Fluoropolymer Article For Bacterial Filtration

摘要

A sterilizing grade filter including at least two non-sterile fluoropolymer membranes positioned in a stacked configuration is provided. The fluoropolymer membranes a bubble point from about 10 psi to about 50 psi, a thickness less than about 10 microns, and a mass/area less than about 10 g/m2. The non-sterile fluoropolymer membranes are is separated from each other by a distance d, which may be less than about 100 microns. The fluoropolymer membranes may be laminated or co-expanded to produce a composite stacked filtration material. In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the fluoropolymer membranes is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. In one embodiment, the surface morphology of the fluoropolymer membranes are substantially the same and contain no or substantially no free fibrils. Methods of producing a sterilizing grade filter are also provided.

主权项

1. A stacked bacterial filter material comprising:
a first non-sterile fluoropolymer membrane having a first major surface and a second major surface; and a second non-sterile fluoropolymer membrane positioned on one of said first major surface and second major surface a distance from said first non-sterile fluoropolymer membrane, wherein said distance is less than 100 microns, wherein said first and second major surfaces are substantially free of free fibrils, wherein said first and second fluoropolymer membranes each have a bubble point from about 10 psi to about 50 psi, wherein said first and second fluoropolymer membranes each have a thickness less than about 10 microns, and wherein said stacked bacterial filtration material passes the Bacterial Retention Requirements for a Sterilizing Grade Filter.