Patent ID: 8869678

Claim:
A device for preparing a nutritional composition by supplying water to ingredients provided to the device, the device comprising: a pump connected to a water supply; a water discharge head for providing water to a cartridge containing ingredients for interaction between the water and the ingredients in the cartridge, the pump and the water discharge head are in fluid communication via a water flowpath, the pump can supply water at pressure above atmospheric through the water flowpath; a rigid filter assembly and a plurality of filter enclosing means; the filter assembly comprises at least one antimicrobial filter membrane, the filter assembly complementary to the plurality of filter enclosing means such that the filter assembly is insertable into the plurality of filter enclosing means across the water flowpath in a fluid tight manner before the water discharge head, and is removable from the plurality of filter enclosing means; and backing means for supporting the surface of the filter membrane, the backing means provided adjacent to the filter membrane and across the water path to control deflection and avoid breaking of the filter membrane when water is passed through the filter membrane, the plurality of filter enclosing means having protrusions that support the backing means, and the backing means comprise perforations and further comprise support areas that are aligned with the protrusions and do not have any perforations.