an outlet including an irreversible lock.