Systems and Methods of Reducing Virus Migration Through A Virus Removal Filter After Feed Flow Reduction

A valve arrangement for reducing the migration of one or more viruses through a virus removal filter when feed flow to the virus removal filter is resumed following a reduction in the feed flow, the valve arrangement comprising:

• an inlet line having an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port adapted to be connected to a supply of a product to be passed through a virus removal filter that filters viruses from the product, and the outlet port adapted to be connected to an inlet of the virus removal filter;
• a pump disposed on the inlet line between the inlet port and the outlet port to feed the product to the inlet of the filter;
• an outlet line having an inlet port adapted to be connected to an outlet of the filter to exhaust the filtered product from the filter;
• a recirculation system arranged to continuously recirculate fluid through the valve arrangement when feed flow is reduced from the inlet port of the inlet line to the outlet port of the inlet line, the recirculation system comprising:
• a recirculation line having an inlet port connected to the inlet line and an outlet port connected to the outlet line;
• and
• a check valve disposed along the recirculation line between the inlet port of the recirculation line and the outlet port of the recirculation line, the check valve configured to detect that the feed flow has been reduced;
• wherein, when the check valve detects that the feed flow has been reduced, the check valve moves from a closed position, in which the check valve prevents fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports of the recirculation line, to an open position, in which the check valve allows fluid flow from the outlet port of the recirculation line to the inlet port of the recirculation line, thereby creating a recirculation loop comprising the inlet line through the filter, the filter to the outlet line, the outlet line to the recirculation line, and the recirculation line to the inlet line, such that product is continuously recirculated through the filter during the feed flow reduction,
• wherein when the check valve detects that the feed flow reduction has ceased, the check valve moves from the open position to the closed position, thereby closing the recirculation loop, and
• wherein the inlet line, the outlet line, the pump, the recirculation line, and the check valve are each made from a disposable material.

A method for reducing the migration of one or more viruses through a virus removal filter when feed flow to the virus removal filter is resumed following a reduction in the feed flow, the method comprising:

• providing an inlet line having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• providing an outlet line having an inlet port;
• connecting the inlet port to a supply of a product to be passed through the virus removal filter, connecting the outlet port to an inlet of a virus removal filter that filters viruses from the product, and connecting the inlet port of the outlet line to an outlet of the filter to exhaust the filtered product from the filter;
• providing a recirculation system comprising a recirculation line and a check valve disposed along the recirculation line, the recirculation line having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• connecting the inlet port of the recirculation line to the inlet line and the outlet port of the recirculation line to the outlet line;
• facilitating feed flow of the product from the supply of the product to the outlet port of the inlet line via a pump disposed on the inlet line between the inlet port and the outlet port of the inlet line;
• detecting, via the check valve, a reduction in the feed flow;
• and
• responsive to detecting the reduction, creating a recirculation loop formed by the inlet line through the filter, the filter to the outlet line, the outlet line to the recirculation line, and the recirculation line to the inlet line, such that product is continuously recirculated through the filter during the feed flow reduction.