Patent ID: 8505885

Claim:
A diffuser for oxygenation of aqueous media, the diffuser comprising: a manifold connectable to a source of pressurized oxygen-containing gas to receive the pressurized oxygen-containing gas within a hollow interior of the manifold, the manifold having a plurality of outlet ports communicating the hollow interior of the manifold with an exterior thereof; and a plurality of flexible micropourous tubular membranes each having a coupled end secured to the manifold at a respective one of the outlet ports thereof to communicate an internal passage of the tubular membrane with the hollow interior of the manifold and a free end opposite the coupled end; wherein the manifold comprises an internally threaded passage at each outlet port, each tubular membrane extending into the internally threaded passage at the respective outlet port and being engaged at an outer periphery of the tubular membrane by threads of the threaded passage to secure the coupled end of the tubular membrane to the manifold.