Method and apparatus for flowing sterile ultra-thin fluid membranes
US6495098B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61L2202/22
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method is provided for sterilizing fluids using bolus dosing of a fluid, stretching of the bolus of fluid into a membrane, such as a thin or ultra-thin film, and subsequent irradiation of the individual fluid membranes which are then recollected after sterilization. A system is provided whereby a fluid moves along a defined pathway in traditional bolus flow where each bolus of fluid is interspersed with a bolus of gas. The bolus of fluid, for example from a patient or other sample, moves along the flow path and the width of the flow path is gradually increased until the fluid bolus is stretched (without breaking) to form a thin fluid membrane which can be completely panned using irradiation (such as ultraviolet irradiation) to sterilize the each bolus which has been stretched into a membrane. After sterilization the width of the flow path is gradually narrowed to a sufficient sized such that the bolus returns to a sufficient size to be collected, typically when it forms a small droplet. The collected portions are recombined thereby rendering the original fluid sample completely sterilized for subsequent reintroduction into a patient or other use.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.