Prefilters for particle concentrators
Inventors
Adolphson, Alec D. • Page, Andrew E. • Birkenholz, John D. • Goad, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12050162-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to a prefiltration device that can be used with the concentrating pipette instruments and other devices which draw a sample in through one opening and dispense a concentrated or eluted sample out through the same opening. The device allows the sample to be passed through a prefilter when entering the opening and then bypassed the prefilter when being dispensed through the same opening.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a prefiltration assembly for concentrating pipette tip systems, where an internal prefilter receives an incoming fluid sample during aspiration. The device is arranged so that the prefilter is used in a first flow path when the sample is aspirated through an opening and through the filter into the inserted tubular object or pipette tip.
The assembly is further arranged to bypass the prefilter for subsequent dispense operations. During wash and elution, the fluid sample is dispensed from the tubular object or pipette tip and out of the opening without flowing through the filter.
The bypass is enabled by breaking a foil seal in the housing using the tubular object or pipette tip. The internal prefilter can include a filter medium such as a nonwoven/fiber or a membrane filter, and filter aid materials and/or coatings are described to reduce fouling and improve handling of difficult matrices in downstream biological assays.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 describes a housing-based device with two flow paths and an internal filter, with one principal inventive feature set focused on bypassing the first flow path by breaking a foil seal using the tubular object or a pipette tip.
Housing-based dual flow paths with internal filter
A housing having an opening at a bottom end for aspirating through the opening and a port at a top end for insertion and sealing of a tubular object or pipette tip; a filter within the housing; a first flow path enabling aspiration of a fluid sample through the opening and through the filter into the inserted tubular object or pipette tip; and a second flow path enabling the fluid sample to dispense from the tubular object or pipette tip and out of the opening without flowing through the filter.
Foil seal bypass of the first flow path by breaking the foil seal
The first flow path is bypassed and the second flow path is used by breaking a foil seal in the housing using the tubular object or a pipette tip.
The independent claim covers aspirating a fluid sample through an internal filter via a first flow path into an inserted tubular object or pipette tip, while dispensing via a second flow path that avoids the filter. The key enabling mechanism is bypassing the first flow path by breaking a foil seal in the housing using the tubular object or pipette tip.
Stated Advantages
Improve handling of difficult matrices by reducing fouling and co-concentration of non-target particles prior to downstream biological assays.
Documented Applications
Downstream biological assays.
Applications in sample processing where reducing fouling and co-concentration improves concentration workflows, including wastewater monitoring and clinical diagnostics [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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