Liquid to liquid biological particle concentrator with disposable fluid path
Inventors
Page, Andew Edward • Packingham, Zachary A. • Alburty, David Scott • Adolphson, Alec D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12013322-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
Highly efficient and rapid filtration-based concentration devices, systems and methods are disclosed with sample fluidic lines and a filter packaged in a disposable tip which concentrate biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. The concentrate is then dispensed from the disposable tip in a set volume of elution fluid. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. All conduits by which the disposable tip attaches to the instrument are combined into a single connection point on the upper end of the tip.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a disposable concentrating pipette tip for rapid concentration of particles and molecules from a fluid sample. The pipette tip includes a filter and is configured for filtration-based concentration such that particles are retained while permeate is eliminated via a separate flow path. The concentrated material is then eluted from the filter and dispensed as a reduced-volume, controlled output.
The concentrator system includes a concentrating unit adapted to aspirate the fluid sample through the concentrating pipette tip and to collect a concentrated sample from the concentrating pipette tip. The disclosed architecture uses permeate purge and permeate draw to manage permeate flow during concentration and supports elution followed by dispensing. The filter, the permeate purge, and the permeate draw are connected to a single connection point adapted to couple the concentrating pipette tip to the concentrating unit, reducing cross-contamination between fluid paths.
The disclosure further describes concentrating pipette tip architectures including hollow-fiber filter designs and flat porous-surface designs with retentate and permeate sides. It also describes permeate chamber venting strategies that use hydrophobic vent portions to support fluid management. Additionally, the disclosure addresses filter blinding issues, including hollow-fiber filter blinding, and documents mitigation approaches such as high-frequency backpulsing and oscillating tangential flow, including maintaining filter flow rate during processing.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provided includes two independent claims: one to a system and one to a method, totaling the main claim scope for rapid concentration using a disposable concentrating pipette tip with a filter and integrated permeate purge/draw. Across these independent claims, the inventive features are centered on the disposable concentrating pipette tip architecture, the permeate purge/permeate draw arrangement, the single connection point coupling to a concentrating unit, and the sequence of aspirating, eluting, and extracting a concentrated sample.
Disposable concentrating pipette tip with filter, permeate purge, and permeate draw
A concentrating pipette tip including a filter, a permeate purge, and a permeate draw.
A concentrating unit aspirates through the tip and collects a concentrated sample
A concentrating unit adapted to aspirate the fluid sample through the concentrating pipette tip and to collect a concentrated sample from the concentrating pipette tip.
Elution and dispensing from the filter
The fluid sample is aspirated through the concentrating pipette tip, then the concentrated sample is eluted from the filter and dispensed.
Single connection point coupling tip to concentrating unit
The filter, the permeate purge, and the permeate draw are connected to a single connection point adapted to couple the concentrating pipette tip to the concentrating unit.
Method using a concentrating pipette tip and concentrating unit via single connection point
Connecting a concentrating pipette tip to a concentrating unit, the concentrating pipette tip including a filter, a permeate purge, and a permeate draw, which are connected to the concentrating unit via a single connection point, the concentrating unit for aspirating the fluid sample through the concentrating pipette tip, and a permeate valve.
Aspirating through the concentrating pipette tip
Aspirating the fluid sample through the concentrating pipette tip.
Eluting particles and molecules in the tip and extracting a concentrated sample
Eluting a plurality of particles and molecules in the concentrating pipette tip; and extracting a concentrated sample.
Overall, the independent claims require a disposable concentrating pipette tip with a filter and integrated permeate purge/permeate draw, coupled to a concentrating unit through a single connection point. The claimed method mirrors the system sequence: aspirating a fluid sample through the tip, eluting particles and molecules in the tip, and extracting a concentrated sample.
Stated Advantages
Rapid concentration of particles and molecules from a fluid sample.
Provides reduced-volume, controlled elution and dispensing of concentrated material.
Reduces cross-contamination by coupling the filter, permeate purge, and permeate draw to a single connection point.
Documented Applications
Medical, environmental, and security/biothreat detection use cases.
Forensic DNA applications.
Downstream analytical methods following concentration are mentioned in the disclosure.
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