US 11,612,833 B2Granted

Chromatography system with tilt-prevention structure and associated process

AssigneeBiotechflow Ltd

InventorMartin John Hofmann

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Chromatography apparatus and methods are described, especially for expanded bed adsorption. A column tube has a process fluid input device at the bottom and a movable piston in the top. The piston is enclosed in the column by a cover plate. The piston body has an inflatable seal, and is connected by a frame to a contact ring which carries another inflatable member to contact the tube wall. Process fluid leaves the operating volume through an opening of the piston and flexible hose, through the enclosed space and out through the cover plate. The space above the piston can be pressurised to control piston movement. The contact ring maintains piston alignment. The inflatable seals are used to fix the piston in position, allow it to slide or allow washing. The piston outlet may include a vortex-inhibitor. Bed and piston levels may be monitored by ultrasound sensors.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A chromatography apparatus for expanded bed adsorption, comprising

a column tube, and top and bottom end cells which close off the column tube, defining between them an operating volume configured to contain a bed of adsorbent medium particles as stationary phase material;
first and second process liquid conduits communicating into the operating volume for liquid to enter and leave the operating volume, including a process liquid inlet injection arrangement, and a top outlet opening in the top end cell as a process liquid outlet, wherein the column tube is configured to flow a process liquid up through the bed of particles in an expanded state thereof,
characterised in that
an outlet structure at the top outlet opening includes a vortex-inhibiting structure beneath the top outlet opening, the vortex-inhibiting structure comprising one or more divider, partition or slot-defining elements to divide flow entering the outlet opening and inhibit rotational movements around an outlet axis.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/512,805Filed 28 Oct 2021 · continuation
Priority: GB 130271415 Feb 2013
Published: US 2022/0143529 A112 May 2022
Granted: 28 Mar 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B01D 15/22
Characterised by constructional or operational features: relating to the construction of the column
B01D 15/1807
Relating to flow patterns: using counter-currents, e.g. fluidised beds
G01N 30/6004
Construction of the column: end pieces
G01N 30/6021
End pieces: adjustable pistons

Family

PCT/GB2014/050456Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Feb 2014
Application14/825,198Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Aug 2015
Application16/441,234Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Jun 2019
US 2022/0143529 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 May 2022
US 11,253,795 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0360145 A1Published application
US 2019/0291022 A1Published application
US 11,612,833 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.