Sorbent membranes: device designs, evaluations and potential applications

The Enka sorbent membranes are designed to meet the requirements for the chronic extracorporeal treatment of body fluids with sorbents. The various configurations allow the construction of devices employing sorption alone, sorption plus filtration, or sorption plus filtration and dialysis. While conventional device designs can be employed, novel schemes are being explored to take advantage of the special structural features of the sorbent membranes. A general scheme for the evaluation of sorbents and, in particular, the sorbent membranes allows optimal use of sorbents in practical device designs. While the potential applications include those of sorbents in general, the unique configuration of the sorbent membranes with the possibilities of using multiple sorbents and of combining sorption with other transport processes should expand the therapeutic capabilities.