Patent ID: 6491819
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: A61M,B01D

Abstract:
Apparatus for separating a suspension comprising at least first and second types of particles of different shape, the first type of particle being deformable at a relatively faster rate than the second type of particle, the apparatus including:a housing having a generally cylindrical inner surface; a rotor having a generally cylindrical outer surface mounted for rotation in said housing, the outer surface of the rotor being spaced from the inner surface of the housing to define a suspension processing gap there between; a filter membrane carried by the cylindrical surface of the rotor or the housing, the membrane having a side facing the suspension processing gap and a side facing the cylindrical surface upon which it is carried, the filter membrane having pores with substantially precisely dimensioned shapes and sizes, said pore shapes and sizes being dimensioned to correspond substantially to shape of the first type of particle to allow passage of the first type and to block passage of the second type of particle, a suspension inlet in said housing communicating with the suspension processing gap to direct suspension into the processing gap for a selected residence time in contact with the filter membrane, and an outlet communicating with side of the filter membrane facing the cylindrical surface for removing the first type of suspension particle passing through the membrane, the residence time being less than that needed for the second type of particle to deform to a size and shape capable of passing through the membrane.