Fluidic network for aseptic sampling
AssigneeWaters Technologies Corporation
InventorSylvain Gilles Cormier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are a fluidic network and a method for aseptic process sampling. The fluidic network includes a sampling valve, filter, manifold and valve control module. A process sample path in the fluidic network includes one or more valve channels and a filter in fluidic communication with the sampling valve. The sampling valve is configurable in a first valve state to receive a process sample into the process sample path from a process source and configurable in a second valve state in which gas and solvent flows may be provided through the process sample path to clean and dry the process sample path to prepare for acquisition of another process sample.
Claims15
A fluidic network for aseptic process sampling, comprising:
- a sampling valve having a plurality of ports and a plurality of valve channels and being configurable in at least a first valve state and a second valve state, wherein one of the ports is a process inlet port configured to receive a process sample, another one of the ports is a process outlet port configured to dispense the process sample;
- a filter in fluidic communication with the sampling valve;
- a manifold configured to supply and control the flows of a plurality of fluids, the manifold having a manifold outlet port to provide a flow of a selected one of the fluids, the manifold outlet port being in fluidic communication with one of the ports of the sampling valve;
- and
- a valve control module in communication with the sampling valve and the manifold,
- wherein, a process sample path is defined between the process inlet port and the process outlet port and includes the filter and at least one of the valve channels,
- wherein, when the sampling valve is in the first valve state, the process sample path is enabled to receive the process sample,
- wherein, when the sampling valve is in the second state, the flow of the selected one of the fluids from the manifold outlet ports is enabled to pass through the process sample path, and
- wherein, when the sampling valve is in the second state, the process inlet port is isolated from all of the other plurality of ports of the sampling valve.
A method for aseptic process sampling, the method comprising:
- providing a fluidic network for aseptic process sampling including:
- a sampling valve having a plurality of ports and a plurality of valve channels and being configurable in at least a first valve state and a second valve state, wherein one of the ports is a process inlet port configured to receive a process sample, another one of the ports is a process outlet port configured to dispense the process sample;
- a filter in fluidic communication with the sampling valve;
- a manifold configured to supply and control the flows of a plurality of fluids, the manifold having a manifold outlet port to provide a flow of a selected one of the fluids, the manifold outlet port being in fluidic communication with one of the ports of the sampling valve;
- and
- a valve control module in communication with the sampling valve and the manifold,
- wherein, a process sample path is defined between the process inlet port and the process outlet port and includes the filter and at least one of the valve channels, wherein, when the sampling valve is in the first valve state, the process sample path is enabled to receive the process sample and wherein, when the sampling valve is in the second state, the flow of the selected one of the fluids from the manifold outlet ports is enabled to pass through the process sample path;
- providing a flow of the process sample through the process inlet port of the sampling valve and through the process sample path in the fluidic network;
- providing a first gas flow through the process sample path after the flow of the process sample;
- providing a first solvent flow through the process sample path after the first gas flow;
- providing a second gas flow through the process sample path after the first solvent flow;
- and
- isolating the process inlet port of the sampling valve during the providing the first gas flow, the first solvent flow and the second gas flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.