Membranes
Membrane Analysis in Medical Technology
Medical technology also encompasses the construction, composition, and structure of membranes. Membranes can consist of flat sheets or capillaries (hollow fibers) and are utilized for both filtration and dialysis. The simplest form of filtration occurs via size exclusion (sieve effect). Similar effects are also applied in dialysis, where blood is pumped through hollow fibers. While harmful substances can penetrate the membrane wall and are washed out of the blood, essential blood components, such as red blood cells, remain in the blood.
Other membranes, however, operate on the principle of chemical adsorption. For this purpose, the membrane surface is coated with a suitable substance to which specific components adhere. The primary function of the membrane is therefore to ensure the largest possible active surface area. Various microscopic and spectroscopic methods are required for analysis.
Naturally, the analysis extends beyond the membranes themselves to include the associated modules. This encompasses housings, embeddings, tubing, or cannulas.
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