Patent ID: 7037424

Claim:
A fluid separation apparatus comprising: a separation module; a fluid connector member; said separation module including: a housing; a separation element contained within the housing; a first set of at least three connectors on one end of the housing and being in fluid communication with the interior thereof, at least two connectors for respectively introducing fluids to and withdrawing fluids from the interior of the housing, and at least one connector that is a gas vent from the housing, said first set of at least three connectors being parallel and spaced apart from one another and being exclusive of one another; said fluid connector member including a second set of at least three connectors being positioned and sized and shaped to engage simultaneously in fluid tight engagement with the first set of connectors, wherein the simultaneous fluid tight engagement is effected through a first motion which, during said engagement, is substantially linear and parallel to longitudinal axes of both the first and second sets of connectors.