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Electrochemical cell production
PATENTS
PATENTS
Patents Proton conductor gas sensor Applicant: Figaro Engineering Inc, Japan A membrane electrode assembly contains a proton conductive membrane sandwiched by metal plates, which are further sandwiched by ‘heat pressable’ films. Openings are formed in the ‘heat pressable’ film, and the metal plate, respectively, so that an electrode is used as the sensing electrode and exposed to the atmosphere to be measured. Openings are also formed in the film and metal plate, respectively, so that an electrode is used as the counter electrode, and water vapour is supplied to the electrode from a water pack. Patent number: WO 02/097420 Inventors: T. Inoue, H. Okoshi, T. Nakahara, K. Kaneyasu Publication date: 5 December 2002
Supporting substrate Applicant: Apsys Advanced Particle Systems GmbH, Germany The invention relates to a supporting substrate used for the deposition, automated recognition and spectroscopic identification of particulate contaminants in liquid or gaseous media. The supporting substrate structure comprises a filter membrane that is made from polymer materials which have a defined pore width. The surface of the filter membrane, which has a very smooth structure, is coated with metal that does not represent any spectral features for the spectroscopic identification in the selected wavelength range, and absorbs none or only a small portion of the irradiated laser energy at the selected excitation wavelength Patent number: WO 02/097400 Inventors: L. Holz, O. Valet, M. Lankers Publication date: 5 December 2002
Growth of filterable organisms Applicant: Biomed Diagnostics, USA This patent covers membrane filters and methods of trapping and culturing microorganisms. The membrane filters trap, or filter, from a sample, a specific microorganism of interest requiring a set of growth components. The membrane comprises a first subset of growth components such that the microorganism can grow and divide with the membrane contacting a medium that is made up of a second subset of growth components (defined as all components of the set of growth components that are not included in the first subset). Methods for detecting a microorganism comprise providing a membrane filter that is composed of a first subset of the set of growth components; passing the sample through the filter; and placing the filter in contact with a medium comprising a second subset of the set of components for growth. For members of genus Legionella, a filter impregnated with activated charcoal may be employed for detection and culturing.
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Patent number: WO 02/097052 Inventors: J.H. Hall, K. Borchardt, R.D. Hall Publication date: 5 December 2002
Tubular membranes Applicant: Pall Corp, USA An improved tubular membrane, and process of making it, are disclosed by this patent. Essentially, the process involves depositing fine metallic fibre onto a substrate. The deposited fibres are heated to form a flexible membrane. Catalytically active particles can be dispersed within the fine metallic fibres. The flexible membrane is wound to form what is referred to as a ‘membrane winding’, and this structure is then sintered to form a substantially rigid tubular membrane. Patent number: WO 02/096538 Inventors: N.R. Quick, M.C. Murray, M.R. June, T. Peloguin Publication date: 5 December 2002
Electrochemical cell production Applicant: Accentus Plc, UK A lithium ion polymer cell comprises an anode layer and a cathode layer each comprising respective lithium ion insertion materials, separated by a porous polymeric membrane, in which the anode layer and the cathode layer each incorporates a polymeric binder. The cell is made by coating a thin porous layer of a copolymer material onto the face of the anode layer and onto the face of the cathode layer (before assembling the anode layer). The porous polymeric membrane and the cathode layer are formed into cell assembly, and this is contained by an enclosure. A small quantity of a liquid, such as acetone, is introduced into the enclosure, this being a solvating liquid for the copolymer material but not for the polymeric material of the membrane. The temperature is held at a slightly elevated level – at about 30°C – so the surfaces of the thin porous copolymer layers become tacky and adhere to the membrane. The solvating liquid can then be evaporated from the cell assembly, and an electrolyte solution introduced into the cell assembly to form a cell. This technique enables the cell components to be laminated without requiring the application of pressure, and it enables very thin membranes to be used, which are of low resistance. Patent number: WO 02/099920 Inventors: F. Coowar, V. Dass Publication date: 12 December 2002
Modified microporous membrane Applicant: Cuno Inc, USA Disclosed is a multi-layered, composite microporous membrane. Its structure comprises at least one layer with a highly electropositive hydrophilic material distributed throughout. The material is capable of irreversibly binding nucleic acid. Optionally, it also includes at least one layer where the material is associated with sequence-specific peptide nucleic acids, permitting the simultaneous or sequential capture, amplification and/or identification of specific
nucleic acid sequences of interest. Also detailed by the patent are methods of use of the composite membranes of the invention in applications based on the sequence-specific capture and/or amplification and identification of nucleic acid from complex biological samples. Patent number: WO 02/099139 Inventors: T.E. Arnold, M.T. Meyering, R.S. Chesterson Publication date: 12 December 2002
Dialysis machine Applicant: Gambro Lundia AB, Sweden A dialysis machine is described. It has a dialysate circuit; a blood circuit; a filter that has a dialysate compartment connected to the dialysate circuit; a blood compartment that is connected to the blood circuit; and a semipermeable membrane that is positioned in such a way that it separates the dialysate compartment from the blood compartment. A method of filling and washing the filter comprises the recirculation of a physiological saline in the dialysate circuit and the transfer of the physiological saline from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit through the semipermeable membrane. Patent number: WO 02/098491 Inventor: P. Rovatti, P. Pirazzoli Publication date: 12 December 2002
Recirculating tangential separation system Applicant/Inventor: B.D. Gray A method of separating a mixture into a number of more concentrated products, using recirculation and concentration of one product, so as to extract a substantially large fraction of another product from the mixture is described by this patent. The apparatus that uses this method is also detailed. This can be a system, such as a reverse osmosis (RO) unit that is capable of high recovery rates, efficient power usage, and long component life. Substantially 100% of the concentrate product exiting a tangential separation device (such as an RO filtering device) recirculates until the concentration of the concentrate reaches a predetermined level, at which time it is purged from the system and a new cycle begins. This achieves recovery rates in RO-based water purification systems from around 70% for feed water with 1000 ppm of total dissolved solids, to around 97% for feed water with 100 ppm of total dissolved solids. The method and apparatus also provide for automated cleaning and maintenance of the separation and filtration elements, which optimizes the service life of the components. Patent number: WO 02/098527 Publication date: 12 December 2002
Composite membrane manufacture Assignee: Lynntech Inc, USA This invention relates to methods of fabricating composite membranes in which at least one of the components is initially provided in the form of a precursor. The composite material
Membrane Technology January 2003
PATENTS
Patents Proton conductor gas sensor Applicant: Figaro Engineering Inc, Japan A membrane electrode assembly contains a proton conductive membrane sandwiched by metal plates, which are further sandwiched by ‘heat pressable’ films. Openings are formed in the ‘heat pressable’ film, and the metal plate, respectively, so that an electrode is used as the sensing electrode and exposed to the atmosphere to be measured. Openings are also formed in the film and metal plate, respectively, so that an electrode is used as the counter electrode, and water vapour is supplied to the electrode from a water pack. Patent number: WO 02/097420 Inventors: T. Inoue, H. Okoshi, T. Nakahara, K. Kaneyasu Publication date: 5 December 2002
Supporting substrate Applicant: Apsys Advanced Particle Systems GmbH, Germany The invention relates to a supporting substrate used for the deposition, automated recognition and spectroscopic identification of particulate contaminants in liquid or gaseous media. The supporting substrate structure comprises a filter membrane that is made from polymer materials which have a defined pore width. The surface of the filter membrane, which has a very smooth structure, is coated with metal that does not represent any spectral features for the spectroscopic identification in the selected wavelength range, and absorbs none or only a small portion of the irradiated laser energy at the selected excitation wavelength Patent number: WO 02/097400 Inventors: L. Holz, O. Valet, M. Lankers Publication date: 5 December 2002
Growth of filterable organisms Applicant: Biomed Diagnostics, USA This patent covers membrane filters and methods of trapping and culturing microorganisms. The membrane filters trap, or filter, from a sample, a specific microorganism of interest requiring a set of growth components. The membrane comprises a first subset of growth components such that the microorganism can grow and divide with the membrane contacting a medium that is made up of a second subset of growth components (defined as all components of the set of growth components that are not included in the first subset). Methods for detecting a microorganism comprise providing a membrane filter that is composed of a first subset of the set of growth components; passing the sample through the filter; and placing the filter in contact with a medium comprising a second subset of the set of components for growth. For members of genus Legionella, a filter impregnated with activated charcoal may be employed for detection and culturing.
10
Patent number: WO 02/097052 Inventors: J.H. Hall, K. Borchardt, R.D. Hall Publication date: 5 December 2002
Tubular membranes Applicant: Pall Corp, USA An improved tubular membrane, and process of making it, are disclosed by this patent. Essentially, the process involves depositing fine metallic fibre onto a substrate. The deposited fibres are heated to form a flexible membrane. Catalytically active particles can be dispersed within the fine metallic fibres. The flexible membrane is wound to form what is referred to as a ‘membrane winding’, and this structure is then sintered to form a substantially rigid tubular membrane. Patent number: WO 02/096538 Inventors: N.R. Quick, M.C. Murray, M.R. June, T. Peloguin Publication date: 5 December 2002
Electrochemical cell production Applicant: Accentus Plc, UK A lithium ion polymer cell comprises an anode layer and a cathode layer each comprising respective lithium ion insertion materials, separated by a porous polymeric membrane, in which the anode layer and the cathode layer each incorporates a polymeric binder. The cell is made by coating a thin porous layer of a copolymer material onto the face of the anode layer and onto the face of the cathode layer (before assembling the anode layer). The porous polymeric membrane and the cathode layer are formed into cell assembly, and this is contained by an enclosure. A small quantity of a liquid, such as acetone, is introduced into the enclosure, this being a solvating liquid for the copolymer material but not for the polymeric material of the membrane. The temperature is held at a slightly elevated level – at about 30°C – so the surfaces of the thin porous copolymer layers become tacky and adhere to the membrane. The solvating liquid can then be evaporated from the cell assembly, and an electrolyte solution introduced into the cell assembly to form a cell. This technique enables the cell components to be laminated without requiring the application of pressure, and it enables very thin membranes to be used, which are of low resistance. Patent number: WO 02/099920 Inventors: F. Coowar, V. Dass Publication date: 12 December 2002
Modified microporous membrane Applicant: Cuno Inc, USA Disclosed is a multi-layered, composite microporous membrane. Its structure comprises at least one layer with a highly electropositive hydrophilic material distributed throughout. The material is capable of irreversibly binding nucleic acid. Optionally, it also includes at least one layer where the material is associated with sequence-specific peptide nucleic acids, permitting the simultaneous or sequential capture, amplification and/or identification of specific
nucleic acid sequences of interest. Also detailed by the patent are methods of use of the composite membranes of the invention in applications based on the sequence-specific capture and/or amplification and identification of nucleic acid from complex biological samples. Patent number: WO 02/099139 Inventors: T.E. Arnold, M.T. Meyering, R.S. Chesterson Publication date: 12 December 2002
Dialysis machine Applicant: Gambro Lundia AB, Sweden A dialysis machine is described. It has a dialysate circuit; a blood circuit; a filter that has a dialysate compartment connected to the dialysate circuit; a blood compartment that is connected to the blood circuit; and a semipermeable membrane that is positioned in such a way that it separates the dialysate compartment from the blood compartment. A method of filling and washing the filter comprises the recirculation of a physiological saline in the dialysate circuit and the transfer of the physiological saline from the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit through the semipermeable membrane. Patent number: WO 02/098491 Inventor: P. Rovatti, P. Pirazzoli Publication date: 12 December 2002
Recirculating tangential separation system Applicant/Inventor: B.D. Gray A method of separating a mixture into a number of more concentrated products, using recirculation and concentration of one product, so as to extract a substantially large fraction of another product from the mixture is described by this patent. The apparatus that uses this method is also detailed. This can be a system, such as a reverse osmosis (RO) unit that is capable of high recovery rates, efficient power usage, and long component life. Substantially 100% of the concentrate product exiting a tangential separation device (such as an RO filtering device) recirculates until the concentration of the concentrate reaches a predetermined level, at which time it is purged from the system and a new cycle begins. This achieves recovery rates in RO-based water purification systems from around 70% for feed water with 1000 ppm of total dissolved solids, to around 97% for feed water with 100 ppm of total dissolved solids. The method and apparatus also provide for automated cleaning and maintenance of the separation and filtration elements, which optimizes the service life of the components. Patent number: WO 02/098527 Publication date: 12 December 2002
Composite membrane manufacture Assignee: Lynntech Inc, USA This invention relates to methods of fabricating composite membranes in which at least one of the components is initially provided in the form of a precursor. The composite material
Membrane Technology January 2003