Inventor's Presentation: Method of Directly Measuring the Permittivity of Filtration Media, Biotextile Grafts and Geotextile Fabrics

!MM"#$ %he measurement of the Permittivity of fluids through &orous media has generally been &erformed on a rather &rimitive level in com&arison to related measurements: the flo' of electricity and heat through conductors or diffusion of one material through another( For exam&le, in the case of electric or heat flo', a constant electrical &otential or tem&erature difference is maintained across the material being tested, and the electron or heat flo' measured( %hese )uantities are related by 'hat is termed a phenomenological relationship between forces and fluxes, 'here the &otentials are the forces, and the flo's the fluxes( In contrast, fluid Permittivity is often determined for a &orous media sealed to the bottom of a &ressuri*ed fluid+filled reservoir( %here is little, if any, control of either forces or fluxes, but because the media under test generally serve in non+critical industrial a&&lications, 'here failure results in little &ossibility of a catastro&he, the results so obtained are ade)uate( ,o'ever, 'ith the advent of technological fabrics and other &orous media used in critical a&&lications, 'here failure can result in structural failure and even loss of life, more &recise characteri*ations of fluid+flo' &otential through &orous media is im&erative( "mong these technically+critical media are:

soil+stabili*ation textiles s&ace suit fabrics cryogenic fluid filters vascular grafts &ro&ulsion fuel filters &harmaceuticals aircraft and s&acecraft gearbox oil filters se&tic 'ater filtration

In res&onse to these technological re)uirements, an "dvanced Permittivity %esting Method has been devised, 'herein fluid forces and fluxes are, se&arately and simultaneously, measured under controlled conditions, in accordance 'ith &henomenological re)uirements, to determine the Permittivity of &orous media( %he "dvanced Permittivity %esting Method can emulate

methods &resently in use in the field of filtration and se&aration, and allo's direct observation of &ore deformation under service conditions( -./%0/% 1( F2!ID+F2.3 %,#.!G, P.#.! M0DI" 4( "D5"/-0D P0#MI%%I5I%$ %0 %I/G M0%,.D 6( P#..F+.F+P0#F.#M"/-0 2"B.#"%.#$ D05I-0 7( FI2%#"%I./ M0DI" %0 %I/G "PP"#"%! 8( BI.%09%I20 P0#MI%%I5I%$ %0 %I/G "PP"#"%! :( G0.%09%I20 P0#MI%%I5I%$ %0 %I/G "PP"#"%! ;( -./-2! I./ <( DOWNLOAD PAPER 1( F2!ID+F2.3 %,#.!G, P.#.! M0DI" %he fluid flo' rate through a rigid &orous medium is described by d'"rcy's 2a', essentially a classical &henomenological relationshi& bet'een force and flux( Because the medium is rigid it is dimensionally determinable and can be almost li=ened to a collection of ca&illary tubes of length t( Darcy's 2a' is generally ex&ressed as >1? @ =PAt

'here is the fluid viscosity and , the flux term, is the volume flo' rate across a rigid &orous medium of thic=ness t, under a &ressure head of P, the force term( %he &henomenological constant = is termed the permeability. 0ssentially, the flo' rate de&ends basically on t'o medium characteristics, &ore si*e and number, and on t'o fluid flo' characteristics, fluid viscosity and &ressure differential, all of 'hich determines the nature of the flo' across the fabric, 'hether laminar or turbulent flo'( .stensibly, any of these )uantities should be readily measurable: &ore si*e and number by &hotogra&hic and 'eighing meansB viscosity and &ressure differential by several conventional viscosity determinators and transducers( Because a fabric is not a rigid &orous medium ho'ever, the successful a&&lication of Darcy's 2a' to textiles becomes &roblematic( In the case of 'oven and non+'oven textile fabrics' fluid flo', it is the hydraulic &ore si*e and the dynamic viscosity that is re)uired, not their static values( "s an additional com&lication, not only does yarn filaments &enetrate into the &ores, but the &ore sha&es themselves can alter under flo' conditions, both significantly affecting the fluid flo' streams( 3orse, the thic=ness t is not

only variable under flo' conditions, but intrinsically the thic=ness of a fabric is difficult to ex&ress and almost im&ossible to rigorously delineate( "ccordingly, an alternative &henomenological relationshi& can be ex&ressed in 'hich the thic=ness term is eliminated, yielding >4? @ 2PA

%he &henomenological constant 2 is termed the laminar permittivity. %o measure textile &ermittivity several testing methods are relied u&on( Figure 1(1 sho's the sim&lest ty&e no' in service( %he fabric is classified by the 'ater flo' re)uired to achieve a &ressure difference of 8C mm(

Figure 1.1 Direct Permittivity Apparatus as Specified by ISO 11 !" "lternatively, the fabric to be tested is clam&ed to the base of the vertical hollo' cylinder of the &ermittivity testing machine, as sho'n in Figure 1(4( "s s&ecified by " %M D 77D1+D:, the fabric can be subEect to either a -onstant ,ead %est or a Falling ,ead %est(

Figure 1.# Permittivity Apparatus as Specified by AS$% D &&'1(') "ccording to the -onstant ,ead %est, a fixed head of de+aerated fluid, at a fixed tem&erature, is maintained above the fabric, and the volume of fluid &assing through the fabric is measured over a standard &eriod 'ith a sto&+ 'atch( %he head and flo' rate is documented( %he test is re&eated, using higher constant heads until sufficient head:flo'+rate data+&oint &airs are collected to &ermit a curve to be &lotted( "ccording to the Falling ,ead %est, a diminishing head of de+aerated fluid, at a fixed tem&erature, is maintained above the fabric and the volume of fluid &assing through the fabric is measured over a series of standard &eriods 'ith a sto&+'atch( %he head and flo' rate is documented( %he flo'+rate must be slo' enough to &ermit accurate time+measurements to be made( "ccordingly, the &ressure difference P across the fabric can be calculated from the head and the flo' rate from the incremental volume+time measurements( %he head &ressure and the flo' rates are then &lotted, an exam&le of 'hich is sho'n in Figure 4(4, and the slo&e AP calculated(

Figure 1.* Permittivity Determi+ati,+ P-,t $.e -ami+ar(f-,/ permittivity L is t.e s-,pe ,f t.e -i+ear p,rti,+ ,f t.e curve. I+ practice0 t.e -ami+ar f-,/ rate ,f a +e/t,+ia+ f-uid ,f visc,sity is pr,p,rti,+a- t, t.e pressure differe+ce P imp,sed acr,ss t.e p,r,us medium. Acc,rdi+g-y 1*2 L 31 4 P2

$urbu-e+t f-,/ is e5.ibited at a f-,/ rate sufficie+t-y .ig. t.at t.e f-,/ rate ceases t, be -i+ear-y pr,p,rti,+a- t, t.e pressure differe+tia-. A turbu-e+t permittivity $ must t.e+ be determi+ed. I+ practice0 f,r a rigid medium0 t.e critica- f-,/ c,+diti,+s at /.ic. stream-i+e f-,/ bec,mes turbu-e+t is discer+ib-e6 t.e -atter f,--,/i+g a sec,+d ,rder re-ati,+s.ip 1&2 $ 3 1 #4 P2

F,r a te5ti-e fabric0 .,/ever0 t.e critica- p,i+t is difficu-t t, discer+0 if p,ssib-e at a--. I+ fact0 t.e tra+siti,+ appears t, ,ccur ,ver a ra+ge ,f f-,/ rates0 a+d t.e sec,+d ,rder re-ati,+s.ip may +,t be va-id at a--. A-- t.at ca+ be ,bserved is a gradua- deviati,+ fr,m -i+ear be.avi,r. $.e ma7,r deficie+cies i+ t.e AS$% D &&'1(') permittivity testi+g met.,d is +,t ,+-y t.e s-,/ tedi,us ma+ua- ,perati,+ ,f t.e apparatus a+d its mea+s ,f measureme+t0 but0 m,re imp,rta+t-y0 t.e -imited .ead a+d f-,/ rates measurab-e a+d t.e mi+ima- c,+tr,- ,ver t.e testi+g ,perati,+.

$.e pri+cipa- deficie+cy i+ a-- suc. permittivity testi+g apparatus0 .,/ever0 is t.at t.ey d, +,t appr,5imate t.e actua- f-,/ c,+diti,+s i+ practice. 8e+era--y0 i+ practice0 f-uid is i+ fu-- c,+tact /it. b,t. sides ,f t.e fabric .,/ever0 /it. t.e f-,/ fr,m t.e f-uid at .ig.er pressure t, t.e f-uid at -,/er pressure. #. AD9AN:ED PER%I$$I9I$; $ES$IN8 %E$<OD
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I+ resp,+se t, t.ese pr,b-ems ass,ciated /it. measuri+g fabric permittivity direct-y0 a+ aut,mated met.,d ,f permittivity testi+g .as bee+ deve-,ped t, direct-y determi+e eit.er L ,r $. $.e s-,pe 4 P ca-cu-ated direct-y f,r a series ,f differe+t f-,/ rates /,u-d +,t ,+-y give t.e permittivity but /,u-d de-i+eate t.e ra+ge at /.ic. f-uid f-,/ c.a+ges fr,m stream-i+e t, turbu-e+t f-,/0 if suc. a p,i+t is prese+t. Acc,rdi+g t, t.is pr,prietary Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d f,r te5ti-e permittivity determi+ati,+s0 a+ esse+tia--y c,+sta+t v,-ume ,f a f-uid fr,m ,+e c.amber0 /it. a decreasi+g v,-ume passes t.r,ug. t.e fabric bei+g tested t, a+,t.er c.amber0 /it. a+ i+creasi+g v,-ume0 t.e sum ,f t.e v,-umes ,f t.e c.ambers bei+g c,+sta+t. Figure #.1 i--ustrates t.e pri+cipa- ,f t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. =ecause t.e t/, pist,+s m,ve i+ sy+c.r,+i>ati,+0 a fi5ed f-uid v,-ume is emp-,yed duri+g ,perati,+. =,t. t.e pressure differe+ce acr,ss t.e fabric a+d t.e f-uid f-,/ ve-,city ca+ be measured direct-y a+d simu-ta+e,us-y.

Figure #.1a Pri+cip-e ,f t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d $.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d is very f-e5ib-e0 permitti+g a variety ,f te5ti-e c,+figurati,+s t, be tested. Figure #.1b i--ustrates

specime+ .,-ders /it. t/, suc. c,+figurati,+s? f,r e5amp-e0 a f-at a+d a tubu-ar fabric specime+.

Figure #.1b Specime+(<,-der :,+figurati,+s $.ese specime+ .,-ders are p,siti,+ed bet/ee+ t.e pist,+s0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure #.1a0 t.ereby0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid t, pass t.r,ug. t.e fabric0 /.atever t.e c,+figurati,+ emp-,yed. Figure #.# de-i+eates t.e empirica- @ua+tities t.at ca+ be measured direct-y usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. Asi+g t.ese terms0 t.e permittivity ca+ be direct-y ca-cu-ated fr,m t.e s-,pes ,f eit.er e@uati,+ 1*2 ,r 1&2 be-,/.

Figure #.# I+f,rmati,+ Re@uired f,r Permeabi-ity Determi+ati,+s

$.e ve-,city ,f t.e f-uid passi+g t.r,ug. t.e fabric is simp-y 1*2 3 V 1A4a2 /.ere V is t.e -i+ear pist,+ trave- speed. $.e area BAB is t.at ,f t.e cy-i+der a+d BaB is t.e effective f-,/(t.r,ug. area ,f t.e specime+. $.e re@uired pressure differe+ce P is measured fr,m t.e pressure readi+gs at t.e tra+sducers a+d is simp-y 1&2 P 3 Pu ( Pd /.ere Pu a+d Pd are t.e upstream a+d d,/+stream pressure readi+gs0 respective-y. $.e fabric area BaB is c.,se+ t, Ceep t.e P a+d pist,+ speed /it.i+ t.e measuri+g ra+ge capabi-ity ,f t.e apparatus. F,r fabrics /it. very .ig. f-uid f-,/ capacity a sma-- fabric area 1a 2 is c.,se+ a+d f,r fabrics /it. very -,/ f-uid f-,/ capabi-ities a -arge fabric area 1a A2 is used. Acc,rdi+g-y0 fr,m a series ,f tests usi+g t.e disc-,sed permittivity measuri+g met.,d f,r a f-uid ,f C+,/+ visc,sity 0 eit.er L ,r $ ca+ be direct-y ca-cu-ated fr,m t.e measured va-ues ,f a+d P. I+ t.is ma++er0 repr,ducib-e permittivity determi+ati,+s ca+ be made f,r tec.+icafabrics0 primari-y t.,se used f,r bi,te5ti-e a+d ge,te5ti-e purp,ses. Pr,bab-y t.e greatest ,bstac-e i+ a+y rig,r,us a+a-ysis ,f t.e c,+ductivity ,f f-uids t.r,ug. p,r,us media is t.e -acC ,f i+f,rmati,+ c,+cer+i+g t.e def,rmati,+ ,f p,res u+der actua- service c,+diti,+s. $.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d /i-- permit rea- time ,bservati,+s ,f p,re def,rmati,+. Figure #.*a s.,/s t.e testi+g device e@uipped f,r suc. ,bservati,+s.

Figure #.* %et.,d ,f Direct Observati,+ ,f P,re def,rmati,+ $.e .,--,/ pist,+ r,ds /i-- permit b,r,sc,pic ,bservati,+s ,f t.e p,r,us media /it. t.e ,ptica- c,+duit tra+smitti+g b,t. i--umi+ati,+ a+d images. A-ter+ative-y0 separate i--umi+ati,+ a+d imagi+g c,+duits ca+ be pr,vided. Pr,bab-y0 t.e ,utf-,/ side /i-- pr,vide t.e m,st usefui+f,rmati,+0 /it. t.e f-uid disp-aci+g i+dividua- fibers. %,re,ver0 t.e u+if,rmity ,f f-,/ is a+ imp,rta+t c,+siderati,+ i+ eve-uati+g t.e efficie+cy ,f fi-ter media.

Figure #.& A+if,rmity ,f F-,/ $.r,ug. Fi-ter %edia Figure #.&a i--ustrates a+ idea--y u+if,rm f-,/ t.r,ug. a fi-ter. I+ c,+trast0 Figure #.&b s.,/s a .ig.-y +,+(u+if,rm f-,/. Suc. ,bservati,+s are0 ,t.er/ise0 c,+siderab-y difficu-t t, perf,rm. I+7ecti+g a dye i+ t.e i+f-,/ side ,r a dyed c,--,idia- suspe+si,+ /,u-d a--,/ f-,/ u+if,rmity t, be ,bserved. I+ additi,+0 t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d is ame+ab-e t, c-,se temperature c,+tr,-0 b,t. ab,ve a+d be-,/ ambie+t.

Figure #.! $emperature :,+tr,$.e temperature c,+tr,- 7acCet ca+ use eit.er e-ectric .eati+g e-eme+ts f,r .ig. temperature studies0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure #.!0 ,r a 7acCet /it. f-uid c.a++e-s f,r b,t. .ig. ,r -,/ temperature studies. *. PROOF(OF(PERFOR%AN:E LA=ORA$OR; DE9I:E
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A pr,t,type permittivity measuri+g device /as fabricated at t.e Adva+ced $e5ti-es a+d :,mp,sites Lab,rat,ry ,f P.i-ade-p.ia A+iversity t, app-y t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d t, severa- /,ve+ fabrics f,r t.e purp,se ,f ascertai+i+g t.e re-iabi-ity a+d repr,ducibi-ity ,f t.is met.,d.

Figure *.1 Pr,,f(,f(Perf,rma+ce Lab,rat,ry Device $.e c,mmercia- -i+ear actuat,r s.,/+ i+ Figure *.1 m,ves t.e t/, pist,+s simu-ta+e,us-y t.r,ug. a -i+Cage arra+geme+t. =y rem,vi+g t.e cy-i+der securi+g b,-ts ,f t.e permittivity measuri+g device0 t.e specime+ .,-der ca+ be s-ipped bet/ee+ t.em.

A test usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d /as c,+ducted by first fi--i+g b,t. cy-i+ders /it. t.e f-uid t, be used0 i+ t.is case p-ai+ /ater. $.e e+c-,sed /ater /as s-ig.t-y pressuri>ed by adva+ci+g ,+e ,f t.e pist,+ r,ds. $.at pressure /as mai+tai+ed i+dicated t.at t.e cy-i+ders /ere /ater tig.t0 i+c-udi+g t.eir pist,+(ri+g sea-s. Pist,+ trave- /as /as t.e+ i+itiated. 8e+era--y0 te+ cyc-es /ere ,bserved. Figure *.# i--ustrates si5 suc. Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d cyc-es0 s.,/i+g t.e gratifyi+g repr,ducibi-ity. $.e red curve p-,ts t.e ,utput sig+a- fr,m ,+e ,f t.e pressure tra+sducers a+d t.e b-ue curve fr,m t.e ,t.er tra+sducer. $.e red a+d b-ue vertica- sca-e readi+gs are c,+verted direct-y i+t, P usi+g t.e pressure gauge c,+sta+t /.ic. re-ates v,-tage t, pressure. Sig+ifica+t-y0 ,+-y v,-tage differe+ces are re@uired0 s, v,-tage ca-ibrati,+ is +,t +eeded. Of c,urse0 t.e upstream tra+sducer bec,mes t.e d,/+stream tra+sducer a+d vice versa /.e+ t.e pist,+ travedirecti,+ is reversed. $.e c.art c,+sta+t c,+verts t.e c.art speed t, pist,+ speed fr,m /.ic. t.e f-uid f-,/ rate is ca-cu-ated. Fr,m t.is i+f,rmati,+ a+d t.e pist,+ travespeed t.e permittivity ,f t.e specime+ fabric ca+ be readi-y a+d rapid-y determi+ed.

Figure *.# Data Output F,rmat ,f Permittivity $esti+g Device :,+sideri+g its ,+e(,f(a(Ci+d status0 t.e pr,t,type testi+g device ,perated @uite successfu--y. =ecause t.e cy-i+der /a--s /ere +,t .,+ed0 t.e pist,+ ri+gs appare+t-y e5.ibited s-ip(sticC m,ti,+0 resu-ti+g i+ t.e serrated pressure peaCs. $.e -i+Cage mec.a+ism bet/ee+ t.e actuat,r a+d t.e pist,+ r,ds +eeds impr,veme+t0 ,r0 better yet0 e-imi+ati,+0 as s.,/+ i+ Figures &.D a+d !.)0 by i+tegrati+g t.e actuat,r a+d cy-i+ders i+t, a si+g-e u+it. Figure *.* s.,/s t.e resu-ts ,f t.e -ab,rat,ry m,de- ,f t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d f-,/ versus pressure differe+ce data f,r a p-ai+(/eave p,-yester fabric.

Figure *.* Permittivity Determi+ati,+ P-,t $.e -i+ear re-ati,+s.ip bet/ee+ pressure differe+ce a+d t.e f-,/ rate is i+dicative ,f -ami+ar f-uid f-,/ t.r,ug. t.e p-ai+ /eave. :,+sideri+g t.at t.e permittivity measuri+g device is a pr,t,type a+d t.eref,re far fr,m ,ptimi>ed0 t.e c-,se gr,upi+g ,f t.e data p,i+ts at eac. measured pist,+ speed i+dicates g,,d repr,ducibi-ity. I+ regard t, u+it c,+ve+ti,+ t.e pressure differe+ce a+d t.e f-,/ ve-,city ca+ be disp-ayed i+ ma+y suitab-e u+its. F,r pressure differe+ce t.e disp-ay u+its mig.t be mm <g0 psi0 bars0 Pa0 dy+es4cm # ,r ,t.ers. F,r f-uid f-,/ rate per u+it area ,f fabric t.e disp-ay u+its mig.t be m-4cm #(mi+0 cm4mi+0 i+*4i+#(mi+ ,r ,t.ers. Acc,rdi+g t, E@s. * ,r &0 t.e visc,sity must be i+ appr,priate u+its t, determi+e t.e permittivity fr,m t.ese pressure a+d ve-,city readi+gs. &. FIL$RA$ION %EDIA $ES$IN8 APPARA$AS
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Permittivity is a+ imp,rta+t fact,r i+ determi+i+g t.e effective+ess ,f fi-trati,+ media0 /.et.er emp-,yed f,r purp,ses ra+gi+g fr,m p,tab-e /ater t, cry,ge+ic f-uids. A p,ssib-e device t.at ca+ uti-i>e t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d f,r fi-trati,+ purp,ses is s.,/+ i+ Figure &.1a. $.e f-at specime+0 m,u+ted i+ t.e specime+ .,-der0 is first i+serted i+t, t.e device. =y mea+s ,f t.e t.rust s.aft t.e drive m,t,r m,ves t.e pist,+s at a c,+sta+t speed0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid t.r,ug. t.e fi-ter at a c,+sta+t f-,/ rate. A m,t,r c,+tr,--er /i-- .,-d a variety ,f c,+sta+t m,t,r speeds t, determi+e fi-ter permittivity a+d de-i+eate t.e tra+siti,+ fr,m -ami+ar t, turbu-e+t f-,/. $.e pressure differe+ce ca+ be set t, typica- app-icati,+ va-ues.

Figure &.1 E5amp-e ,f a Fi-ter $esti+g Device Asi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d Wit. t.e @uicC re-ease mec.a+ism0 t.e pist,+s ca+ be readi-y rem,ved fr,m t.e device0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure &.1b0 permitti+g t.,r,ug. c-ea+i+g. Figure &.# i--ustrates simp-e specime+ .,-der c,+figurati,+s. A tubu-ar specime+ ca+ be eit.er ceme+ted ,r c-amped t, t.e i+sert. Of c,urse0 t.e effective area ,f t.e fi-ter A3 d#4&.

Figure &.# F-at Specime+ <,-der Desig+ $.e permittivity testi+g pr,cedure is fu--y aut,mated0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure &.*0 usi+g t.e e-ectric va-ve f,r f-uid c,+tr,-. Aut,matic m,t,r se@ue+ci+g permits a fu-- series ,f tests t, be ru+ by a specia--y pr,grammed ce+trapr,cessi+g u+it. I+ t.is ma++er0 repr,ducib-e permittivity determi+ati,+s ca+ be made f,r bi,te5ti-es.

Figure &.* :PA :,+tr,- ,f Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %ac.i+e

Figure &.&a represe+ts a+ e5amp-e ,f t.e i+itiati,+ stage ,f a fu--y aut,mated testi+g pr,cedure usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. After t.e specime+ .,-der .as bee+ i+serted0 t.e f-uid c.ambers are evacuated t, rem,ve air bubb-es fr,m t.e fabric. $.e e-ectric va-ve t.e+ c,++ects t.e test c.amber t, t.e pressuri>ed f-uid s,urce0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure &.&b0 a+d t.e previ,us-y de(aerated f-uid is t.e+ aut,matica--y i+7ected i+t, t.e test c.amber.

Figure &.& I+itia- 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g Pist,+ m,ti,+ at a fi5ed specified speed is i+itiated0 as represe+ted i+ Figure &.!a0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid i+t, t.e m,ut. ,f t.e tubu-ar specime+0 s.,/+ i+ Figure &.1a0 /it. t.e pressure differe+ce acr,ss t.e fabric rec,rded.

Figure &.! I+termediate 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g If reverse f-uid f-,/ is +,t desired0 t.e c.ambers are c,++ected acr,ss t.e e-ectric va-ve0 as represe+ted i+ Figure &.!b. $.is pr,cess is repeated at differe+t m,t,r speeds t, ,btai+ t.e i+f,rmati,+ re@uired t, ca-cu-ate t.e permittivity0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure #.#. If a+y deviati,+ fr,m -i+earity appears0 t.is ca+ be readi-y discer+ed.

Figure &.) Fi+a- 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g $est c,mp-eti,+ is represe+ted by Figure &.)a. $.e f-uid is evacuated fr,m t.e c.ambers0 as represe+ted by Figure &.)b0 a+d air is t.e+ b-ed i+t, t.e c.ambers. $.e specime+ .,-der ca+ t.e+ be rem,ved.

Figure &.D P,ssib-e :,+figurati,+ ,f a :,mmercia- Fi-ter Permittivity Device Figure &.D s.,/s a p,ssib-e desig+ ,f a c,mmercia- device usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. $.e a--,/ab-e f-,/ rate a+d pressure differe+ce ra+ge f,r t.is c,mmercia- apparatus /,u-d c,ver esse+tia--y a-- fi-ter re@uireme+ts f,r ,rga+ic a+d i+,rga+ic f-uids. %,dificati,+ f,r differe+t temperature ,perati,+s /,u-d be ,pti,+a-. Operati,+ is fu--y aut,mated. %,re,ver0 burst pressures ca+ be readi-y determi+ed. $.e mu-ti(use Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g device ca+0 ,f c,urse0 emu-ate t.e si+g-e(use device s.,/+ i+ Figure 1.1.
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!. =IO$EE$ILE PER%I$$I9I$; $ES$IN8 APPARA$AS

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Fabric p,r,sity is a+ imp,rta+t fact,r i+ vascu-ar graft effective+ess a+d s.,u-d be re-ated t, permittivity. FE.S. 8ree+.a-ge G %.W. Du++? A++. Rpt6 Nat. $e5ti-e :tr? N,v 1''"0 p*!#H $.e i+itia- f,rmati,+ ,f a c,.esive fibri+

-i+i+g is c-,se-y re-ated t, b-,,d f-,/ t.r,ug. t.e graft a+d .e+ce permittivity ,f t.e fabric. $.e fibri+ -i+i+g is subse@ue+t-y rep-aced by fibr,us tissue gr,/t. t.r,ug. t.e p,res ,f t.e graft. FI. <. <arris,+0 Am. I. Surgery0 '!11'!"2*H A p,ssib-e device t.at ca+ uti-i>e t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d f,r bi,te5ti-e purp,ses is s.,/+ i+ Figure !.1a. $.e tubu-ar specime+0 m,u+ted i+ t.e specime+ .,-der0 is first i+serted i+t, t.e device. =y mea+s ,f t.e t.rust s.aft0 t.e drive m,t,r m,ves t.e pist,+s at a c,+sta+t speed0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid t.r,ug. t.e specime+ fabric at a c,+sta+t f-,/ rate. A m,t,r c,+tr,--er /i-- .,-d a variety ,f c,+sta+t m,t,r speeds t, determi+e bi,te5ti-e permittivity. $.e pressure differe+ce ca+ be set t, typica- perista-tic ,r diast,-ic va-ues. $.e use ,f t.e device is @uite f-e5ib-e. F,r e5amp-e0 a series ,f vascu-ar grafts rem,ved fr,m a+ima-s duri+g fibri+ f,rmati,+ ca+ be tested by t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d t, d,cume+t c.a+ges i+ permittivity agai+st measured t.icC+ess ,f t.e fibri+ -ayer.

Figure !.1 E5amp-e ,f a Device Asi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d

Wit. t.e @uicC re-ease mec.a+ism0 t.e pist,+s ca+ be readi-y rem,ved fr,m t.e device0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure !.1b0 permitti+g t.,r,ug. c-ea+i+g. Figure !.# i--ustrates p,ssib-e specime+ .,-der c,+figurati,+s. A tubu-ar specime+ ca+ be eit.er ceme+ted ,r c-amped t, t.e i+sert. Assumi+g circu-ar tubes J a-t.,ug. +,t +ecessary J t.e+ ,f c,urse t.e effective area ,f t.e specime+ A3 dL.

Figure !.# P,ssib-e $ubu-ar Specime+ <,-der Desig+s $.e permittivity testi+g pr,cedure is fu--y aut,mated0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure !.*0 usi+g t.e e-ectric va-ve f,r f-uid c,+tr,-. Aut,matic m,t,r se@ue+ci+g permits a fu-- series ,f tests t, be ru+ by a specia--y pr,grammed ce+trapr,cessi+g u+it. I+ t.is ma++er0 repr,ducib-e permittivity determi+ati,+s ca+ be made f,r bi,te5ti-es.

Figure !.* :PA :,+tr,- ,f $.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d Figure !.&a represe+ts a+ e5amp-e ,f t.e i+itiati,+ stage ,f a fu--y aut,mated testi+g pr,cedure usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. After t.e specime+ .,-der .as bee+ i+serted0 t.e f-uid c.ambers are evacuated t, rem,ve air bubb-es fr,m t.e fabric. $.e e-ectric va-ve t.e+ c,++ects t.e test c.amber t, t.e f-uid s,urce0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure !.&b0 a+d a previ,us-y de(aerated f-uid is t.e+ aut,matica--y i+7ected i+t, t.e test c.amber.

Figure !.& I+itia- 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g Pist,+ m,ti,+ at a fi5ed specified speed is i+itiated0 as represe+ted i+ Figure !.!a0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid i+t, t.e m,ut. ,f t.e tubu-ar specime+ s.,/+ i+ Figure !.1a0 /it. t.e pressure differe+ce acr,ss t.e fabric rec,rded.

Figure !.! I+termediate 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g $, preve+t c,--apse ,f t.e tube ,+ pist,+ m,ti,+ reversa-0 t.e c.ambers are c,++ected acr,ss t.e e-ectric va-ve0 as represe+ted i+ Figure !.!b. $.is pr,cess is repeated at differe+t m,t,r speeds t, ,btai+ t.e i+f,rmati,+ re@uired t, ca-cu-ate t.e permittivity0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure #.#. If a+y deviati,+ fr,m -i+earity appears0 t.is ca+ be readi-y discer+ed.

Figure !.) Fi+a- 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g $est c,mp-eti,+ is represe+ted by Figure !.)a. $.e f-uid is evacuated fr,m t.e c.ambers0 as represe+ted by Figure !.)b0 a+d air is t.e+ b-ed i+t, t.e c.ambers. $.e specime+ .,-der ca+ t.e+ be rem,ved.

Figure !.D P,ssib-e :,+figurati,+ ,f a :,mmercia- =i,te5ti-e Permittivity Device Figure !.D s.,/s a p,ssib-e desig+ ,f a c,mmercia- device usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. $.e a--,/ab-e f-,/ rate a+d pressure differe+ce ra+ge f,r t.is apparatus /,u-d c,ver esse+tia--y a-bi,medica- re@uireme+ts f,r ,rga+ic a+d i+,rga+ic f-uids. %,dificati,+ f,r differe+t temperature ,perati,+s /,u-d be ,pti,+a-. Operati,+ is fu--y aut,mated.
-ontents

). 8EO$EE$ILE PER%I$$I9I$; $ES$IN8 APPARA$AS

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A p,ssib-e device t.at ca+ uti-i>e t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d f,r ge,te5ti-e purp,ses is s.,/+ i+ Figure ).1a0 /.ere t.e f-at specime+0 m,u+ted i+ t.e specime+ .,-der0 is first i+serted i+t, t.e device. =y mea+s ,f t.e t.rust s.aft0 t.e drive m,t,r m,ves t.e pist,+s at t.e same rate0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid t.r,ug. t.e specime+ fabric at a c,+tr,--ed rate. A m,t,r c,+tr,--er /i-- .,-d a variety ,f c,+sta+t m,t,r speeds t, determi+e ge,te5ti-e permittivity.

Figure ).1 E5amp-e ,f a Device Asi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d Figure ).#a i--ustrates p,ssib-e specime+ .,-der c,+figurati,+s. Of c,urse0 t.e effective area ,f t.e specime+ A3 d#4&. Si-ti+g e5perime+ts a+d sedime+tati,+ f-,/ ca+ be c,+ducted0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure ).#b0 usi+g graded si-ts0 .ere s.,/+ ,f t.icC+ess . F-,/ reversa- /i-- i+dicate t.e b-,cCi+g effect ,f t.e si-t.

Figure ).# P,ssib-e f-at Specime+ <,-der Desig+ $.e permittivity testi+g pr,cedure is fu--y aut,mated0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure ).*0 usi+g t.e e-ectric va-ve f,r f-uid c,+tr,-. Aut,matic m,t,r se@ue+ci+g permits a fu-- series ,f tests t, be ru+ by a specia--y pr,grammed ce+trapr,cessi+g u+it. I+ t.is ma++er0 repr,ducib-e permittivity determi+ati,+s ca+ be made f,r ge,te5ti-es.

Figure ).* :PA :,+tr,- ,f Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d Figure ).&a represe+ts a+ e5amp-e ,f t.e i+itiati,+ stage ,f a fu--y aut,mated testi+g pr,cedure usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. After t.e specime+ .,-der .as bee+ i+serted0 t.e f-uid c.ambers are evacuated t, rem,ve air bubb-es fr,m t.e fabric. $.e e-ectric va-ve t.e+ c,++ects t.e test c.amber t, t.e f-uid s,urce0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure ).&b0 a+d a previ,us-y de(aerated f-uid is t.e+ aut,matica--y i+7ected i+t, t.e test c.amber.

Figure ).& I+itia- 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g Pist,+ m,ti,+ at a fi5ed specified speed is i+itiated0 f,rci+g t.e f-uid t.r,ug. t.e f-at specime+0 /it. t.e pressure differe+ce acr,ss t.e fabric rec,rded. Pist,+ m,ti,+ is t.e+ reversed. $.is pr,cess is repeated at differe+t m,t,r speeds t, ,btai+ t.e i+f,rmati,+ re@uired t, ca-cu-ate t.e permittivity0 as s.,/+ i+ Figure #.#. If a+y deviati,+ fr,m -i+earity appears0 t.is ca+ be readi-y discer+ed.

Figure ).! Fi+a- 9a-ve Se@ue+ci+g $est c,mp-eti,+ is represe+ted by Figure ).!a. $.e f-uid is evacuated fr,m t.e c.ambers0 as represe+ted by Figure ).!b0 a+d air is t.e+ b-ed i+t, t.e c.ambers. $.e specime+ .,-der ca+ t.e+ be rem,ved. Figure ).) s.,/s a p,ssib-e desig+ ,f a c,mmercia- ge,te5ti-e testi+g device usi+g t.e Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d. $.e passage ,f particu-ate matter i+t, a+d ,ut ,f t.e fabric ca+ be direct-y ,bserved. Operati,+ is fu--y aut,mated.

Figure ).) P,ssib-e :,+figurati,+ ,f a :,mmercia- 8e,te5ti-e Permittivity Device F,r e5amp-e0 t, determi+e t.e p,re(si>e distributi,+ ,f a ge,te5ti-e fabric0 a s,i- ,r si-t samp-e is /as.ed t.r,ug. t.e ge,te5ti-e a+d t.e distributi,+ ,f t.e s,i- partic-es passi+g t.,ug. t.e fabric is determi+ed. $.e samp-e is vibrated vertica--y t, cause f-uid surges i+ t.e s,i-. $.e tested ge,te5ti-e ca+ t.e+ be used t, c-assify vari,us s,i-s acc,rdi+g t, partic-e si>e distributi,+.

Figure ).D 8ra+u-,metric Distributi,+ Device Acc,rdi+g t, ISO 1#'!) $.e adva+ced ge,te5ti-e permittivity tester ca+ readi-y emu-ate a gra+u-,metric device. F-uid surgi+g is pr,vided simp-y by pr,grami+g t.e pist,+ drive t, pu-se. $.e s,i- passi+g t.,ug. t.e ge,te5ti-e /,u-d be c,--ected0 f,r e5amp-e0 i+ a device0 s.,/+ i+ Figure ).".

Figure )." Specime+ <,-der f,r 8ra+u-,metric Distributi,+ Determi+ati,+

D. :ON:LASION

A repr,ducib-e pr,prietary Adva+ced Permittivity $esti+g %et.,d f,r fi-trati,+ media0 bi,te5ti-es a+d ge,te5ti-es is disc-,sed0 /.ic. ca+ emu-ate t.e devices used at prese+t i+ t.ese diverse fi-trati,+ a+d separati,+ fie-ds. $.e f-uid is passed t.r,ug. t.e specime+ i+ a series ,f tests at fi5ed f-,/ rates a+d t.e pressure differe+ce acr,ss t.e media is rec,rded. $.e test resu-ts permit +,t ,+-y t.e direct c,mputati,+ ,f media permitivities0 but ,bservati,+ ,f a+y p,re dist,rti,+ u+der f-uid(f-,/ c,+diti,+s. $.e testi+g pr,cedure is fu--y aut,mated.
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