1297 results about "Porous membrane" patented technology

Containers for providing vapor phase reactant from liquid sources include bubbler designs and designs in which carrier gas flows over the liquid surface. Among the bubbler arrangements, a bypass conductance is provided to release excess pressure from the gas volume inside the container, or an enlarged bubbler tube is provided with a volume sufficient to accommodate all possible liquid backflow without having the liquid exit the container. Among the overflow designs, flow dividers provide a tortuous path for the gas to increase the time exposure of carrier gas packets to the evaporating liquid surface. The flow dividers can be microporous to encourage capillary action, thereby increasing the evaporating surface. The tortuous gas flow path can be separated from the liquid phase by a breathable semi-porous membrane that permits vapor phase reactant to pass through but prohibits liquid from passing in the other direction.

An implantable medical device including a porous membrane that is treated with a hydrophilic substance to obtain rapid optimum visualization using technology for viewing inside of a mammalian body. These technologies include ultrasound echocardiography and video imaging such as that used during laparoscopic procedures.

Embodiments of a uniformly porous membrane covering an endoprosthetic device, for example, a stent used to treat an aneurysm, are described. Some embodiments have a pore size and spacing that provides a material ratio of between 70-80% in the deployed state. Material ratio is the proportion of the total porous segment of the membrane that corresponds to membrane material, the remainder being pores. In some embodiments, pore size ranges from about 10-100 μm. In some embodiments, pores are equidistantly spaced with pore spacing in a range of about 40-100 μm. The combination of pore size and spacing are effective to provide a membrane that substantially prevents flow to the aneurysm, while maintaining flow to perforator vessels. In some embodiments the membrane includes permanently attached agents that promote attachment of endothelial cells or progenitors and healing of the aneurysm, or reduce immune responses detrimental to the healing process.

An analyzing cartridge and method for using it to analyze a sample having a plurality of reservoirs and capillaries connected for communication between these reservoirs and is provided therein with a reagent required for analysis. The reservoirs are provided with openings leading to the outside of the cartridge, and the openings are covered with vents each consisting of a gas-permeable/non-liquid-permeable, hydrophobic, porous membrane. The analyzing cartridge requires only trace amounts of a sample and a reagent and no maintenance. It is provided with a non-fluid reagent in vent-carrying reservoirs thereby making it possible to formulate a very trace amount of reagent solution in the cartridge by injecting a reagent dissolving liquid into the reservoirs immediately before analyzing. A liquid feed control device controls the feeding of the liquid between the reservoirs via the capillaries when it is attached to the cartridge to allow or control the entry/exit of air via the vents.

A redox flow cell is presented that utilizes a porous membrane separating a first half cell and a second half cell. The porous membrane is chosen to have a figure of merit (FOM) is at least a minimum FOM. A method of providing a porous membrane for a flow cell can include determining a figure of merit; determining a first parameter from a pore size or a thickness for the porous membrane; determining a second parameter from the pore size or the thickness that is not the first parameter for the porous membrane, based on the figure of merit; and constructing a porous membrane having the pore size and the thickness.

An encapsulation device having an expandable, porous body with a cavity, the body having a sealed end and a sealable end, where the body is configured to receive one or more fluids through a port in the sealable end, the body is configured to expand to conform to a shape of a target, and where the sealable end may be sealed to prevent leakage into the body, and a method if using the encapsulation device, is disclosed. The body may comprise porous membrane including expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyester fiberfill, metal/polymer mesh, and perforated or porous polymer/metal. The target may include a location within the human body. The port in the sealable end is configured to receive a first fluid into the cavity to expand the body to conform to the shape of the target, and the port is further configured to receive a second fluid into the cavity which displaces the first fluid by diffusing the first fluid through the pores in the body and which cures (such as, by an ultraviolet light source) to secure the body to the target. Optionally, the introduction of the second fluid may be unnecessary when the first fluid includes the desired filler material for the encapsulation device.

A membrane module (5) including a plurality of porous membranes (6) extending in an array and mounted, at least at one end, in a header (8). The header (8) has a number of distribution apertures (11) for distributing a fluid into the module (5) and along a surface or surfaces of the membranes (6). An elongate chamber (10) having one open end (13) and another end is in fluid communication with the distribution apertures (11) for distributing the fluid to the distribution apertures (11).

The present invention provides a catheter for the delivery of fluid medication across an anatomical region. In accordance with one embodiment, the catheter comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of exit holes along an infusion section of the catheter, and an elongated flexible porous member residing within the tube and forming an annular space between the tube and the member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes a tube having a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of the tube. The exit holes may combine to form a flow-restricting orifice of the catheter. Advantageously, fluid within the catheter flows through all of the exit holes, resulting in uniform distribution of fluid within an anatomical region. In one particular embodiment, the catheter comprises a tube having elongated exit slots therein. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated tubular member made of a porous membrane. The porous membrane is configured so that a fluid introduced into an open end of the tubular member will flow through side walls of the tubular member at a substantially uniform rate along a length of the tubular member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated “weeping” tubular coil spring attached to an end of, or enclosed within, a tube. Fluid within the spring and greater than or equal to a threshold pressure advantageously flows radially outward between the spring coils. Advantageously, the fluid is dispensed substantially uniformly throughout a length of the spring.

The invention provides for a fully electrically rechargeable metal-air battery systems and methods of achieving such systems. A rechargeable metal air battery cell may comprise a metal electrode an air electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte separating the metal electrode and the air electrode. In some embodiments, the metal electrode may directly contact the electrolyte and no separator or porous membrane need be provided between the air electrode and the electrolyte. Rechargeable metal air battery cells may be electrically connected to one another through a centrode connection between a metal electrode of a first battery cell and an air electrode of a second battery cell. Air tunnels may be provided between individual metal air battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrolyte flow management system may be provided.

The present invention provides an organic/inorganic composite porous separator, which comprises: (a) a porous substrate having pores; and (b) an organic/inorganic composite layer formed by coating at least one region selected from the group consisting of a surface of the substrate and a part of pores present in the substrate with a mixture of inorganic porous particles and a binder polymer, wherein the inorganic porous particles have a plurality of macropores with a diameter of 50nm or greater in the particle itself thereby form a pore structure, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electrochemical device using the same. As an additional pathway for lithium ions is created due to a number of pores existing in the inorganic porous particle itself, degradation in the battery performance can be minimized, and energy density per unit weight can be increased by the weight loss effect.

A nozzle comprised of a thin, flexible membrane material having a plurality of pores is disclosed. In one embodiment, the pores have an unflexed exit aperture diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 2 microns (preferably about 1 micron) and are positioned substantially uniformly in the material, preferably about 50 microns apart. The nozzle preferably has a conical or trumpet-shaped cross-section. In another aspect of the invention, the exit aperture of the nozzle is surrounded by an elevated area protruding above the substantially planar exit side of the membrane in order to prevent intrusion of liquid back into the nozzle. The nozzle can be used to form an aerosol containing a pharmaceutical composition from the exit side of the nozzle upon forcible application of the composition to the entrance side of the nozzle. This aerosol can be used to administer the pharmaceutical composition, for example, to the eye or to a selected portion of the respiratory tract. The nozzle is preferably a component of a container which holds a formulation of drug.

A method for producing a porous flow-through element for use in an electrokinetic infusion pump is provided and generally includes providing a porous membrane that is entirely porous along both its length and width, treating the membrane by selectively inactivating portions of the membrane in a desired pattern to define active regions that allow fluid flow therethrough and inactive regions that do not, and laminating the treated membrane. Various techniques can be used to treat the membrane including, for example, applying a heated embossing die to the membrane, contacting selected portions of the membrane with laser energy, applying a pore-penetrating chemical to the membrane, and cutting and removing selected portions of the membrane. The resulting treated membrane can be laminated between opposed films having one or more perforations therethrough with each perforation being aligned with an active region to define a fluid flow pathway therebetween.

The present invention provides a battery cell, comprising: (a) an anode comprising an active metal or a metal ion storage material (e.g., an intercalation compound that accommodates lithium ion); (b) a cathode structure; and (c) an ionically conductive protective layer on a surface of the anode and interposed between the anode and the cathode structure. This protective layer comprises a porous membrane having pores therein and a soft matter phase disposed in at least one of the pores, wherein the soft matter phase comprises oxide particles dispersed in a non-aqueous alkali, alkaline, or transition metal salt solution. Most preferably, this battery cell is a lithium metal secondary cell that is essentially free from dendrite and exhibits a safer and more stable cycling behavior. Such a high-capacity rechargeable battery is particularly useful for powering portable electronic devices and electric vehicles.

There is provided a lateral flow assay device for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample where the lateral flow assay device has a porous membrane in communication with a conjugate pad and a wicking pad. The porous membrane has a detection zone where a test sample is applied and which has an immobilized first capture reagent configured to bind to at least a portion of the analyte and analyte-conjugate complexes to generate a detection signal. The control zone is located downstream from the detection zone on the porous membrane and has a second capture reagent immobilized within the control zone. The conjugate pad is located upstream from the detection zone, and has detection probes with specific binding members for the analyte. A buffer release zone is located upstream of the conjugate zone and provides for buffer addition to the device, the buffer serving to move the detection probes to the detection and control zones.

The present invention provides method for preparing a cross-linked ceramic-coated separator containing an ionic polymer, a ceramic-coated separator prepared by the method, and a lithium secondary battery using the same. According to preferred methods for preparing a cross-linked ceramic-coated separator, a coating material containing ceramic particles for improving thermal and mechanical characteristics, a functional inorganic compound for improving cycle characteristics and high rate characteristics of a battery, and an ionic polymer for bonding the ceramic particles and the functional inorganic compound on a porous membrane substrate is coated on the porous membrane substrate and subjected to chemical cross-linking.

Microfluidic devices with porous membranes for molecular sieving, metering, and separation of analyte fluids. In one aspect, a microfluidic device includes a substrate having input and output microfluidic channel sections separated by a porous membrane formed integral to the substrate. In another aspect, the porous membrane may comprise a thin membrane that is sandwiched between upper and lower substrate members. The microfluidic device may include one or a plurality of porous membranes. In one embodiment, a plurality of porous membranes having increasingly smaller pores are disposed along portions of a microfluidic channel. In another embodiment, a cascading series of upper and lower channels are employed, wherein each upper/lower channel interface is separated by a respective porous membrane. In another aspect, a porous membrane is rotatably coupled to a substrate within a microfluidic channel via a MEMS actuator to enable the porous membrane to be positioned in filtering and pass-through positions.

A lithium rechargeable battery, which includes a separator having excellent mechanical strength such as elastic strength, swelling resistance, heat resistance, and peel strength. The lithium rechargeable battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator for separating both electrodes from each other, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the separator includes a porous membrane formed of a ceramic material and a binder, and the binder has an elongation ratio of 200 to 300%.

The invention belongs to the technical field of lithium ion batteries and particularly relates to a membrane for a lithium ion battery, which is good in safety performance and mechanical performance. The membrane for the lithium ion battery comprises a porous membrane substrate, a ceramic material layer coated on the surface of the porous membrane substrate, and a polymer sticking layer which is coated on the ceramic material layer and is located on the surface layer. Compared with the prior art, the ceramic material layer can form a microcosmic physical separation on the surface of the membrane so as to reduce the piercing effect of a lithium pine-tree crystal on the membrane; the ceramic material layer coated on the porous membrane substrate can improve the heat resistance of the membrane; the polymer sticking layer which is coated on the ceramic material layer and has a sticking effect can be used for preventing an inner short circuit caused by staggering of the membrane and an electrode, so that the safety performance of the battery is enhanced. In addition, the membrane, an anode sheet and a cathode sheet are joined together through the effect of the polymer sticking layer, so that the mechanical performance of the battery can be enhanced. Furthermore, the invention further discloses the lithium ion battery containing the membrane.

A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.

A capacitor device having a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The capacitor includes a porous membrane disposed between the first and second conductive elements. The capacitor has pores included in the porous membrane extending from the first conductive element to the second conductive element, and a conductive material is disposed inside the pores and in contact with the first conductive element.

A complex membrane for an electrochemical device such as a lithium secondary battery, its manufacturing method, and an electrochemical device having the complex membrane are disclosed. The complex membrane includes a micro-porous polyolefin membrane, and a web-phase porous membrane united to at least one side of the micro-porous polyolefin membrane and composed of nano-fibers. Since the complex membrane is capable of absorbing an electrolyte uniformly, it greatly improves performance of a battery when being used for an electrochemical device. In addition, owing to excellent mechanical strength and good binding capacity to an electrode, it helps to increase a process rate for manufacturing the battery.

A hot gas filtration apparatus includes a vessel, a plurality of filter elements mounted within the vessel and positioned such that hot gas flows through said filter elements, with each of said filter elements having a porous body, and a catalytic layer on surfaces of the porous body. The porous body of the filter element may include one of: a porous ceramic monolithic matrix, a continuous fiber reinforced ceramic composite (CFCC) matrix, a metallic matrix, an intermetallic matrix, a superalloy, and a metal-ceramic composite matrix. When the porous body is a nonoxide ceramic, a metallic matrix, an intermetallic matrix, a superalloy, or a metal-ceramic composite matrix, the invention further includes an oxidative resistant layer coating surfaces within the porous body, and the catalytic layer is on the oxidative resistant layer. A porous particulate removal membrane can be positioned on one or more surfaces of the filter element. The porous membrane can also provide a surface for one or more catalysts. The catalysts on the porous surface of the membrane(s) can be the same as or different from the catalysts on surfaces within the porous body.

The present invention provides a multilayer porous membrane having both high safety and practicality, especially as a separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery and comprising a porous layer containing an inorganic filler and a resin binder on at least one surface of a polyolefin resin porous membrane, wherein the porous layer simultaneously satisfies the following (A) to (C):

• • (A) the inorganic filler has an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 3.0 μm or less,
  • (B) a ratio of an amount of the resin binder to a total amount of the inorganic filler and the resin binder is 1% or more and 8% or less in terms of volume fraction, and
  • (C) a ratio of a layer thickness of the porous layer to a total layer thickness is 15% or more and 50% or less.

A foam dispenser is for use with a container containing soap or other liquid. The device includes a rotary soap pump, a rotary air pump, a mixing chamber, a porous membrane and an actuator or driver. The rotary soap pump has a soap inlet and a soap outlet and the soap inlet is operably connectable to the container. The rotary air pump has an air inlet and an air outlet. The mixing chamber is in flow communication with the air outlet and the soap outlet and the mixing chamber has an outlet. The porous membrane is positioned such that an air and soap mixture that passes through the mixing chamber outlet passes through the porous membrane thereby producing foam. The actuator or driver is operably connected to the rotary soap pump and the rotary air pump.

A device for monitoring the migration or invasion of a biological particle such as a cell is disclosed. The device includes an upper chamber adapted to receive and retain a cell sample, a lower chamber having at least two electrodes, and a biocompatible porous membrane having a porosity sufficient to allow cells to migrate therethrough. The membrane is disposed in the device so as to separate the upper and lower chambers from one another. Migration of cells through the porous membrane permits contact between the migrating cells and one or more electrodes of the lower chamber. The contact provides a detectable change in impedance between or among the electrodes.

Various embodiments are directed to multi-functional wound-care dressing matrices that can protect and promote new tissue growth at a wound site. The multi-functional wound care matrix can incorporate polyphosphazenes of formula I, as a component that can be configured into various forms, including as fibrous mats, porous membranes, nonporous films, particulate formulations, and equivalents. The multi-functional wound-care dressing matrix of the present disclosure exhibit high-performance properties conferred by polyphosphazenes of formula I. Exceptional biocompatible properties of polyphosphazenes of formula I provide an ideal tissue-contacting surface for the multi-functional wound-care dressing matrix of interest.

Microliter scale solid phase extraction devices for preparing analytes in microliter volumes are disclosed. A re-useable device is provided in cartridge form that includes a central containment member with a containment bore that holds as little as 1 to 5 μl or less of a solid phase material that binds the analyte. The containment bore is enclosed on either side by a porous membrane that has an inner portion exposed for fluid flow and a peripheral portion that is sealed against fluid flow. The seal is formed by engaging the periphery of the porous membranes between sealing surfaces of the central containment member and corresponding sealing surfaces on first and second conduit assemblies that comprise the remainder of the cartridge. A non-reuseable device is provided in “chip” form, which includes a porous filter sandwiched between top and bottom wafers each having a plurality corresponding input and output conduits for a plurality of samples.

The present invention provides a catheter for the delivery of fluid medication across an anatomical region. In accordance with one embodiment, the catheter comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of exit holes along an infusion section of the catheter, and an elongated flexible porous member residing within the tube and forming an annular space between the tube and the member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes a tube having a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of the tube. The exit holes may combine to form a flow-restricting orifice of the catheter. In one particular embodiment, the catheter comprises a tube having elongated exit slots therein. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated tubular member made of a porous membrane. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated “weeping” tubular coil spring attached to an end of, or enclosed within, a tube.

A method is provided for fabricating a porous elastomer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined amount of a liquid elastomer and a predetermined amount of a porogen; mixing the liquid elastomer and the porogen in vacuum until a homogenous emulsion without phase separation is formed; curing the homogenous emulsion until polymerizations of the emulsion is reached, thereby forming a cured emulsion; and removing the porogen from the cured emulsion. The method can advantageously be used for forming biocompatible porous elastomers and biocompatible porous membranes.

This invention discloses a micro-porous membrane of POLYALLYLALCOHOL/TiO2 for lithium-ion battery and its manufacturing method, which uses multilayer materials, formed by overlapping of a layer of polyethylene, PP and others, and improved heat-induced phase separation process to make the overall structure of polyolefin multilayer micro-porous membrane. In the neighboring layers of polyethylene and polypropylene, at least one layer contains a certain amount of ethylene-propylene copolymer to improve their compatibility. Its advantages are: 1) this structure realizes lower shutting hole and higher breaking film temperature without affecting other performance, to enhance the temperature and safety of the membrane. 2) The membrane is not easy to curl with high resistance and high mechanical strength to external injury, increasing the reliability of processing and use. 3) The simple manufacturing process can be realized only on the basis of the general heat-induced phase separation.