HATS CORE MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY
The key to our osmotic technologies is that a semi-permeable membrane will only allow molecules of a certain size to pass. Many such membranes are available that can be used to prevent the passage of infectious and pyrogenic agents. The membrane can be used either to keep such agents in or to keep them out.
If the infectious material is sealed behind a discriminating membrane, then diagnostic tests can be performed in safety. Metabolites, proteins or other substances of interest can pass across the membrane for analysis. The hazardous components remain sealed for eventual safe disposal.
Our rehydration process, which uses a local water supply, filters the water without the use of rigid membranes or external pressure. Preparation and transport costs are reduced and rehydration takes place in a controlled manner. Its typical applications are in situations where clean water is not available either in less developed countries or where the local infra-structure has collapsed e.g. natural or man-made disasters. In such areas, the local water supply is often contaminated and there is a risk of water-borne diseases such as Cholera. Our patented technology, includes solutions for oral rehydration, injection and irrigation, saline/glucose drip sets, rehydration of food, blood and blood substitutes. For oral rehydration therapy, local infected water may be used, but for I.V. solutions and plasma, potable non-sterile water is preferred.

ABOUT HATS
Hampshire Advisory and Technical Services Ltd (HATS) is a British company that has developed simple rehydration technology for producing sterile solutions from local water supplies without the need for external power.
HATS has won numerous awards for this invention including 1st prize in the Small Business category and overall prize winner in the Toshiba Year of Invention and a NatWest/BP Award for Technology. HATS was a finalist in the Prince of Wales Award for innovation and received a SMART award from the British government to aid product development. Some projects already have the support of major aid agencies who are evaluating prototype designs. The production of sterile food and drinks has now been licensed to a newly formed company : The Safe Food & Drink Company Ltd (SFDC). The development of I.V. solutions, blood products and diagnostics continues. Investment and development partners are sought for these applications, ideally to develop them on a not for profit basis.

STERILE FOODS, DRINKS AND ORAL REHYDRATION SALTS
Diarrhoea is one of the deadliest conditions known to man, yet it's treatment is inexpensive and effective. Oral rehydration salts save lives, but often the local water supply is contaminated and the supply of potable water can be both difficult and costly. This invention eliminates those difficulties. It does not eliminate the long term need for potable water but supplies vital ORS therapy preventing unnecessary loss of life. Contaminated food, prepared from infected water is a significant cause of infection. HATS technology provides a simple inexpensive device for purifying water for foods which are not, or cannot be adequately heat sterilised
Coupled with Osmotically Driven Ultrafiltration, discriminating membranes can be used to prepare sterile solutions from non-sterile water. Typically a dry mixture is sealed within a bag, composed of a semi-permeable membrane. This bag may then be immersed directly in a water supply, or it may be contained within an outer bag into which water is introduced. The (inner) bag is permeable to water, which then begins to dissolve the contents. Osmosis drives the, water across the membrane but the pores in the membrane exclude viruses, bacteria and toxins. This offers an elegant and simple method for producing sterile solutions from non-sterile water. By using local water, a 20-fold reduction in bulk and weight is achieved compared with the use of ready prepared solutions, or the transport of potable water. This brings significant cost and logistical advantages to rural hospitals and emergency relief agencies. See and example of the development of this technology by clicking on the link. Disposable, prefilled, self-rehydrating baby feeding bottle.

STERILE IV SOLUTIONS FROM DRY COMPONENTS AND NON STERILE WATER
Intra-venous and other parenteral products frequently contain less than 5% of solids, the rest is water. This water not only limits long term storage stability, often needing refrigerated storage, but adds to the difficulties and costs of transport. Using HATS Osmotically Driven Ultrafiltration, sterile dry lV materials can be readily rehydrated with non-sterile water. Membrane discrimination ensures that bacterial, viral and pyrogenic substances do not contaminate the product.

SAFE INTRODUCTION OF DRUGS INTO A CLOSED INFUSION SET
When administering intravenous solutions, additional drugs are added via a "T" piece in the infusion line. This can introduce infection and it is difficult to control the rate of addition. HATS technology eliminates both problems. The IV line is separated by a sealed semi-permeable membrane from an access chamber containing the drugs. As the infusing solution passes tangentially across the inside of the membrane the drugs diffuse into the IV line. The membrane guarantees sterility and excludes pyrogens. The rate of transfer is controlled by selecting infusion sets of differing membrane area and porosity.

STERILE BLOOD PRODUCTS FROM DRY BLOOD COMPONENTS
Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) must be stored and transported at -40 degrees C. This poses severe logistical problems for supplying disaster zones and war zones. Because plasma is 94% water, dehydration means that each cargo load of dry plasma is equivalent to 16 loads of FFP. Dehydration makes sense and HATS dehydration technologies can produce ambient temperature stable, dry plasma. Disaster zones and war zones, however, do not have a readily available supply of Water For Injection. HATS rehydration technology, using Osmotically Driven Ultrafiltration, eliminates the need for water shipment. The dry plasma can be safely rehydrated using a local potable water supply. HATS, which even has a patented design for a suitable bag, can offer a combination of technologies to provide an effective solution to the supply of blood plasma to hostile environments.

STERILE TISSUE CULTURE SOLUTIONS
Most tissue culture media (TCM) are supplied fully hydrated and ready to use but must be stored at low temperature. This makes it expensive to manufacture, transport and store. In liquid form tissue culture media have a limited shelf life. Dry media can be rehydrated by the end user but this is labour intensive and it is difficult to produce pyrogen free solutions using conventional filters. Our patented technology can be used directly for the sterile rehydration of this material. Storage and preparation costs are be reduced and waste virtually eliminated.
With foetal calf serum (FCS) the advantages of using our technologies are even greater. FCS is only stable when stored at ultra-low temperature and must be transported on dry ice and, once thawed, any batch must be used immediately. HATS dehydration technology is available to produce ambient temperature stable dry FCS; packed in osmotic bags, this material is inexpensive to store and ship and is ready for direct sterile rehydration.

TEST INFECTED BLOOD SAMPLES IN COMPLETE SAFETY
Testing contaminated and infected blood and body fluid samples puts laboratory staff at risk. Even with routine testing the patient may have unsuspected AIDs or other similar high risk diseases. We have now eliminated that risk. The infective component of the sample remains sealed within the collection tube while its contents are analysed via a specific viral proof membrane. This gives significant cost and logistical advantages for hospitals, private clinics and for tests carried out at home.

 CULTURE INFECTIOUS SAMPLES IN COMPLETE SAFETY

1)	For potentially dangerous material e.g. the culture of infectious pathogens, laboratory staff are completely protected against any risk from material within the culture.
2)	For the culture of valuable but safe mammalian embryos including human and cattle embryos. Our membrane technology gives complete protection against infection.
3)	Plant embryo's and seeds. In field planting, a membrane bag membrane protects the plant against parasites and predators, whilst allowing nutrients to pass. By incorporating water absorbing and retaining material irrigation needs are reduced. When the plant grows it is able to split the biodegradable bag which eventually adds to soil fertility. These features give significant advantages for plant breeders and those involved in desert agriculture.

REDUCED MORTALITY IN FISH FARMS AND FISH TRANSPORT
Our patented technology can be applied to reduce the mortality and morbidity of fish in fish farms. Fertilised eggs or small fry are sealed within a chamber made of specific semi-porous membranes. This gives protection from predators and infection, but allows the addition of nutrients and removal of waste products. Similar chambers can be used for the safe transport of fish and for isolating those suspected of being infectious. The semi-permeable bag will also retain topical vaccines administered to the fish. The combined benefits of this technology gives significant advantages to fish breeders and those involved in the movement and transport of such material.

For further details on any of these products contact: info@hats.org.uk