Dialysis device

• US 8,012,350 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aftab Alam
• Original Assignee: Aftab Alam
• Inventors: Alam, Aftab
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo; Tony G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keyworth; Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/590,667
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 210/321.6, 210/321.71
• US Class Current: 210/321.71
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/04 Specific sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/041 Gaskets or O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/243 Dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/244 comprising multiple dialysis steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/28 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/087 Single membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

A dialysis device having a dialysis tube with a closed end and an open end, the open end is provided with a dialysis reservoir having a dialysis membrane.

Claims

1. A dialysis device for dialyzing liquid samples, comprising:

a dialysis reservoir having an open end and the end opposite the open end is provided with a dialysis membrane, said dialysis reservoir having an outer element and an inner element wherein the outer element receives the inner element, wherein a dialysis membrane is wrapped around the inner element by folding over the leading-end of the inner element, wherein the inside face of the inner element is provided with mounting threads, wherein a gasket is externally placed on top of the membrane, wherein the diameter of the gasket is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the inner element such that the gasket sits freely on the membrane; and

a dialysis tube, said dialysis tube having a closed end and the end opposite the closed end is open end wherein the open end is provided with mounting threads for mounting in the open end of the dialysis reservoir.

2. A dialysis device according to claim 1 wherein the outer element and the inner elements of the dialysis reservoir are provided with a means to prevent the rotation of the two elements relative to one another.

3. A dialysis device according to claim 2 wherein the outer element and the inner elements of the dialysis reservoir are provided with geometric structures to prevent the rotation of the two elements relative to one another.

4. A dialysis device according to claim 1 wherein the outer element and the inner elements of the dialysis reservoir are provided with an irreversible interlocking section.

5. A dialysis device according to claim 4 wherein the irreversible interlocking section is tapered wherein the tapering angle is between 5-10 degrees.

6. A dialysis device according to claim 4 wherein the irreversible interlocking section is provided with an irreversible interlocking mean.

7. A dialysis device according to claim 6 wherein the outer element of the dialysis reservoir is provided with female interlocking means, wherein the interlocking angle is between 10-30 degrees.

8. A dialysis device according to claim 1 wherein the end opposite the open end of the outer element is provided with a circumferential lip to prevent the inner element pass through the outer element and provide a resting support for the externally placed gasket.

9. A dialysis reservoir for mounting on the open end of a dialysis tube for dialysis of a sample comprising:

an inner element;

an outer element which receives the inner element, wherein the inner element is provided with threads for mounting on the open end of the dialysis tube;

a dialysis membrane wrapped around the inner element by folding over the leading-end of the inner element; and

a gasket externally placed on top of the dialysis membrane, wherein the diameter of the gasket is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the inner element such that the gasket sit freely on the membrane.

10. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 9 wherein the outer element and the inner elements are provided with means to prevent the rotation of the two elements relative to one another.

11. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 10 wherein the outer element and the inner elements are provided with geometric structures to prevent the rotation of the two elements relative to one another.

12. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 9 wherein the end opposite the open end of the outer element is provided with a circumferential lip to prevent the inner element pass through the outer element and support the externally placed gasket.

13. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 9 wherein the outer element and the inner elements of the dialysis reservoir are provided with an irreversible interlocking section.

14. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 13 wherein the irreversible interlocking section is tapered wherein the tapering angle is between 5-10 degrees.

15. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 13 wherein the irreversible interlocking section is provided with an irreversible interlocking mean.

16. A dialysis reservoir according to claim 15 wherein the outer elements of the dialysis reservoir is provided with a female interlocking means wherein the interlocking angle is between 10-30 degrees.

17. A method of dialyzing a liquid sample with a dialysis device, comprising:

depositing a sample for dialysis in a dialysis tube, said dialysis tube having a closed end and the end opposite the closed end is open end wherein the open end is provided with mounting threads;

mounting a dialysis reservoir on the open end of the dialysis tube, said dialysis reservoir having an outer element and an inner element wherein the outer element receives the inner element, wherein a dialysis membrane is wrapped around the inner element by folding over the leading-end of the inner element, wherein the inside face of the inner element is provided with mounting threads, wherein a gasket is externally placed on top of the membrane, wherein the diameter of the gasket is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the inner element such that the gasket sits freely on the membrane, wherein the outer element is further provided with a circumferential lip to prevent the inner element pass through the outer element and provide a resting support for the externally placed gasket;

the dialysis device is inverted and secured on a floating device wherein the dialysis reservoir faces downward allowing the sample to rest on the dialysis membrane; and

the dialysis device secured on the floating device is floated in a dialysis solution for exchange of molecules across the dialysis membrane.

18. A method of dialysis according to claim 17 wherein the inner and outer elements are provided with geometric structures to prevent the rotation relative to one another, wherein the inner and outer elements are further provided with irreversibly interlocking mechanism.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the irreversibly interlocking mechanism is a male and a female type having irreversible interlocking angle 10-30 degrees.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein when the dialysis reservoir is mounted on the open end of the dialysis tube the open end press against the externally placed gasket on the dialysis membrane creating a liquid tight seal for dialysis of the sample.