# US 11,440,010 B2 · Tangential viral filtration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,010 B2 - Document ID: US11440010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/643,113 - Filed: 2021-12-07 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-11 - Assignees: Genzyme Corporation - Applicants: Genzyme Corporation - Inventors: Tarl Vetter; Kevin Brower - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440010B2 ## CPC - B01D 69/08: Hollow fibre membranes (manufacture of hollow fibres D01D5/24, D01F1/08) - B01L 3/502753: {characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation} - B01D 63/02: Hollow fibre modules - B01D 69/1216: {Three or more layers} - B01D 71/10: Cellulose; Modified cellulose - B01D 71/34: Polyvinylidene fluoride - C12M 33/14: {with filters, sieves or membranes} - C12M 47/10: {Separation or concentration of fermentation products (bioreactors combined with means for distillation or extraction of liquid fuel C12M43/02)} - C12M 47/12: {Purification (C12M47/04 takes precedence)} - B01D 61/145: {Ultrafiltration} - B01D 61/147: {Microfiltration} - B01D 2315/10: Cross-flow filtration - B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes - B01L 2300/0681: Filter - B01L 2300/0861: Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract Viral filters include a filter member featuring a first surface and a second surface and having a thickness extending between the first and second surfaces in a first direction, and a plurality of channels formed in the filter member, each of the channels having a channel axis, where during use, a solution carrying a viral load flows in a direction parallel to the first surface, and at least a portion of the viral load enters the membrane through the first surface and propagates in the first direction, and where for at least 50% of the channels in the filter member, the channel axis is oriented at an angle of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees relative to the first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing viral particles from a solution, the method comprising: (a) transporting a solution comprising viral particles through a filter unit comprising a filter member; (b) capturing a portion of the solution that passes through a filter member in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of the transported solution through the filter unit; (c) transporting a remaining portion of the solution that does not pass through the filter member into a reservoir; (d) recirculating a portion of the solution from the reservoir through the filter unit; and (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) to capture multiple portions of the solution, where each captured solution passes through the filter member, wherein the filter member has a thickness and comprises a plurality of channels, and wherein for each of at least 50% of the channels in the filter member, a channel axis is oriented at an angle of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees relative to a thickness direction of the filter member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein transporting the remaining portion of the solution that does not pass through the filter member into the reservoir comprises pumping the remaining portion of the solution into the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein recirculating the portion of the solution from the reservoir through the filter unit comprises applying a fluid pressure to the reservoir to drive transport of the portion of the solution from the reservoir to the filter unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising maintaining a constant applied fluid pressure to the reservoir during transport of the portion of the solution from the reservoir to the filter unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising maintaining the constant applied fluid pressure to the reservoir to recirculate each portion of the solution from the reservoir through the filter unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the filter unit has a cylindrical shape and wherein the filter member has a tubular shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the captured portion of the solution passes through the filter member in one or more radial directions of the filter unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises an opening at a first surface of the filter member, and wherein a ratio of a total area of the openings to a total area of the first surface is 0.10 or more. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the filter member is tubular, and wherein the first surface of the filter member is an inner surface of the tubular filter member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels has a volume, and wherein a ratio of a total volume of the channels to a total volume of the filter member is 0.05 or more. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of at least some channels of the plurality of channels comprises an opening at a first surface of the filter member having a first cross-sectional area in the first surface, and the first cross-sectional area is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the channel at a location between the first surface and a second surface of the filter member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the filter member is tubular, and wherein the first surface of the filter member is an inner surface of the tubular filter member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area is 0.95 or less. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least some channels comprise at least 40% of the plurality of channels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the channel axes of the plurality of channels comprise a distribution of orientations relative to the thickness direction of the filter member, and wherein an average orientation of the distribution is a member selected from the group consisting of: between 10 degrees and 30 degrees relative to the thickness direction; between 30 degrees and 50 degrees relative to the thickness direction; and between 50 degrees and 80 degrees relative to the thickness direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of at least some channels of the plurality of channels comprises one or more secondary channels extending from the channel axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the filter member is formed from a first material, and wherein each of at least some channels of the plurality of channels comprises a second material positioned on an interior surface of the channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein a ratio of an average thickness of the second material on the interior surface of the at least some channels to a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the at least some channels is 0.2 or less. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels is a first plurality of channels, and wherein the filter member comprises: a first layer comprising the first plurality of channels; and a second layer comprising a second plurality of channels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein an average orientation of axes of the first plurality of channels relative to the thickness direction of the filter member is different from an average orientation of axes of the second plurality of channels relative to the thickness direction of the filter member.