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US 2026/0071938 A1Published application
Sampling system with a replaceable cassette assembly and methods of using the same
AssigneeEMD Millipore Corporation
InventorsDavid Dixon Newbold, David Andrew Hansen, Clinton Boyd Pepper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sampling system can include a cassette assembly coupled to a station base that has a plurality of actuators. The cassette assembly can include a cassette base, a cassette top, and an elastomer membrane disposed between the cassette base and cassette top. The cassette base can include a sample inlet, a reservoir for receiving a sample from the sample inlet, a sample outlet, and a fluid flow path extending between the sample inlet, the reservoir, and the sample outlet.
Claims15
A cassette assembly for use in collecting a fluid sample from an enclosed container, the cassette assembly comprising:
- a cassette base comprising:
- a sample inlet,
- a reservoir for receiving a sample from the sample inlet,
- a sample outlet,
- a sanitizing fluid inlet, a gas inlet, and
- a downstream fluid flow path extending between the sample inlet, the reservoir, and the sample outlet;
- a cassette top comprising a plurality of movable members including at least a first movable member, a second movable member, a third movable member, and a fourth movable member;
- and
- an elastomer membrane disposed between the cassette base and the cassette top;
- wherein the first movable member is in contact with the elastomer membrane to provide a sample inlet valve that can be opened and closed by a movement of the first movable member, and the second movable member is in contact with the elastomer membrane to provide a sample outlet valve that can be opened and closed by a movement of the second movable member,
- wherein the third movable member is in contact with the elastomer membrane to provide a sanitizing fluid inlet valve that can be opened and closed by a movement of the first movable member, and the fourth movable member is in contact with the elastomer membrane to provide a gas inlet valve that can be opened and closed by a movement of the fourth movable member,
- wherein a plurality of openings in the cassette assembly extend from respective ones of the plurality of movable members through the elastomer membrane and the cassette base to receive a plurality of actuators therethrough, and
- wherein the sanitizing fluid inlet and the gas inlet are upstream of the sample inlet.
10 more elements
A method of collecting a fluid sample from an enclosed container, the method comprising:
- securing a single use first cassette assembly to a station base, the single use first cassette assembly comprising:
- a cassette base comprising a gas inlet, a sanitizing fluid inlet, a sample inlet, a reservoir for receiving a sample from the sample inlet, a sample outlet, and a fluid flow path extending between the gas inlet, the sanitizing fluid inlet, the sample inlet, the reservoir, and the sample outlet;
- a cassette top comprising a plurality of movable members including at least a first movable member that provides a gas inlet valve, a second movable member that provides a sanitizing fluid inlet valve, a third movable member that provides a sample inlet valve, and a fourth movable member that provides a sample outlet valve;
- and
- an elastomer membrane disposed between the cassette base and the cassette top;
- positioning a plurality of actuators of the station base in engagement with respective ones of the plurality of movable members;
- actuating one of the plurality of actuators to engage with the third movable member to open the sample inlet valve and direct the fluid sample to the reservoir;
- applying a pressure to the elastomer membrane above the reservoir to cause the elastomer membrane to move into the reservoir and direct the fluid sample from the reservoir to the sample outlet;
- actuating another one of the plurality of actuators to engage with the fourth movable member to open the sample outlet valve and direct the fluid sample out of the sample outlet;
- removing the single use first cassette assembly from the station base;
- and
- securing a second cassette assembly to the station base, the second cassette assembly having the same components as the single use first cassette assembly.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.