Patent ID: 8337701

Claim:
A filter device comprising: a housing comprising a first section and a second section, (i) the first section comprising a top wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and at least one side wall, the first section including a first filtrate downstream chamber and a first vent chamber, the first filtrate downstream chamber including a portion of the inner surface of the top wall, and the first vent chamber including another portion of the inner surface of the top wall, (ii) the second section comprising a bottom wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and at least one side wall, the second section including a second filtrate downstream chamber and a second vent chamber, the second filtrate downstream chamber including a portion of the inner surface of the bottom wall, and the second vent chamber including another portion of the inner surface of the bottom wall; the housing further comprising an inlet and an outlet, and a cavity bordered by the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls, and an inner surface of at least one side wall of the first and/or second section; a filter comprising at least first and second spaced apart porous filter elements, the first and second elements each comprising a hydrophilic membrane, the first and second filter elements each having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, the first filter element being disposed in the housing across a first fluid flow path, and the second filter element being disposed in the housing across a second fluid flow path; the housing including, in the cavity, an upstream inlet chamber between the upstream surfaces of the first and second filter elements and bordered by the inner surface of at least one side wall of the first and/or second section and the upstream surfaces of the filter elements, the upstream chamber being free of a solid partition between the upstream surfaces of the first and second filter elements; the housing defining the first fluid flow path between the inlet, the upstream inlet chamber, the first filtrate downstream chamber and the outlet, wherein the first filter element is disposed across the first fluid flow path; and, defining the second fluid flow path between the inlet, the upstream inlet chamber, the second filtrate downstream chamber and the outlet, wherein the second filter element is disposed across the second fluid flow path.