Apparatus for high pressure fluid filtration

• US 6,346,192 B2
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TherOx Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TherOx Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Daoud, Adib G., Buhr, Mark S., Daw, Derek J., Merritt, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walker, W. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORKIN, DAVID L
• Application Number:
  US09/312,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 210/767, 210/227, 210/314, 210/323.1, 210/335, 210/339, 210/445, 210/446, 210/450, 210/451, 210/453, 210/455, 210/500.25, 210/510.1, 422/101
• US Class Current: 210/314
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3613 Reperfusion, e.g. of the coronary vessels, e.g. retroperfusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/34 Seals or gaskets for filtering elements for removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads B01D2201/304
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4046 Means for avoiding false mounting of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/05 supported
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/58 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/02 Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, B01D35/05 takes precedence; water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/31 including arrangements for environmental protection, e.g. pressure resisting features
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/08 Flat membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/089 Modules where the membrane is in the form of a bag, membrane cushion or pad

Abstract

A bacterial fluid filter includes a filter element supported by a backing member. The filter element and backing member are sealed, e.g., with one or more o-ring seals, in a housing to provide a filter assembly capable of filtering fluid under relatively high pressure. In one embodiment, a filter element, backing member, and seal are disposed in a removable and disposable housing that is sized to fit within a filter housing.

Claims

1. A bacterial fluid filtration device comprising:

a housing having an axial fluid passageway extending therethrough;

a filter disposed in the housing in the fluid passageway, the filter having an absolute path; and

a backing element disposed adjacent the filter in the housing in the fluid passageway downstream from the filter to support the filter at pressures of at least about 1000 psi, the backing element having a mean path substantially equal to the absolute path of the filter.

2. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being coupled to the second portion.

3. The fluid filter, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an inlet lumen positioned upstream from the filter and an outlet lumen positioned downstream from the backing element.

4. The fluid filter, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the housing comprises an inlet lumen in the first portion positioned upstream from the filter and an outlet lumen in the second portion positioned downstream from the backing element.

5. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be removably disposed in a bulkhead assembly coupled to a fluid line.

6. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a disk.

7. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the filter comprises at least one of nylon, polyethersulfone, teflon, polycarbonate, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, cellulose, glass fiber, stainless steel, monel, inconel, silver or gold.

8. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the filter comprises an absolute path of about 0.22 micron or less.

9. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the backing element comprises a disk.

10. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the backing element comprises a sintered metal filter disk made of at least one of titanium, stainless steel, monel, inconel, and gold.

11. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the backing element comprises a mean path of about 0.5 micron or less.

12. The fluid filter, as set forth in claim 3, comprising a seal disposed between the inlet of the housing and the filter.

13. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 3, comprising a seal disposed between the backing element and the outlet of the housing.

14. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the housing includes a portion that protrudes through the seal to support the backing element.

15. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the seal comprises an o-ring.

16. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the seal comprises an o-ring.

17. A bacterial fluid filtration device comprising:

a housing having a first portion and a second portion defining an axial fluid passageway extending therethrough, the first portion having a fluid inlet and having a first recess and a second recess, the second portion having a fluid outlet and being coupleable to the first portion;

a first seal disposed in the first recess of the first portion of the housing;

a filter disposed adjacent the first seal, the filter having an absolute path;

a backing element disposed adjacent the filter to support the filter at pressures of at least about 1000 psi, the backing element having a mean path substantially equal to the absolute path of the filter; and

a second seal disposed in the second recess of the first portion of the housing adjacent the backing element.

18. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the filter comprises a disk.

19. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the filter comprises at least one of nylon, polyethersulfone, teflon, polycarbonate, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, cellulose, glass fiber, stainless steel, monel, inconel, silver or gold.

20. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the filter comprises an absolute path of about 0.22 micron or less.

21. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the backing element comprises a disk.

22. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the backing element comprises a sintered metal filter disk made of at least one of titanium, stainless steel, monel, inconel, and gold.

23. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the backing element comprises a mean path of about 0.5 micron or less.

24. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second portion of the housing comprises a portion that protrudes through the second seal to support the backing element.

25. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second portion of the housing comprises a recess sized to accept the first portion of the housing therein.

26. A bacterial fluid filtration device comprising:

a housing having an axial fluid passageway extending therethrough;

a filter disposed in the housing in the fluid passageway, the filter having an absolute path; and

a support disposed adjacent the filter in the housing in the fluid passageway downstream from the filter to accommodate fluid pressures of at least about 1000 p.s.i., the support comprising a backing element positioned against a support structure, wherein the backing element and the support structure support the filter, the backing element having a mean path substantially equal to the absolute path of the filter.

27. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being coupled to the second portion.

28. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the housing comprises an inlet lumen positioned upstream from the filter and an outlet lumen positioned downstream from the backing element.

29. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 27, wherein the housing comprises an inlet lumen in the first portion positioned upstream from the filter and an outlet lumen in the second portion positioned downstream from the backing element.

30. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the housing is adapted to be removably disposed in a bulkhead assembly coupled to a fluid line.

31. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the filter comprises a disk.

32. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the filter comprises at least one of nylon, polyethersulfone, teflon, polycarbonate, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, cellulose, glass fiber, stainless steel, monel, inconel, silver or gold.

33. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the filter comprises an absolute path of 0.2 micron or less.

34. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the backing element comprises a disk.

35. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the backing element comprises at least one of sintered metal filter disk made of at least one of titanium, stainless steel, monel, inconel, and gold.

36. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the backing element comprises a mean path of 0.2 micron or less.

37. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 28, comprising a seal disposed between the inlet of the housing and the filter.

38. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 28, comprising a seal disposed between the backing element and the outlet of the housing.

39. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the support structure comprises a portion of the housing that protrudes through the seal to support the backing element.

40. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the seal comprises an o-ring.

41. The fluid filtration device, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the seal comprises an o-ring.