Membrane system for ultrafiltration etc. - formed from two flat membrane sheets with support between sealed at each side to create three separate flow passages

摘要

Mass transfer between two fluids is carried out across a pair of membranes held apart by a woven or non-woven web of plastic fibres. The membranes are folded over on each other to create a series of folds. Each end and side is sealed. Sealing arrangement creates two separate flow passages on either side of the membranes element each with their own inlet and outlet branches. A further fluid stream is passed between the membranes, depending on the type of process involved. Used in various blood treatment processes such as dialysis in artificial kidney machine or oxygenation in artificial lung. Arrangement allows several operations, such as dialysis or ultrafiltration to be carried out on one machine. Also allows the capacity of the machine to be adjusted for patients of different body weight.