Self priming filter apparatus

• US 5,439,587 A
• Filed: 07/27/1993
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: Heath, Michael C., Boucher, Douglas A., Stankowski, Ralph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lithgow, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/098,171
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 96/6, 96/155, 96/219, 95/46, 95/260, 210/436, 210/455, 210/472, 210/321.64, 210/321.75, 210/321.84, 210/446, 210/346, 210/347, 422/101, 604/126, 604/406
• US Class Current: 210/321.64
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1657 Filter with membrane, e.g. membrane, flat sheet type infusion filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/165 Filtering accessories, e.g. blood filters, filters for infusion liquids A61M1/14 , A61M1/34, A61M1/3627, A61M1/3679, A61M1/3687 take precedence; needle sets with incorporated air inlet filters A61M5/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/38 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/001 Filters in combination with devices for the removal of gas, air purge systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/08 Flat membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/082 comprising a stack of flat membranes

Abstract

A self-priming filter holder for filtration of intravenous liquids is provided and is formed of one or two housing portions sealed to a core portion. The core portion has one or two ribbed surfaces forming a plurality of flow paths sealed at one end and open at a second end and at least one channel preferably larger than the flow paths. The channel(s) is in fluid communication with the flow paths and an outlet. An inlet is provided to the interior of the housing portion(s) which are sealed from the ribbed surfaces by hydrophilic membranes. The housing portion(s) can be provided with gas vents sealed with hydrophobic membranes. Fluids pass through the flow paths in one direction and through the channel(s) in an opposite direction to remove gas from the flow paths and channels prior to use.

Claims

1. A filter apparatus comprising

a first housing portion having a first periphery and a second housing portion having a second periphery, said first periphery being sealed to said second periphery to form a first space,

an inlet to said first space, said inlet being positioned at a first end of said filter apparatus,

a hydrophilic filter sealed to an inner surface of said second housing portion to form a second space,

said hydrophilic filter separating said first space from said second space,

said inner surface having ridges to define a plurality of flow paths and at least one channel, said flow paths being closed at a distal end of said surface remote from said inlet and being open at an opposing end of said surface adjacent said inlet, said flow paths being connected to said at least one channel at said opposing end, said at least one channel being connected to an outlet positioned at a second end of said filter apparatus opposite said first end thereby to effect fluid flow in said at least one channel in a direction opposite a direction of fluid flow in said flow paths said at least one channel being positioned on substantially the same plane as said flow paths, and

said inlet and said outlet being formed integrally on said second housing.

2. The filter apparatus holder of claim 1 wherein said flow paths and said at least one channel are essentially parallel.

3. The filter apparatus of claim 1 having a plurality of channels.

4. The filter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic filter is a cellulose ester.

5. The filter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first housing portion includes gas vents and a hydrophobic membrane covering said vents.

6. The filter apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hydrophobic membrane is polyvinylidene fluoride.

7. The filter apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hydrophobic membrane is polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. A filter apparatus comprising a first housing portion first periphery, a second housing portion having a second periphery and a core portion having a third periphery on a first surface and a fourth periphery on a second surface, first periphery being sealed to said third periphery and said second periphery being sealed to said fourth periphery thereby to form a first space between said first housing portion and said core and to form a second space between said second housing portion and said core portion, an inlet to said first space and second space, said inlet being positioned at a first end of said filter apparatus, each of said first surface and said second surface having ridges to define a plurality of flow paths and at least one channel, said flow paths being sealed at a distant end of their respective surface remote from said inlet and being open at an opposing end of their respective surface adjacent said inlet, said flow paths being connected to said at least one channel, said at least one channel being connected to an outlet positioned at a second end of said filter apparatus opposite said first end thereby to effect fluid flow in each of said at least one channel in a direction opposite fluid flow in said flow paths, said at least one channel being positioned on substantially opposite the same plane as said flow paths, said first surface being sealed from said first space by a first hydrophilic membrane, said second surface being sealed from said second pace by a second hydrophilic membrane, said inlet and said outlet being formed integrally on said core.

9. The filter apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first housing portion has vent holes sealed with a first hydrophobic membrane and said second housing portion has vent holes sealed with a second hydrophobic membrane.

10. The filter apparatus of claim 8 wherein said flow paths and said at least one channel are essentially parallel.

11. The filter apparatus of claim 8 having a plurality of channels.

12. The filter apparatus of claim 8 wherein said hydrophilic membranes are a cellulose ester.

13. The filter apparatus of claim 9 wherein said hydrophobic membranes are polytetrafluoroethylene.

14. The filter apparatus of claim 9 wherein said hydrophobic membranes are polyvinylidene fluoride.

15. A core portion for use in a filter apparatus in conjunction with a housing portion,

said core portion having a first surface having a plurality of ridges to define a plurality of flow paths and at least one channel, said flow paths being sealed at a distant end of said first surface remote from an inlet and being open at an opposing end of said first surface adjacent said inlet, said at least one channel being positioned on substantially the same plane as said flow paths,

said flow paths being connected to said at least one channel at said opposing end of said first surface,

said at least one channel being in fluid communication with an outlet,

a first peripheral surface surrounding said first surface,

a first hydrophilic membrane sealed to said first peripheral surface,

said inlet being sealed from said outlet by said first hydrophilic membrane,

said core portion having a second surface having a plurality of ridges to define a plurality of flow paths and said at least one channel, said flow paths being sealed at a distant end of said second surface remote from said inlet and being open at an opposing end of said second surface adjacent said inlet,

said inlet being formed integrally at a first end of said core portion and being in fluid communication with said first surface and said second surface,

said outlet being formed integrally at a second end of said core portion and being in fluid communication with said at least one channel,

said flow paths being connected to with said at least one channel,

said at least one channel being connected to said outlet,

a second peripheral surface surrounding said second surface,

and said inlet being sealed from said outlet by said second hydrophilic membrane.

16. The core portion of claim 15 wherein said flow paths and said channels are essentially parallel.

17. The core portion of claim 15 having a plurality of channels.

18. A core portion for use in a filter holder in conjunction with a housing portion,

said core portion having a first surface having a plurality of ridges to define a plurality of flow paths and at least one channel, said flow paths being sealed at a distant end of said first surface remote from said inlet and being open at an opposing end of said first surface remote from an inlet and being open at an opposing end of said first surface adjacent said inlet, said at least one channel being positioned on substantially the same plane as said flow paths,

said inlet being formed integrally at it first end of said core portion and being in fluid communication with said first surface,

said outlet being formed integrally at a second end of said core portion and being in fluid communication with said at least one channel,

a peripheral surface surrounding said first surface,

a hydrophilic membrane sealed to said peripheral surface

and said inlet being sealed from said outlet by said hydrophilic membrane.

19. The core portion of claim 18 wherein said flow paths and said at least one channel are essentially parallel.

20. The core portion of claim 18 having a plurality of channels.