Patent ID: 7851043

Claim:
A filter laminate, comprising: a plurality of discrete layers of material, wherein each layer is adjacent at least one other layer, said plurality of discrete layers comprising: a first membrane, wherein said first membrane is an asymmetric membrane having a skin surface and an open surface, wherein pores of the open surface are larger than pores of the skin surface, and wherein said asymmetric region comprises flow channels that gradually increase in diameter from said skin surface to said open surface; a second membrane, wherein said second membrane is an asymmetric membrane having a skin surface and an open surface, wherein pores of the open surface are larger than pores of the skin surface, and wherein said asymmetric region comprises flow channels that gradually increase in diameter from said skin surface to said open surface; and a bond between the skin surface of the first membrane and the skin surface of the second membrane, wherein the filter laminate has a higher bubble point than either the first membrane or the second membrane, wherein a bubble point of the filter laminate is greater than a bubble point of the first membrane layer and the second membrane layer in a skin-to-skin configuration without bonding, and wherein the filter laminate has a greater integrity than a combination wherein the skin surface of the first membrane and the skin surface of the second membrane are adjacent to each other but not bonded to each other, wherein the filter laminate has a flow rate therethrough such that the filter laminate is configured for separation by filtration.