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US 9,546,747 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods for fluid processing and flow control
AssigneeBiotechflow Ltd
InventorMartin John Hofmann
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBiotechflow Ltd
InventorMartin John Hofmann
Estimating the term…
Fluid processing apparatus has a prefabricated branched network of flexible tubing, for conducting process fluid between process elements of the apparatus, and control valves. A tubing support has opposable front and rear plates which define a pattern of support channels between them in which the flexible tubing network lies, so that the support channels limit or prevent expansion of the flexible tubes. Standard non-reinforced tubing can then be used for high-pressure work. The support body plates can be separated to open the channels for insertion or removal of the flexible tubing. The front plate may be transparent. The control valves operate by simply pressing on the tubing in the support channels to block flow, without invasion of the flow path. The tubing sets can be easily replaced, cleaned or sterilized. The invention is useful in a range of controlled-flow processes e.g. chromatography and filtration.
Fluid processing apparatus comprising a prefabricated flow network of tubular flow conduits of flexible elastic polymeric tubing, said network including plural branching points where three or more parts of the tubing meet, for conducting process fluid between processing elements of the apparatus, one or more flow control valves for controllably modifying the flow of fluid, and a tubing support body defining a pattern of support channels in which all or part of the prefabricated flow network of flexible tubing is received, the corresponding pattern of support channels in the tubing support body including branching points corresponding to those of the tubing network and the flexible tubes of the tubing network lying in the support channel so that the support channel limits or prevents expansion of the flexible tube material, the prefabricated flow network of flexible tubing having tubing terminations emerging from the support body, and the apparatus comprising termination covers encasing the tubing terminations to prevent their expansion, and engaging the support body mechanically to restrain the termination covers from outward movement relative to the support body, when under internal pressure.
A prefabricated flow network of tubular flow conduits of flexible elastic polymeric tubing of outer diameter 5 to 30 mm, said network including plural branching points where three or more parts of the tubing meet, the prefabricated flow network being for use in conducting process fluid between processing elements of fluid processing apparatus comprising a tubing support body defining a pattern of support channels in which all or part of the prefabricated flow network of flexible tubing is received, the corresponding pattern of support channels in the tubing support body including branching points corresponding to those of the tubing network and the flexible tubes of the tubing network lying in the support channel so that the support channel limits or prevents expansion of the flexible tube material, the prefabricated flow network of flexible tubing having tubing terminations which in use emerge from a said support body, and comprising tubular terminations covers encasing the respective tubing terminations to prevent their expansion, the termination covers comprising formations selected from lugs, flanges or other local projections to engage the support body in use to restrain the termination covers from outward movement and/or rotational movement relative to the support body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.