# US 10,307,692 B2 · Chromatography column and method of conducting maintenance on a chromatography column > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,692 B2 - Document ID: US10307692B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/409,167 - Filed: 2013-06-18 - Published: 2015-11-26 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-21 - Assignees: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB - Applicants: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB - Inventors: Stefan Kjell Eriksson; Andreas Bergstrom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307692B2 ## CPC - B01D 15/22: relating to the construction of the column - B01D 15/10: characterised by constructional or operational features - G01N 30/60: Construction of the column - G01N 30/6004: {end pieces} - G01N 30/6017: {Fluid distributors} - G01N 30/6047: {with supporting means; Holders} - G01N 30/56: Packing methods or coating methods - G01N 30/6021: {Adjustable pistons} - Y10T 29/49828: Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A chromatography column including: a tubular housing; a first end unit removably connected to a first end of the tubular housing; a second end unit removably connected to a second end of the tubular housing; an adaptor assembly movable within said tubular housing; an adaptor rod connected to said adaptor assembly, which adaptor rod is arranged to extend through an opening in the first end unit; a filter removably connected to the adaptor assembly; and a frame connected to said tubular housing for supporting the column on a floor. At least an actuating means is arranged on the frame, so that the column can be lifted and lowered in a substantially vertical direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chromatography column comprising: a tubular housing having a side wall, the tubular housing suitable for holding a porous chromatographic medium; a first end unit removably connected to a first end of the tubular housing; a second end unit removably connected to a second end of the tubular housing; a circular adaptor assembly sealingly movable within said tubular housing; an adaptor rod connected to the center of said circular adaptor assembly, and arranged to extend through an opening in the first end unit; a filter removably connected to the adaptor assembly; and a frame comprising two legs, with each of the two legs connected to the side wall of said tubular housing for supporting the column on a floor, wherein at least one actuator is arranged on the frame, so that the tubular housing can be lifted and lowered in a substantially vertical direction to respectively disconnect thus expose or connect thus engage the second end unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chromatography column of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is a hydraulic cylinder arranged in each of the two legs of the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The chromatography column of claim 1, further comprising a fixing device removably arranged on the frame, and connectable to the first end unit to hold the first end unit independently from the tubular housing and the two legs of the frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The chromatography column of claim 3, wherein the fixing device comprises a pair of rods provided with a bracket arranged on the top of each rod for connecting the rods to the first end unit via bolts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The chromatography column of claim 1, wherein the adaptor rod is removably connected to said adaptor assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The chromatography column of claim 1, further comprising a first sliding ring of the adaptor assembly positioned to rest on an inner surface of the tubular housing in order to provide a tight seal between the adaptor assembly and the tubular housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The chromatography column of claim 6, wherein when the adaptor assembly is lowered to a first lowered adaptor position via the adaptor rod, the adaptor assembly being within the tubular housing of the column, so that a compression fluid held within the column above the adaptor assembly cannot escape from the column. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The chromatography column of claim 1, wherein the adaptor assembly is provided with at least one cavity arranged in a periphery of the adaptor assembly, and in which a fastener is arranged to connect the filter to the adaptor assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The chromatography column of claim 8, further comprising a second sliding ring that covers the at least one cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The chromatography column of claim 1, further comprising a trolley having a support surface for the second end unit to rest on when the column is lifted substantially vertically so that the second end unit is separated from the tubular housing of the column, wherein the trolley can be removed together with the second end unit from the frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The chromatography column of claim 10, wherein the second end unit is connected to the trolley via at least one fastening element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The chromatography column of claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the trolley to the frame to prevent the trolley from moving substantially vertically. ### Claim 13 A chromatography column comprising: a tubular housing having a cylindrical side wall, a first end, and a second end that is opposite the first end; a first end unit removably connected to the first end; a second end unit removably connected to the second end; an adaptor assembly movable within said tubular housing along the cylindrical side wall and removable through the second end of the tubular housing; an adaptor rod connected to said adaptor assembly, and arranged to extend through an opening in the first end unit; a filter removably connected to the adaptor assembly; and a frame that comprises two legs, which are connected to the side wall of said tubular housing for supporting the column on a floor with at least one hydraulic cylinder arranged in each leg of the frame as an actuator, so that the tubular housing can be lifted and lowered in a substantially vertical direction to respectively disconnect thus expose or connect thus engage the second end unit, and a trolley having a support surface for the second end unit to rest on when the column is lifted substantially vertically so that the second end unit is separated from the tubular housing of the column, wherein the trolley can be removed together with the second end unit from the frame, wherein, when the second end unit is released and removed from the trolley, the adaptor assembly can be lowered to a second lowered adaptor position via the adaptor rod, such that the adaptor assembly rests on the support surface of the trolley and access to the area above the adaptor is possible and the filter is exposed through the second end of the tubular housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The chromatography column of claim 13, further comprising a first sliding ring of the adaptor assembly positioned to rest on an inner surface of the tubular housing in order to provide a tight seal between the adaptor assembly and the tubular housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The chromatography column of claim 14, wherein when the adaptor assembly is lowered to a first lowered adaptor position via the adaptor rod, the adaptor assembly being within the tubular housing of the column, so that a compression fluid held within the column above the adaptor assembly cannot escape from the column. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The chromatography column of claim 13, wherein the adaptor assembly is provided with at least one cavity arranged in a periphery of the adaptor assembly, and in which a fastener is arranged to connect the filter to the adaptor assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chromatography column of claim 16, further comprising a second sliding ring that covers the at least one cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The chromatography column of claim 13, wherein when the column is lifted substantially vertically by the frame, the second end unit can be separated from the tubular housing of the column to rest on the trolley and removed together with the trolley, wherein the second end unit is optionally connected to the trolley via at least one fastening element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The chromatography column of claim 13, further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the trolley to the frame to prevent the trolley from moving substantially vertically. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The chromatography column of claim 13, further comprising a fixing device removably arranged on the frame, and connectable to the first end unit to hold the first end unit independently from the tubular housing and the two legs of the frame, wherein the fixing device comprises a pair of rods provided with a bracket arranged on the top of each rod for connecting the rods to the first end unit via bolts.