US 6,398,956 B1 · Method and apparatus for directly sampling a fluid for microfiltration

Abstract

Filtration cells capable of direct sampling of a fluid from a container and which may be used for microfiltration of both small and large microvolumes of a fluid to be filtered are provided. Also a process for directly transferring a fluid to be filtered from a container to a filtration cell is described. The filtration cells have one or more reservoirs and are in communication with fluid in a container to be filtered through a piercing instrument connected to a base and support for a reservoir that receives the fluid to be filtered after it passed across a filter membrane. The filtration cell may then be pressurized and vented to allow fluid to be filtered to reciprocally and tangentially pass across a filter membrane between either a container having a fluid to be filtered and a single reservoir for small volume filtrations or between two reservoirs after pressurizing a fluid to be filtered into the reservoirs from a container using a piercing instrument. Side wells for collecting samples from the bottom up from the filtration cell outlet are also provided as are a process incorporating automated equipment for transferring the container having fluid to be filtered to the piercing point for entry into the filtration cell.

Claims10

Dependent claims

filtration cell capable of direct sampling of a fluid from a container, the filtration cell comprising:

(a) a reservoir to receive the fluid to be filtered,
(b) a filter membrane capable of filtering the fluid to provide a filtrate, the membrane being operatively associated with an opening in the reservoir such that fluid is able to flow over the filter membrane,
(c) a base to receive the filtrate after it passes through the membrane, the base including a path through which the filtrate is guided to an outlet from the filtration cell,
(d) a piercing instrument supported in the filtration cell adapted to pierce a container holding the fluid to be filtered, the piercing instrument including a hollow interior in open communication with the reservoir and adapted to be in open communication with an interior of a pierced fluid container, and
(e) a flow channel extending between the piercing instrument and the reservoir such that the hollow interior of the piercing instrument is in communication with the reservoir through the flow channel, wherein the flow channel is open to the filter membrane so that fluid to be filtered can be directly passed from a fluid container over the filter membrane as it is transferred from the hollow interior of the piercing instrument, through the flow channel and into the reservoir.

2 more elements

A filtration system capable of direct sampling of a fluid from a container, the filtration system comprising:

(a) a filtration cell, comprising:
(i) a reservoir to receive the fluid to be filtered,
(ii) a filter membrane capable of filtering the fluid to provide a filtrate, the membrane being operatively associated with an opening in the reservoir,
(iii) a base to receive the filtrate after it passes through the membrane, the base including a path through which filtrate is guided to an outlet from the filtration cell,
(iv) a piercing instrument supported in the filtration cell adapted for piercing a container holding the fluid to be filtered, the piercing instrument including a hollow interior in open communication with the reservoir and adapted to be in open communication with an interior of a pierced fluid container, and
(v) a flow channel extending between the piercing instrument and the reservoir such that the hollow interior of the piercing instrument is in communication with the reservoir through the flow channel, wherein the flow channel is open to the filter membrane so that fluid to be filtered can be directly passed from a fluid container over the filter membrane as it is transferred from the hollow interior of the piercing instrument, through the flow channel and into the reservoir;
and
(b) a filter head in communication with a pressure source and adapted to seal the reservoir.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for directly sampling a fluid for microfiltration

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for directly sampling a fluid for microfiltration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10