Brian R Paul

US Patent:

8128822, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Oct 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/576804

Inventors:

David M. Browning - Portland OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Goran Nadezda Jovanovic - Corvallis OR, US
Brian Kevin Paul - Corvallis OR, US
Sundar Atre - Corvallis OR, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon acting by and through The State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University - Corvallis OR
Home Dialysis Plus - Portland OR

International Classification:

B01D 61/28
B01D 61/24

US Classification:

21032171, 210646, 21032175

Abstract:

The present invention is related to hemodialysis, and more particularly, to a dialyser with improved efficiency of mass transfer across a dialysis membrane utilizing microchannel separation provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment, a dialyzer is provided comprising a plurality of semipermeable membrane sheets and a plurality of flow separators. The membrane sheets and flow are arranged in alternating configuration and coupled into a laminae stack defining a plurality of parallel microchannel layers. Each microchannel layer comprises a plurality of first microchannels and a plurality of second microchannels. The first and second microchannels of each microchannel layer are in fluid communication with each other via one of the plurality of membrane sheets therebetween. The MECS dialyzer is characterized as having a high surface to volume ratio and a high mass transfer coefficient.

US Patent:

8419945, Apr 16, 2013

Filed:

Mar 5, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/412597

Inventors:

David M. Browning - Portland OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Goran Nadezda Jovanovic - Corvallis OR, US
Brian Kevin Paul - Corvallis OR, US
Sundar Atre - Corvallis OR, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University - Corvalis OR
Home Dialysis Plus - Portland OR

International Classification:

B01D 61/28
B01D 61/24

US Classification:

210646, 21032171, 21032175

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for cleansing blood through hemodialysis by the process of diffusion across a membrane into dialysate. This dialyzer also removes solutes from the blood by a process of convection, where fluid and dissolved solutes pass through the membrane out of the blood. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the MECS dialyzer uses a counter-flow between the dialysate and blood through a plurality of microchannels. The dialyzer comprises a plurality of flat semi-permeable membranes interleaved between microchannel sheets to define a plurality of flow channels. The stack of membranes and microchannel sheets are aligned and consolidated to form the MECS dialyzer. The MECS dialyzer acts as a flow manifold with ports and headers to collect the blood and dialysate and direct them to and from the microchannels.

US Patent:

20100254858, Oct 7, 2010

Filed:

Nov 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/734297

Inventors:

Prawin Paulraj - Beaverton OR, US
Brian K. Paul - Corvallis OR, US

International Classification:

B01L 3/00
B44C 1/22
B23K 31/02

US Classification:

422100, 216 33, 228165

Abstract:

Patterned layers including height control features are stacked and bonded to form microchannels in a micro-fluidic device. The heights of the microchannels are determined by the height control features of the patterned layers. Side walls of the microchannels are partially formed or completely formed by the height control features. Layers are bonded together with a bonding agent disposed between the layers and outside the microchannels near the microchannel side walls. This approach provides numerous significant advantages. Material consumption can be reduced by up to 50%. Mass production can be made easier. Lateral dimensions of microchannels can be more readily controlled. Erosion of the bonding agent by flow through the microchannels can be greatly reduced.