Filtration device
The present disclosure relates to a filtration device comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. In particular, a filtration device comprising a plurality of microporous hollow fiber membranes having a large inner diameter and a thin wall is provided. The filtration device can be used for sterile dead-end filtration of liquids destined for infusion into a patient. Processes for production of the filtration device are also provided.
1 . A filtration device comprising:
a header section having an inlet for receiving an unfiltered liquid into the filtration device,
a disk having a plurality of bores formed therein, the plurality of bores being defined by one or more walls within the disk,
a plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes, each semipermeable hollow fiber membrane having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is welded to the one or more walls, wherein one or more semipermeable hollow fiber membranes is protruding from the disk, and wherein the second end is individually sealed by crimping and wherein the second end of each of the plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes is not attached to any singular structure; and
a tubular section having an outlet for removing a filtered liquid from the filtration device;
wherein the header section covers a first face of the disk, wherein a lip of the header section contacts the disk and a lip of the tubular section contacts the disk, and wherein both the header section and the tubular section are welded to the disk; and
wherein the tubular section covers a second face of the disk opposite the first face, and wherein the tubular section encloses the plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes;
wherein the header section, the disk, and the tubular section each comprise a thermoplastic polymer; and
wherein the disk comprises an infrared absorptive (IR-absorptive) pigment selected from the group consisting of carbon black, IR-absorptive inorganic pigments, and IR-absorptive organic pigments.
2 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the IR-absorptive pigment comprises a phthalocyanine.
3 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalates (PETG).
4 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein both the header section and the tubular section are bonded to the disk.
5 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein both the header section and the tubular section are welded to the disk.
6 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes have an inner diameter of from about 2.8 mm to about 4.0 mm, and a wall thickness of from about 100 μm to about 500 μm, a ratio of the inner diameter to the wall thickness being larger than about 10.
7 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes have a mean flow pore size, determined by capillary flow porometry, in a range of from about 0.2 μm to about 0.5 μm.
8 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein both the header section and the tubular section are welded to the disk by irradiation with laser light having a wavelength in a range of from about 800 nm to about 1090 nm.
9 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the header section and the tubular section both comprise a material substantially transparent to IR light, and wherein the disk comprises from 0.1 to 10 wt.-% of the material substantially transparent to the IR light, relative to a total weight of the thermoplastic polymer.
10 . A filtration device comprising:
a header section having an inlet for receiving an unfiltered liquid into the filtration device,
a disk having a plurality of bores formed therein, the plurality of bores being defined by one or more walls within the disk,
a plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes, each semipermeable hollow fiber membrane having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is welded to the one or more walls, wherein one or more semipermeable hollow fiber membranes is protruding from the disk, and wherein the second end is individually sealed by crimping; and
a tubular section having an outlet for removing a filtered liquid from the filtration device;
wherein the header section covers a first face of the disk, wherein a lip of the header section contacts the disk and a lip of the tubular section contacts the disk, and wherein both the header section and the tubular section are welded to the disk; and
wherein the tubular section covers a second face of the disk opposite the first face, and wherein the tubular section encloses the plurality of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes;
wherein the header section, the disk, and the tubular section each comprise a thermoplastic polymer; and
wherein the disk comprises an infrared absorptive (IR-absorptive) pigment selected from the group consisting of carbon black, IR-absorptive inorganic pigments, and IR-absorptive organic pigments.