Apparatus and method to elute microorganisms from a filter
AssigneeIDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsDarron Steggles, Brett Berwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided apparatuses and methods for eluting microorganisms from filter media. The apparatus includes a housing for receiving filer media suspected of containing microorganisms and means for exposing the filter media to a pressurized buffer solution. By passing the buffer solution through the filter media tinder pressure, microorganisms trapped in or on the filter media are eluted therefrom.
Claims21
A method for eluting microorganisms from filter media comprising the steps of:
- providing a filter media suspected of containing microorganisms and disposed in a housing, wherein the housing includes an inlet and an outlet;
- providing a reservoir configured to store a quantity of a liquid buffer solution therein;
- and
- rapidly forcing the pressurized liquid buffer solution from the reservoir into the housing via the outlet, through the filter media, and out of the housing via the inlet to at least partially elute the microorganisms from the filter media.
A method for eluting microorganisms from a filter module housing a filter media and having an inlet and an outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a filter module suspected of containing microorganisms in the filter media thereof:
- providing an elution apparatus configured to store a quantity of a liquid buffer solution and eject a concentrated burst of liquid buffer solution from an outlet thereof;
- connecting the outlet of the filter module to the outlet of the elution apparatus;
- and
- communicating a burst of liquid buffer solution from the outlet of the elution apparatus into the outlet of the filter module, through the filter media, and out of the filter module through the inlet thereof to at least partially elute the microorganisms from the filter media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.