Chromatography systems and couplings for chromatography systems

Abstract

To provide a liquid chromatography system comprising releasable fluid couplings which can be quickly reconnected.SOLUTION: A fluid coupling 100 comprises a cylindrical inner component 110 for receiving a fluid tube, and a resiliently deflectable portion 118 arranged to urge an outer surface of the tube toward a spigot; The fluid coupling also comprises a cylindrical collar 130 having an internal through-aperture 132 for slidably receiving the cylindrical inner component. The aperture and the resilient portion have complementary surface formations which in a first position of the collar mounted on the inner component provide resilient deflection in use, and which in a second different position do not cause the deflection.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to chromatography systems, such as liquid chromatography systems, and particularly, but not exclusively, to versatile laboratory or "benchtop" sized systems that allow convenient reconfiguration and convenient automated use for a variety of chromatographic procedures, and to reconnectable fluid tubing couplings for connecting tubing associated with such devices or systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Reconnectable fluid tube couplings, i.e. couplings that can be disconnected and replaced multiple times but still provide a fluid seal at each reconnection to a flexible tube such as a garden hose or plastic tubing, are known. However, the ease of connection and / or hygiene are questionable, especially when the same designs are employed in chromatography systems where sanitary couplings are required and are often used at much higher fluid pressures, e.g. up to 20 bar or more. Typical tubing fittings used in chromatography systems have multiple components with metal springs and O-rings, resulting in dead ends or O-ring grooves that may harbor undesirable contaminants, e.g. pathogens, during use. These dead ends and grooves are difficult to sanitize. Furthermore, the use of metal parts is problematic when gamma irradiation is attempted to sanitize such coupling assemblies. Furthermore, the use of threads or special tools is undesirable when speed and ease of connection or disconnection are required.

[0003] One prior art bar block tube coupling arrangement is shown in US Pat. No. 8,662,542, but this coupling requires a tool for assembly and is not intended to be easily releasable.

[0004] Liquid chromatography is a well-known procedure for separating mixtures of molecules, for example, separating proteins in a liquid sample. These proteins are typically suspended in a fluid and may be passed through a chromatographic separation medium along with a buffer. The various sample molecules of the mixture move at different speeds through the chromatographic medium, thereby separating the sample molecules. This separation may be completed by a fractionation step, in which the mobile phase may be directed into various vessels, for example, by outlet valves of the chromatography system.

[0005] Also, in chromatography systems, especially benchtop laboratory devices, it is often necessary to clean the device with interconnected tubes during use and then disassemble the tube configuration to reconfigure the tubes in different configurations to accommodate different experiments. Therefore, special sanitization devices are inconvenient and rapid cleaning is required along with quick disconnection and reconnection. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,821,718, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this device, replaceable modular components of a chromatography system are interconnectable by external fluid conduits and benefit from such improved interconnection means. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 8,662,542 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 8,821,718 [Patent Document 3] UK Application No. 1715399.0 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2007 / 045491 [Patent Document 5] UK Application No. 1713993 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a chromatography system, particularly a liquid chromatography system, with releasable fluid couplings that can be quickly reconnected without helical or twisting movement of the fluid conduits or without requiring space around each fluid conduit for such movement. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a chromatography system with one or more of increased functionality, such as operable in traditional batch chromatography and continuous chromatography, usable across a broader range of applications, without a significant increase in overall size or manufacturing costs, and simplicity of operation.

[0008] Another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a coupling that is more easily cleaned, with no or limited dead ends or other spaces where contaminants can accumulate. Another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a coupling that can be quickly connected and disconnected, when necessary, without the use of tools. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a chromatography system as set out in the accompanying claims.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a releasable coupling as defined in the other accompanying claims, which can be used as part of a coupling assembly in a chromatography system, e.g. a benchtop chromatography system, in which the modular components can be rearranged, e.g. on a support, to best suit a particular experimental setup, the configured modular components being interconnected by fluidic tubes, the tubes having two opposite ends, each end comprising one of the coupling assemblies according to the present invention for fluidic coupling of the respective modular components.

[0011] Further preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying dependent claims.

[0012] Further advantages and benefits of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description.

[0013] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the coupling components. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling of FIG. 1 in a fluid connection condition. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the same coupling in a releasable condition. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling assembly including the couplings of FIG. 1, both in a fluid-sealed condition. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling assembly of FIG. 4 reconfigured into a releasable condition. [Figure 6a] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly described above. [Figure 6b] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly described above. [Figure 6c] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly described above. [Figure 7a] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly. [Figure 7b] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly. [Figure 7c] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly. [Figure 7d] FIG. 13 shows a modification of the coupling assembly. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates a chromatography system using multiple coupling assemblies. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a decoupling tool. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention comprising a bayonet locking feature. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention comprising a bayonet locking feature. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention comprising a bayonet locking feature. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 shows the various components of the coupling. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 shows the various components of the coupling. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 shows the various components of the coupling. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 shows the various components of the coupling. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a chromatography system. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the chromatography system shown in FIG. 17. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of the chromatography system shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. [Figure 20] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of the chromatography system shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. [Figure 21] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of the chromatography system shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 shows a first version of a prior art modular component with four ports. [Figure 23] FIG. 1 shows a modular component with four ports. [Figure 24a] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the converter. [Figure 24b] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the converter. [Figure 25a] FIG. 2 shows a second version of a prior art modular component with three ports. [Figure 25b]FIG. 25b shows a threaded connector for the modular component of FIG. 25a. [Figure 26a] FIG. [Figure 26b] FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. 2 shows an alternative converter. [Figure 28a] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle with a tube attached. [Figure 28b] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle with a tube attached. [Figure 29a] 11A-11C are cross-sectional views of alternative sealing ridge configurations. [Figure 29b] 11A-11C are cross-sectional views of alternative sealing ridge configurations. [Figure 30a] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a sealing arrangement. [Figure 30b] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a sealing arrangement. [Figure 30c] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a sealing arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) provides guidelines for bioprocessing, which, if followed, require cleanliness standards. Advantageously, these standards are easier to achieve with the proposed apparatus, for example, the fluid pathways in the system have a continuous flow path without significant stagnant portions in at least one configuration, thereby allowing thorough cleaning without the need to disassemble the fluid conduits. Embodiments of the proposed system provide a hygienic miniaturized chromatography system suitable for both GMP and non-GMP operations. The system's broad functional flow rate and pressure ranges make the chromatography system suitable for both technical batch production and scale-up studies, as well as small-scale production of GMP-grade materials. The high pump accuracy and large flow rate range allow for accurate gradient formation, thereby accommodating a wide range of chromatography column sizes and more reproducible results.

[0016] In embodiments, the modular structure allows high functionality for a variety of uses. Interactive control software allows real-time changes and rapid identification of unexpected deviations. Small benchtop size frees laboratories from space constraints. The system allows in-situ column packaging, i.e., compressing the column or each column if more than one column is used, while connected to the system and without the need to disconnect the fluid conduits before performing the chromatographic process.

[0017] 1 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a releasable coupling 100 according to one embodiment. The coupling 100 comprises two parts, a cylindrical inner component in the form of a collet 110 for receiving a fluid tube, and a cylindrical locking collar 130 having an inwardly extending through aperture 132 for slidably receiving the collet 110. In use, the fluid tube (not shown) extends along an axis T and into a central bore 112 in the collet 110 sized to snugly fit around the tube. The collet 110 has a collet flange 114 formed on a cylindrical intermediate portion 116 and a plurality of resiliently deflectable circumferentially disposed fingers 118 extending from the intermediate portion 116 to a distal end 120 of the collet 110.

[0018] The collet 110 is a slip fit within a through aperture 132 of the collar 130 such that the collar 130 is mountable over the fingers 118 of the collet 110 and around the intermediate portion 116 of the collet 110. The collar 130 can be manipulated along the fingers 118 and intermediate portion 116 to selectively deflect or relax the fingers 118, which deflection provides gripping of the tube as described in more detail below. Manipulation of the collar 130 is aided by a collar flange 134 at a distal end of the collar that extends from a body 136 of the collar, which can be manually pushed and pulled. The collar has a distal end 140. It will be appreciated that the fingers 118 flare outwardly toward the distal end 120 of the collet, such that if the aperture 132 has a generally constant inner diameter, then sliding the collar 130 in a direction from the collet flange 114 to the distal end 120 of the collet 110 will cause the inner diameter of the aperture 132 to abut the outer surface of the fingers 118, which will be forced inward to provide a tube clamping action.

[0019] Figure 2 shows in cross section the coupling 100 of Figure 1 disposed in a tube clamping position, where the distal end 140 of the collar 130 and the distal end 120 of the collet 110 have been manipulated into alignment by manual positioning of the collar flange 134 relative to the collet flange 114. In that position, the inner surface of the aperture 132 and the outer surfaces of the fingers form complementary surfaces that abut and bias the fingers 118 inwardly toward axis T, forcing an adjacent portion of a tube (not shown) inside the collet inwardly to, for example, compress, squeeze, or clamp the tube. Release of the coupling is accomplished by manipulating the collar and its flange in the direction of

[0020] Figure 3 again shows coupling 100 in cross section, disposed in a tube release position. Here, collar 130 has been slid in direction R toward the distal end of the collet, but collar 130 is prevented from slipping off the collet by one or both of collet flanges 114 and steps 138 in both aperture 132 and bore 112 forming stops. In that position, fingers 118 are relaxed and resiliently spring outward, thereby ceasing or relieving biasing / squeezing / clamping action against the tube. The position shown in Figure 3 is achieved by manipulation of collar 130 and flange 134 (Figure 2) in a direction relative to collet 110.

[0021] 4 shows a cross section of a coupling assembly 10 with a male part, in this case in the form of a connector receptacle 20, having an extension 22, e.g., a sealing ridge, bead, or barb, positionable within the flexible fluid tube 30 beyond the open end of the tube 30 as a push-fit. The tube 30 is retained in the receptacle 20 by compressing the tube 30 onto the receptacle 20. The coupling 100 surrounds the tube 30 and provides a releasable compression of the tube against the receptacle 20 primarily in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 2 to releasably retain the tube 30 in the receptacle 20. In this view, it is apparent that fingers 118 assist in retaining the tube against the receptacle by compressing the tube 30 against the extension 22, effectively locking the tube in the receptacle 20. The coupling assembly 10 is capable of supplying or removing fluid to or from the module 1, which in this embodiment is a chromatography system that requires a releasable fluid coupling that can be easily cleaned and does not harbor contaminants. In another embodiment, the fluid pressure of the module 1 can be measured or regulated via the fluid tube 30, so that only fluid communication is required. Thus, fluid flow in the tube 30 is not a requirement.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 4, but with the coupling assembly 10 in the released position as shown in FIG. 3. In use, the coupling 100 positioned as in FIG. 4 clamps the tube 30 in place on the receptacle 20 and, when pulled in the direction of the collar flange 134, releases the pressure on the tube. This release allows the collar flange 134, collar 130 and collet 110 to be pulled out along with the tube in the direction of FIG. 5. As mentioned above, the collet has a stop (collet flange 114 and / or step 138) that prevents the collar from disengaging from the collet, thereby allowing the collet to be pulled out together with the flange 134. In this withdrawn position, the tube 30 can be easily pulled out of the receptacle 20. Connection or reconnection of the tube 30 to the receptacle 20 is accomplished by reversing the steps described above. That is, when the tube 30 is fitted over the receptacle 20 and the collet flange 114 is pushed in the opposite direction so that the collet distal end 120 is firmly seated against the module 1, the collar flange 134 is pushed to the home position, biasing the fingers 118 against the outer surface of the tube to clamp the tube to the receptacle 20.

[0023] The coupling 100 is preferably formed from only two plastic material moldings. It can be seen from the drawings that the outer surface of the collar 130 is smooth, i.e. the collar flange 134 is a continuous annular formation upstanding from the annular body 136, and the collar flange and the outer surface of the collar on which it is formed have a continuously curved profile without any sharp turns. Thus, the possibility of contamination of the coupling during use is reduced and the coupling can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, the user can use two fingers to hold each side of the collar flange, with one finger on each side of the collar body 136, and pull the collar flange in the direction of (FIG. 5). At the same time, the user can use his thumb to counteract this pulling force by placing it against the collet flange 114 on the opposite side of the two fingers.

[0024] It is important to ensure that the tube 30 is substantially completely fitted over the receptacle 20. To this end, the collet 110 and collar 130 may be formed from a clear plastic. Additionally, the receptacle may be of a different color than the tube to provide a visual color indication that the tube is not completely over the receptacle if any of the receptacle color is visible. One modification of the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5 is shown in Figures 6a, 6b, and 6c. Figure 6a shows a modified receptacle 20' having resilient protrusions 24, such as resilient arms, extending outwardly, and Figure 6b shows the tube 30 pressed fully home against the receptacle 20'. When the tube is fully homed in the receptacle, the arms 24 move inwardly and only then can the collet fingers 118 be pressed onto the tube as shown in Figure 6c and the collar 130 be pressed over the fingers to clamp the tube in place as described above. If the receptacle 20 ′ is not fully inserted into the tube 30 , the collet 110 will not pass through the arms 24 .

[0025] Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show in cross section a modification 105 of the coupling assembly. In this embodiment, the collar 130 of Figure 1 is replaced by a locking plate 230 having a number of through apertures 232, each of which receives a collet 110. This locking plate comprises a protrusion 234 which serves as a substitute for the flange 134 shown in the previous figures. The centres of the through apertures are aligned with the centres of the male parts protruding from the module 1 so that multiple connections can be realised in one movement.

[0026] In Fig. 7a, the locking plate 230 is shown provided to the module 1 with the collet 110 assembled in the through aperture 232 and the tube 30 pre-fitted over a male part such as the receptacle 20 inside the collet 110. Fig. 7b shows the same coupling assembly as shown in Fig. 7a, but the locking plate 230 and collet 110 are pressed in a direction towards the front of the module 1 so that the collet overlaps the ends of the receptacle 20 and tube 30. Fig. 7c shows another view of the coupling assembly of Fig. 7a, but now the locking plate 230 is pressed further in the direction in Fig. 7b. In Fig. 7c, the locking plate serves to clamp the fingers 118 of the collet 110 around the tube 30 in the manner described above.

[0027] FIG. 7d shows yet another modification of the coupling assembly, in which each of the locking collars 230′ is attached to the locking plate 231 by a flexible mount, in this case a spherical mount 233, which allows each collar 230′ to rotate about the center point of the mount 233, thereby providing tolerance to some alignment or dimensional errors in the male parts on the module. Of course, the locking plate can be made of a flexible material to provide similar tolerances. Although two couplings are shown in FIG. 7a, other linear or two-dimensional arrays of couplings can be used to match the configuration of the male parts 20, for example an array of four couplings can be used to match the square male part configuration shown in FIG. 8. The couplings do not have to be coplanar. The couplings do not have to have approximately parallel axes, for example if some degree of flexibility is provided as described with reference to FIG. 7d. For ease of use, the tube 30 may have a single coupling 100 at one end and may be joined at the opposing end with multiple couplings 105 in the manner of a manifold.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows a chromatography system 11 including a support 80, the support 80 including: Pump 12, Chromatography column 13, Various valves 14, pH monitor 15, Conductivity monitor 16, Mixer 17, and UV Monitor 18 7a, 7b, 7c, or 7d. For convenience, the valves 14 each have the same male part configuration, i.e. the same locking plate 230 may be used for each valve. The modules may be connected in any suitable manner using fluid tubes 30 having couplings 100 at each end, only one of which is shown for convenience. The couplings 100 may be replaced by multiple tubes and couplings 105 of the type shown in FIG. 7a, 7b, 7c, or 7d to speed up coupling and uncoupling. For convenience, the valves 14 each have the same male part configuration, i.e. the same locking plate 230 may be used for each valve.

[0029] FIG. 9 shows a release tool 200 having a forked end 210 suitable for engaging each side of the flange 134 or protrusion 234 to pull the flange 134 or protrusion 234 outwardly away from module 1 or modules 12-18, or to push the flange 134 or protrusion 234 if there is not enough space to pull with a finger.

[0030] An alternative embodiment of coupling 300 is shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12. In that embodiment, a locking collar 330 (Figure 10) surrounds a cylindrical inner component in the form of a collet 310 having fingers 318 of the type described above, which in turn surround a fluid tube 30. Coupling 300 can operate in a manner that is to a large extent identical to couplings 100 and 105 described above, in that the tube 30 is pressed onto the male part 20 protruding from the module 1 to achieve a liquid-tight connection, then the collet is slid onto the tube until the distal end 340 of the collet is adjacent or abutting the module 1, and then the collar is moved towards the module to initiate clamping of the fingers 318 of the collet 310. The position is shown in Figure 11.

[0031] It will be noted that the distal end 340 includes a pair of bayonet type openings for receiving complementary locking pins 27 supported by bosses 25 extending from the module 1 around the male part 20. In this embodiment, the final locking position of the collar 330 is not achieved until it is further pushed towards the module 1 to the final locked position shown in Figure 12 by linearly and rotationally manipulating the collar's distal end 340 over and along the bosses 25 so that the bayonet openings 345 receive the pins 27. This causes the fingers 318 to be further clamped to the tube 30 and the collar 330 (and coupling 300) to be secured to the module 1 with the pins 27 held in place.

[0032] 10, 11, and 12 rely on the substantially linear locking action of the locking collar just described; that is, some twisting action is utilized to secure the collar 330 in place and to apply a clamping force. This twisting action may be made easier by the use of wings 334 extending from the collar 330 rather than flanges as described above.

[0033] 13-16 show in detail a portion of an alternative collet 410 and collar 430 that may be used with couplings 100, 105, or 300. In this variation, clamping of the finger, in this case finger 418, may be performed by a twisting motion of collar 430 around collet 410, either as an alternative to or with a sliding motion of collar 430 in the manner described above.

[0034] More particularly, an inner surface of collar 430 has a detent 432 which acts against a tapered portion 431 of finger 418 when the collar is twisted relative to the finger. Each of the circumferential ramps 431 acts as a cam which is urged inwardly by a respective detent towards tube 30 when the collar is twisted in use in the direction of arrow R in this example, thereby compressing fingers 418 around tube 30 in use from the position shown in Figures 13 and 14 to the clamped position shown in Figures 15 and 16 where the detents rest within complementary recesses 433. The amount of twisting motion utilized for locking is no more than 120 degrees, and preferably no more than about 90 degrees when three or more circumferentially disposed fingers are used.

[0035] The couplings 100, 105, and 300 described above for use with tubes having an outer diameter of about 3-10 mm have been experimentally shown to be capable of sealing the tubes with internal fluid pressures of at least 10 bar or more, such as 15, 20, 25, 30 bar or more, and embodiments of these couplings have been duly verified by comprehensive leakage testing at 30 bar, as described in more detail below. The couplings provide a fluid-tight connection of the tubes around the male parts that is connectable and releasable only by substantially linear motion of the locking collar 130 or locking plate 230, without the need for twisting or screwing of the parts. Thus, the couplings can be brought closer together than conventional threaded couplings, since space for twisting motion is avoided. Substantially linear, as used herein, means a rotation of 120 degrees or less, such as, for example, 90 degrees or less, less than 45 degrees, less than 30 degrees, less than 15 degrees, less than 5 degrees, or virtually no rotation.

[0036] The collar elements have been described in various embodiments, each having the same functionality in a releasable coupling, namely, previously described features locking collar 130, locking plate 230, locking collar 230', locking collar 330, and collar 430. Some are non-cylindrical (locking plate 230) and others are cylindrically shaped. The collar elements include at least one protrusion, such as collar flange 134 or wing 334, that extends outwardly away from an aperture sized to permit manual manipulation of the collar between a first position and a second position.

[0037] 1-7, the internal components were described as collet 110, which may include a collet flange 114 and / or a stop portion, such as step 138. Collet flange 114 extends outwardly and is sized to aid in manual manipulation of the coupling. Additionally, resiliently deflectable portion is an equivalent term to deflectable fingers 118 described in connection with FIGS. 1-7 and fingers 418 described in connection with FIGS. 13-16.

[0038] FIG. 17 shows a chromatography device 400 according to one embodiment of the invention. The device includes, but is not limited to, individual modular components 51-75, at least some of which are removable from an apertured front panel 420 of a support 410 of the device 400 and mounted on the apertured front panel 420 in one substantially vertical plane such that the required fluid communication between the modular components can be achieved only at the front face 420. In implementation, these removable modular components have only one nominal size and can be repositioned within the panel 420 as needed to suit different processes. Each modular component has a serial bus communication connection and a power connection such that its physical location is of no concern to a controller, for example located in the support 410 or located remotely. The modular components can therefore be considered modular and therefore repositionable and / or replaceable.

[0039] The chromatographic device shown in FIG. 17 comprises the following modular components: 51 Control Panel 52 pH monitor 53 Outlet valves 1-3, port 1 can be used for disposal 54 Outlet valve 4~6 55 Conductivity Monitor 56 Outlet valve 7~9 57 Pre-column Conductivity Monitor 58 Column valve unit with pre-column and post-column pressure sensors 59 Bottle for pump cleaning solution 60 Inlet valves A1~A3 61 Inlet valves A4~A6 62 Inlet valves B1~B3 63 Inlet valve B4~B6 64 Fixed rubber feet 65 Adjustable Feet 66 System Pump A 67 System Pump B 68 Flow Restrictor with System Pressure Monitor 69 Mixer Modular Components 70 Mixer valve 71 Air trap valve with air sensor 72 Air Trap 73 On / Off Button 74 Holder for in-line filters (typical filter capsule shown) 75 UV monitor

[0040] Modular components can be omitted or repositioned as explained above. It will be clear that some modular components can be replaced with other modular components, or the space created by omitted modular components can be filled with a blank plate (see for example 76 in FIG. 20). Two or more modular components of the same reference number can be used as required.

[0041] Fluid interconnection between the fluid-handling modular components of the device, i.e., all of the modular components listed above except for modular components 51, 64, 65, and 73, as well as external modular components such as the sample input reservoir, buffer fluid reservoir, chromatographic column, and fraction collection device, not all of which are shown in FIG. 17, is achieved via fluid conduits, in this case in the form of flexible plastic tubing, which can be easily coupled and uncoupled to corresponding ports of the fluid-handling modular components in any desired configuration, e.g., using couplings as described above.

[0042] 18 shows one possible fluid interconnection configuration between the main modular components of a chromatography device 400, in this case coupled to two chromatography columns 700 and 800, but the device allows for any feasible interconnection between the modular components and additional parts such as multiple columns and fluid reservoirs. Reconfigurable fluid interconnections are indicated by dash-dotted lines 580.

[0043] At the heart of the device 400 is a column valve unit 58, in this case having a structure as disclosed in pending UK application no. 1715399.0, filed 22 September 2017, incorporated herein by reference. The valve unit 58 allows multiple flow switches to allow flow in one or both columns 700 / 800 in each direction (up and down in the drawing). The user can select upflow or downflow, or can choose to bypass one or both columns. This flow can be sent to waste or to the next component in the flow path. The columns may also be connected in series, each column comprising a variable volume chamber for containing a chromatographic separation medium and an adapter movable to increase or decrease said volume, and the column valve unit 58 is in fluid communication with each adapter and selectively operable to move each adapter individually or collectively in response to fluid pressure changes to thereby change each volume, thereby causing compression or release of the medium within each column volume, in use.

[0044] The column valve unit 58 includes a pre-column pressure sensor and a post-column pressure sensor, and further includes a fluid inlet 510 configured to receive an input fluid. The input fluid may be, for example, a chemical sample suspended in a buffer composition. The column valve unit 58 further includes a fluid outlet 520 configured to provide an output fluid from the valve unit. The provided output fluid may typically be a resultant fluid after passing the received fluid through one or more columns of the chromatography device 400. The valve unit 58 further includes a first pair of fluid ports 531 and 532 configured to be coupled to the first column 700, and a second pair of fluid ports 541 and 542 configured to be coupled to the second column 800. The valve unit 58 further includes a coupling valve assembly configured to direct fluid between a selection of the fluid inlet 510, the fluid outlet 520, the first pair of fluid ports 531 and 532, and the second pair of fluid ports 541 and 542 in response to one or more control signals.

[0045] Furthermore, the valve has a port 550 that can be used to change the volume of hydraulic cylinders 710 and 810 that are part of columns 700 and 800, for example to allow compression of the contents of the columns, also known as column packing. The packing process can be automated. With such a system, column diameters between about 25 and 250 mm can be packed in this way. These columns can be prepacked, but can be cleaned and reintegrated with the aid of a pressure sensor in the valve unit 58 that measures the back pressure resulting from the pressure in the column, and according to known protocols, for example as described in WO 2007 / 045491, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] The remaining system 400 includes: Inlet valves A and B, 60, 61, 62, and 63, suitable for providing selectable liquids including sample-containing liquid, buffer, and wash fluids; Equipped with. These inlet valves feed two system pumps, each of which has a pair of pistons and associated one-way valves, enabling variable flow rates from 0-600 ml / min (up to 1200 ml / min) with high volumetric flow and high flow rate resolution, allowing precise flow rates to be maintained. Such precision allows good reproducibility of results over a wide range of column diameters. These pumps in turn feed a flow restrictor 68 with system pressure monitor, a mixer valve 70 and a mixer module 69 before the pumped liquid is delivered to the column valve unit 58 . Entrained air is allowed to escape via air trap valve 71 and air trap vent 72, which also has an air relief from columns 700 and 800. The air trap may be constructed in accordance with pending UK application No. 1713993, filed on April 5, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Once the liquids reach the column valve unit 58 they may be routed according to the configuration described in pending UK application No. 1715399.0, filed 22 November 2017, thus enabling a number of chromatographic modes to be performed, from simple batchwork where a straightforward chromatographic separation process is performed using only one column, to processes that more closely mimic larger commercial processes where two or more columns may be used, one in service and the other being used for separation. The output from the chromatography column is routed through port 520 to a conductivity monitor 55, a UV light absorption monitor 75, and a pH monitor 52, and from there into appropriate storage containers depending on the signals from the three monitors, whereby the separated fractions are collected in appropriate containers 501. Column wash may be collected in waste container 500. The dash-dotted line 601 in FIG. 2 represents a system bus that carries signals and power from the modular components described above to the controller 600 and vice versa. It will be appreciated that control and monitoring signals may be wirelessly communicated according to known protocols without the need for a communication bus. The chromatography system 400 also includes a display screen 530. Software running on the controller displays a number of icons on the screen 530 and allows for user manipulation of the icons, dragging and dropping the icons on the screen to form a series of icons representing a user-defined chromatography control method for ease of use. The user-defined chromatography control method includes a continuous chromatography process using the two or more chromatography columns by selective valve opening in the column valve unit 58.

[0047] Figures 19, 20 and 21 show the system connected to the tubes for various configurations, with only some of the modular components referenced in Figure 17 remaining in place in these figures, with the apertures created by the modular components that have been removed being closed with a blanking plate 526 screwed into position covering the apertures to prevent unintentional ingress of liquid into the support 410.

[0048] In Fig. 19, system 400' has a configuration of modular components suitable for a conditioned environment in which the system is custom built in a factory. The system is delivered, installed, calibrated, performance tested and suitable for operation in a GMP environment. Fig. 20 shows one system 400'' with the modular components removed and Fig. 521 shows system 400''' with additional modular components in place similar to Fig. 71 and showing a typical tube interconnect 580.

[0049] In use, modular components are easily removed from or added to the system, with installation completed with a one-click operation in the software that can recognize each modular component. This software can provide comprehensive and customizable operational control and preemptive maintenance. In addition to the modular components mentioned above, input and output communication modular components can be used to interface with other equipment such as analog and / or digital external sensors or automated fraction collection devices. The wide flow rate and pressure range allows for over 40-fold scaling on 25-250 mm internal diameter columns. This wide range makes the instrument suitable for bridging the transition to a GMP environment.

[0050] Packing (and repacking) of chromatography columns using the above-described system is fully controllable by the controller 600, which is activated by the control panel 51. The controller 600 can drive a display screen 530 (FIG. 18) to aid in visualization of the packing process and progress. The control software provides accessible column packing records. Thus, column packing records can be defined, generated, and updated from the software for traceability and quality assurance purposes. Furthermore, the records can be used to monitor column performance and provide statistics on usage, separation performance, and packing intervals. The display screen can provide only the desired amount of information at each step by enabling a process visualization that gives the operator a quick overview of the system function, progress during the operation steps, and warnings. The active flow path is always displayed in this process visualization to minimize user errors. Real-time changes can be made by selecting the appropriate process on the visualization screen, for example by selecting or dragging an icon on the screen. Control graphic interfaces are provided for specific sections, such as the column valve unit 58.

[0051] Pre-programmed steps are used, but they can be modified and saved as user-defined steps for additional customization.

[0052] The system described and shown above is designed for a hygienic environment. For example, the support 410 is flat or curved with no joints, gaps, or large indentations other than at the edges of its faces, making it easy to wipe and less likely to trap dirt and liquids. The pH monitor 52 has in-line calibration and the column valve unit 58 allows for in-process column packing so that a closed flow path can be used during operation, i.e., no interruptions in the flow path are required throughout one or more chromatography column packing / regeneration stages and throughout the entire separation operation.

[0053] 22 shows a prior art modular component 810 with four ports 811, each configured to be coupled to a prior art fluid communication 812. Due to the size of the couplings 813 required to secure the fluid communication 812 to the ports 811, these couplings must be located at different heights. This is a bulky solution and also requires space around the modular component to facilitate the attachment / detachment of the fluid communication 812 to the respective ports 811.

[0054] FIG. 23 shows a modular component 820 having four ports 821, each having a tube 822 with a first end having a releasable coupling 100 (as described in connection with FIGS. 1-6) coupled to each port 821. The second end of one of the tubes is coupled to a transducer 823 with another releasable coupling 100 to allow for attachment of fluid connections not suitable for direct coupling to the ports 821. The transducer 823 is described in further detail in connection with FIGS. 24a and 24b. The use of releasable couplings when coupling fluid connections to modular components results in a less bulky design since the ports can be positioned closer to each other. Releasable couplings are also easier to sanitize, attach / remove, and replace when necessary.

[0055] 24a shows a cross-sectional view of a transducer 823 having a body 830, a flange 831, a through hole 832, and a receptacle 833 integral with the body 830. The transducer 823 is made from a single piece of material, such as plastic, metal, etc. in this embodiment. The flange 831 is configured for use in a Tri Clamp (TC) coupling in this example, and the receptacle 833 is configured to receive a tube with a releasable coupling 100 (not shown).

[0056] Figure 24b shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative transducer 823' that is similar to the transducer described in relation to Figure 24a with one exception: the transducer 823' comprises two parts, with the body 830 and flange 831 made from a single piece of material, e.g. plastic, and the receptacle 833' made from another material, e.g. metal.

[0057] FIG. 25a shows a prior art modular component 910 with three threaded holes as ports 911. Tubes 912, each with a threaded connector 913, are fixed to the respective ports 911. FIG. 25b shows a threaded connector 913 with an end flange 914 fixed to a first end of the tube 912 and configured to form a seal when placed in the threaded hole 911, and a body with a threaded portion 915 and a grip portion 916 designed to be used when fixing the threaded connector 913 to the modular component 910. Due to the space required to fix the threaded connector 913 to the modular component 910, this design is somewhat bulkier than when a releasable coupling is used as shown in FIG. 23. When a fluid tube is connected to a port using a threaded connector, fixing the threaded connector to the threaded hole causes unintended rotation of the fluid tube (approximately 2-3 rotations). This is particularly disadvantageous when fixing short fluid tubes, for example 10-30 cm long, due to the tube's kinking behavior. Additionally, a separate O-ring may be required to create the desired pressure and fluid seal.

[0058] To benefit from the advantages offered by the releasable coupling 100, an adapter may be introduced into the threaded hole of the modular component 910.

[0059] 26a shows a cross-sectional view of an adapter 915 having a body 920, a threaded portion 921, a through hole 922, and a receptacle 923 integral with the body 920. The adapter 915 is made from a single piece of material in this embodiment, such as plastic, metal, etc. The threaded portion 921 is configured to be introduced into a threaded hole of a modular component, in this example using the body 920 as a gripping portion, and the receptacle 923 is configured to receive a tube with a releasable coupling 100 (not shown).

[0060] Figure 26b shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative adapter 915' that is similar to the adapter described in relation to Figure 26a with one exception: the adapter 915' comprises two parts, with the body 920 and threaded portion 921 made from a single piece of material, e.g., plastic, and the receptacle 923' made from another material, e.g., metal.

[0061] 27 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative transducer 925 having a body 930, a portion with a threaded hole 931, a through hole 932, and a receptacle 933 integrated with the body 930. The transducer 925 is made from a single piece of material, such as plastic, metal, etc. in this embodiment. The threaded portion 931 is configured to receive a threaded connector, in this example, as described in connection with FIG. 25b. The receptacle 933 is configured to receive a tube with a releasable coupling 100 (not shown). It should be noted that the receptacle may be manufactured separately from a different material compared to the body and the portion with the threaded hole.

[0062] One advantage of the releasable coupling assembly 10 is that it is threadless, meaning it can be sanitized and requires less maintenance. A simple extension 22 (i.e., sealing ridge, barb, or bead) on the receptacle 20 that extends from the front face of the panel makes it much easier to sanitize compared to traditional threads on connectors with very limited access into the threaded holes as shown in Figures 25a and 25b.

[0063] Another advantage is that, in contrast to what is illustrated in connection with Figure 22, no flanges are required, and therefore it is possible to manually cut the tube before connecting it using releasable coupling 100. Thus, the rest size of the inner diameter of the tube is within the same range as the outer diameter of sealing ridge 22 of receptacle 20, and the rest size of the inner diameter of the tube is preferably less than ±10% of the outer diameter of the receptacle.

[0064] Another advantage is that no O-rings or gaskets are required, i.e. a lower maintenance and more robust solution compared to prior art solutions. Sealing is achieved by using tubing material in direct sealing engagement with the sealing ridge 22. However, this requires the tubing to have some flexibility and deformability. The releasable coupling provides a minimal number of connections / joints between various materials and parts, which improves the possibility of sanitizing the fluid communication as required. Another advantage is that the releasable coupling assembly is easy to install, e.g., one-handed snap-fit ​​for low pressure applications.

[0065] As described in connection with Figs. 24a, 24b, and 27, the transducer connector may be used to provide a connection to other connectors, such as, for example, a TC connector. As described in connection with Figs. 26a and 26b, the threaded adapter may be used to upgrade older devices with threaded holes (see Fig. 25a) to connectors configured to use releasable coupling when attaching tubing. As mentioned above, the receptacles 20 may be placed closer to each other than would be the case if a threaded or TC connector were provided. This allows for shorter internal flow paths in modular components, such as valves, thereby allowing the size of fluidic components with internal flow paths to be reduced by the use of releasable coupling assemblies. This further impacts the overall chromatographic system having a low footprint relative to flow capacity.

[0066] Figures 28a and 28b show cross-sectional views of the receptacle without and with a tube attached. It is emphasized that the tube dimensions (inner diameter D1) and receptacle dimensions (outer diameter D2) are important to provide a proper seal between the tube 30 and the open end 281 of the receptacle 280 and to avoid the formation of pockets in which deposits of residue from biological material may become trapped. The elastic modulus of the tube allows for the necessary deformation of the tube to pass through a sealing ridge 282 provided adjacent the open end 821. The shape of the sealing ridge is important to achieve the desired functionality with the following key aspects: - Sanitization is possible because direct sealing provides a pocket-less structure to avoid pockets where biological material may become trapped. - Pressure limit to hold the tube in the spigot.

[0067] As mentioned above, other important parameters are: - Elastic modulus of the fluid tube. - Fluid tube inside diameter and spigot outside diameter.

[0068] In some of these embodiments, the sealing ridge has a circular design with a radius R and a height h from the center of the receptacle. This radius extends to the open end of the receptacle and provides an angle at which a tube may slide over the sealing ridge into the receptacle using a force low enough for a typical operator, and yet does not bend under pressure as the tube slides over the sealing ridge. This circular section begins at a radius that is similar to the inner diameter of the tube. The height is determined by the elastic modulus of the tube and the pressure limit for the connector.

[0069] Other shapes of the sealing ridge are shown in Figures 28a, 29a, and 29b. Arrows F1-F3 in Figure 28b show diagrammatically the forces involved in sealing and locking the tube end 30 onto the receptacle 280. In one embodiment, as exemplified by the connector 100 described above, the collet is positioned to apply a tube clamping pressure as shown by F2 in Figure 28b to the receptacle side of the midpoint of the sealing ridge. In one embodiment, essentially, the fluid sealing force F1 between the tube near the open end of the receptacle and the forward end of the sealing ridge is achieved primarily by the elasticity of the tube. This sealing is achieved without any pockets when the sealing ridge is positioned near the open end, i.e., when there is no flat section at the open end of the receptacle.

[0070] By applying essentially locking pressure F2 behind the midpoint of the sealing ridge, essentially all of the available clamping force is utilized to hold the tube on the sealing ridge. The pressure limit is determined by the height of the sealing ridge, the clamping force, the slope of the sealing ridge, and the coefficient of friction between the tube and the receptacle. However, all surfaces should be as smooth as possible to allow for sanitization. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the available clamping force may be applied at the end section 281 of the receptacle 280 to further secure the seal between the receptacle and the tube. In the disclosed embodiment 100, the fingers 118 of the collet 110 are designed to apply clamping force only near the sealing ridge 282, leaving space for the tube at the lower end of the receptacle when in the clamped position. In this way, the clamping force is less dependent on dimensional variations in the various components (receptacle, tube, collet, and collar) because it involves the spring loading of the fingers 118 around the clamped position. In the disclosed embodiment, the available clamping force is determined by the force applied by the operator when pushing the collar 130 on the collet 110 into the tube clamping position so that the fingers 118 are displaced to abut against the tube, and the force required to lock the clamp by pushing the collar 130 should be adapted to be a reasonable force for the user while at the same time avoiding the need for an excessively high release force to release the clamp.

[0071] Figure 28b shows the situation when the fluid tube 30 is fitted over the sealing ridge 282 and a portion of the length of the receptacle 280 and also shows diagrammatically the locking pressure on the tube applied against the receptacle side of the midpoint of the sealing ridge. A fluid sealing force F1 between the tube and the forward end of the sealing ridge near the open end of the receptacle is achieved due to the elasticity of the tube. This seal is achieved without any pockets when the sealing ridge is positioned close to the open end, i.e., there is no flat section at the open end of the receptacle.

[0072] By applying a locking pressure F2 behind the midpoint of the sealing ridge, essentially all of the available clamping force is utilized to hold the tube on the sealing ridge. The pressure limit is determined by the height of the sealing ridge, the clamping force, the slope of the sealing ridge, and the coefficient of friction between the tube and the spigot. However, all surfaces should be as smooth as possible to allow for sanitization. Additionally, sharp corners may inadvertently form pockets in which biological material may become trapped, and therefore sharp corners should be avoided as much as possible to allow for sanitization.

[0073] It may be desirable to apply an additional sealing force F3 at the base of the receptacle (opposite the open end) to increase the sealing pressure limit. In one embodiment, at least 80% of the clamping force is applied behind the midpoint of the sealing ridge (designated F2). In one embodiment, an abutment or lower pressure is applied at or near the base of the receptacle to stabilize the connection.

[0074] The clamping force may be provided using a releasable coupling as described above. Other types of couplings are possible, such as hose clamps, eccentric couplings, etc., if they provide the appropriate amount of clamping force as described above. The length of the connector selected should be chosen based on the length of the receptacle to avoid leverage.

[0075] Figures 29a and 29b show cross-sectional views of alternative sealing ridge configurations. Figure 29a shows a receptacle 290 having a first alternative sealing ridge 292 with a non-uniform contour. The trailing edge 291 of the sealing ridge drops off more steeply from the midpoint of the sealing ridge to the exterior surface of the receptacle. This improves the pressure limit of the connection. Additionally, the forward end of the sealing ridge 292 is in line with the open end of the receptacle as indicated by reference numeral D3. This increases the force required to attach a fluid tube (not shown) compared to the receptacle described in connection with Figures 28a and 28b.

[0076] 29b shows a receptacle 295 having a second alternative sealing ridge 297 with a non-uniform contour. The trailing edge 296 of the sealing ridge curves with a radius r2 from the midpoint of the sealing ridge to the exterior surface of the receptacle. The contour from the midpoint of the sealing ridge to the open end of the receptacle curves with a radius r1, where r1 is greater than r2.

[0077] Additionally, the forward end of sealing ridge 297 is aligned with the open end of the receptacle as indicated by reference numeral D4, which in this example is greater than D3, indicating the reduced force required for attachment of the fluid tube (not shown) compared to the receptacle described in connection with FIG. 29a.

[0078] In general, the present invention relates to a new connector concept for chromatography systems, in which conventional threaded fluid connectors, as illustrated in Figures 25a and 25b, can be replaced by a significantly more convenient connector of the plug type, in which the tubes for interconnecting components in the chromatography system are simply pushed into the plug and then fixed there by a releasable clamp that applies a radial clamping force to the outer circumference of the tube. As mentioned, the plug is preferably provided with a sealing ridge so that the connector concept can be used in the required pressure range. Surprisingly, it has proven possible to design such a connector that achieves a leak-free fluid connection at internal pressures exceeding the required range in liquid chromatography, up to 20 bar and even up to more than 30 bar, while still significantly improving the ease of use for the operator. The procedure for coupling a tube to a port in a chromatography system according to these embodiments simply involves pushing the tube end onto the receptacle, positioning the releasable connector clamp around the tube end, and applying a locking force by actuating the connector clamp. Similarly, the procedure for decoupling a tube from a port in a chromatography system according to these embodiments simply involves deactivating the connector clamp to release the locking force, optionally removing the releasable connector clamp from the tube end, and pulling the tube end free from the receptacle. One major advantage of the disclosed embodiments is that the step of pushing and applying the locking clamp does not require a twisting action that can transfer a rotational motion to the tube, so that the tube is not rotated relative to the male part during the application step. As mentioned, this prevents the tube from undergoing a twisting action and forming kinks that can restrict fluid flow or even destroy the tube segment.Additionally, compared to conventional chromatography systems having connectors that require flanged tubing, e.g., tubing having an inner diameter of 1-10 mm, the present system offers the advantage of allowing customization of fluid pathways by adding the step of cutting tubing segments to optimal length prior to interconnecting the pathways.

[0079] Connector leak test. An embodiment of the present connector / chromatography system was demonstrated to provide a leak-proof connection for the desired pressure range for liquid chromatography. In one embodiment, the upper chromatography system pressure limit for operation is 20 bar, and the connectors were periodically leak tested at 30 bar to demonstrate proper sealing at 20 bar. In this test, the limit for determining leaks was set at 1 μl / min at 20 bar for each connector in the flow path tested. Successful tests were performed under the following conditions: Leak test at 20 bar over a temperature range of 4-40°C 6000 coupling and uncoupling cycles, leak tested at 30 bar every 500 cycles (performed on two different dimensions) Static leak test at 40°C for 12 months, leak test once a week at 30 bar 1000 cycles of 0-20N tension pull test, leak test at 30 bar before and after each cycle

[0080] As noted above, it has surprisingly been found that this can be accomplished while providing such improved ease of use compared to conventional connections.

[0081] In addition to the above leak test, a Salt Creep Test was performed by circulating a mobile phase of 2.5 M (NH4)2SO4 in the system overnight (approximately 12 hours) at 1.5 MPa back pressure. A visual inspection is then performed for salt creeping around connectors, valves, and other modules. The connectors and chromatographic system were demonstrated to pass the test without any visible salt creep.

[0082] Figures 30a-c show the interaction between the receptacle 20, the tube 30, the collet 110, and the fingers 118 of the collet 110 according to one embodiment. In Figure 30a, the tube end 310 is shown above the receptacle, with dashed lines showing the relationship between the tube inner diameter and the receptacle elements. As can be seen, the receptacle base is slightly wider than the tube inner diameter, and the sealing ridge 22 is significantly wider but has a circular leading edge so that the tube can be forced into the receptacle. In Figure 30b, the tube end is forced into the receptacle (beyond the portion shown) and the collet 110 is applied around the tube end and actuated in a locked position to clamp the tube. The collet 110 is disclosed in more detail in Figure 30c, where it can be seen that the fingers 118 include a clamping section 350 for clamping the tube in the area of ​​the center of the sealing ridge 22 of the receptacle 20. In one embodiment, the tubing inner diameter is 3.2 mm, the outer diameter is 4.8 mm while the spigot base diameter is 3.25 and the sealing ridge is 3.45 which together with the locking force from the clamp 10 provide a leak-free connection. Tubing used in this type of liquid chromatography system will generally have the tubing of a material stiff enough to accommodate the pressures used and may be made, for example, from Fluorinated EtenPropene (FEP) plastic.

[0083] According to one embodiment, a component 12-18, 810, 910 for a chromatography system 11 is disclosed. The component (which may be modular) includes one or more ports, each accessible via a receptacle 20, 923, 923' for receiving a first end of a fluid tube 30, 812, 912. The first ends are sealable around the receptacle by a releasable coupling 100, 105, 300 on the exterior of the tube end, the coupling having a releasable clamping action that is actuable by a sliding action of a collar element 130, 230, 230', 330, 430 of the coupling along the end of the fluid tube.

[0084] The receptacle (20) may be an integral part of components 12-18. Additionally, the receptacle 923, 923' may be provided on an adapter 915, 915' configured to couple to a port of the component 910. In some embodiments, the port is a threaded hole 911 and the adapter 915, 915' includes a corresponding threaded portion 921, a body 920, and the receptacle 923, 923'.

[0085] In some embodiments, the adapter 915 is made from a single piece of material, which may be plastic or metal.

[0086] In some embodiments, the receptacle 923' is made from a first material and the body 920 and the threaded portion 921 are made from a second material, where the first material may be metal and the second material may be plastic.

[0087] According to one embodiment, a releasable coupling 100 configured to hold a fluid tube in a receptacle is disclosed. - a cylindrical inner component 110, 310, 410 configured to receive a fluid tube 30, said inner component comprising a resiliently deflectable portion 118, 418 configured to bias an outer surface of the tube towards the receptacle; - a collar element 130 having an internal through aperture 132 for slidably receiving an internal component, the aperture and the resiliently deflectable portion having complementary surface features which, in use, provide said resiliently deflecting in a first position of the collar element attached to the internal component, and which, in a second, different position, prevent action against an outer surface of the fluid tube; The collar element includes at least one protrusion extending outwardly away from an aperture sized to permit manual manipulation of the collar between the first and second positions.

[0088] In some embodiments, the inner component 110 further comprises stops 138, 114 that may cooperate with the collar element to prevent or inhibit sliding of the collar element away from the inner component in at least one direction.

[0089] In some embodiments, the collar element is slidable on the inner component from a first position, in which a deflection is provided, to a second position in which the collar element abuts the stop.

[0090] In some embodiments, the collar flange 134 is formed on one end of the collar element and the stop portion is formed on one end of the inner component, and the collar flange 134 and the stop portion can be manually moved adjacent the second position and the collar element can be manually slid further to the first position where the collar flange 134 is spaced from the stop position.

[0091] In some embodiments, the portion is a collet flange 114 that extends outwardly and has a size to aid in manual manipulation of the coupling. In some embodiments, the collar flange 134 is a continuous annular shaped portion that upstands from the collar body 136. In some embodiments, the collar flange 134 and the outer surface of the collar element on which it is formed have a continuously curved profile with no sharp turns.

[0092] In some embodiments, the resiliently deflectable portion 118, 418 of the inner component 110, 310, 410 comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged fingers that are deflectable inwardly towards the tube in use. In some embodiments, the collar element 330 further comprises a bayonet opening 345 that cooperates with a complementary locking pin 27 to releasably secure the coupling to the module 1.

[0093] According to one embodiment, a transducer 823, 823', 925 for coupling an end of a first fluid tube 822 to an end of a second fluid tube is disclosed. The transducer comprises a receptacle 833, 833', 933 for receiving the end of the first fluid tube 822, the end of the first fluid tube being sealable around the receptacle by a releasable coupling 100, 105, 300 on the exterior of the tube end. The coupling has a releasable clamping action that is actuable by sliding movement of a collar element 130, 230, 230', 330, 430 of the coupling along the end of the fluid tube.

[0094] In some embodiments, the transducer 823, 823' further comprises a portion having a body 830 and a flange 831, or a body 930 and a threaded hole 931, configured to be coupled to an end of a second fluid tube.

[0095] In some embodiments, the transducer 823 is made from a single piece of material, which may be plastic or metal.

[0096] In some embodiments, the receptacle 833' is made from a first material and the body 830 and the flange 831, or the body 930 and the portion having the threaded hole 931, are made from a second material. The first material may be metal and the second material may be plastic.

[0097] According to one embodiment, a chromatography system 11 is disclosed that includes a number of components 12-18, 810, 910 as described above that are in fluid interconnection by a fluid tube 30. The components include one or more receptacles 20 for receiving respective ends of the fluid tubes 30, the fluid tube ends being sealable about the receptacles by releasable couplings 100, 105, 300 as described above, the couplings having a releasable clamping action that is actuable by sliding action of a collar element 130, 230, 230', 330, 430 of the coupling along the end of the fluid tube.

[0098] In some embodiments, the sliding action is generally toward the respective component and the clamping action is releasable by action away from said component.

[0099] In some embodiments, the plurality of components 12-18 are modular components that are positionally rearrangeable on the support 80, and the fluid tubes 30 comprise a plurality of fluid tubes 30 each having two ends with one of said couplings 100, 105, 300 at each end, which, in use, provide substantially sealed fluid flow and fluid communication between the respective modular components.

[0100] In some embodiments, the sliding motion is exclusively linear or is substantially linear with a twisting motion of 120 degrees or less.

[0101] In some embodiments, the chromatography system is a chromatography system formed from multiple components.

[0102] In some embodiments, the chromatography system further comprises a converter as described above.

[0103] According to one embodiment, a chromatography system is provided that includes a plurality of fluid handling components that are fluidly interconnectable by fluid tubes 30 to form a chromatography fluid flow path, the fluid handling components including one or more fluid ports having receptacles extending from a component face for receiving respective ends of fluid tubes such that the fluid tube ends sealingly surround the receptacles, and releasable locking clamps for applying a radial locking force against an outer surface of the tube ends to lock the fluid tube ends in the receptacles, the interconnections being leak-proof at an internal pressure of at least 10 bar, such as 15, 20, 25, or 30 bar.

[0104] The present invention should not be regarded as being limited by the above-described embodiments, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1 Module 10 Coupling assembly, clamp 11 Chromatography Systems 12 Pumps, modules and components 13 Chromatography columns, modules and components 14 Valves, modules and components 15 pH Monitors, Modules, and Components 16 Conductivity Monitors, Modules and Components 17 Mixers, Modules and Components 18 UV monitors, modules and components 20 Connector socket, male part 22 Extension, sealing ridge 24 Elastic protrusion, arm 25 Boss 27 Complementary locking pin 30 Tube, fluid tube, tube end 51 Control Panel, Modular Components 52 pH Monitor, Modular Components 55 Conductivity Monitor, Modular Component 58 Column valve unit, modular components 68 Flow Restrictor, Modular Component 69 Mixer Modules, Modular Components 70 Mixer valve, modular components 71 Air trap valve, modular component 72 Air Trap Vent, Modular Component 75 UV Light Absorption Monitor, Modular Component 80 Support part 100 Releasable couplings, couplings, connectors 105 Coupling 110 Collet, cylindrical internal component 112 Center Bore 114 Collet flange, stop part 116 Cylindrical middle section 118 Finger, collet finger, elastically deflectable part 120 Distal end 130 Collar, cylindrical locking collar, collar element 132 Internal Through Aperture 134 Color flange 136 Body, color body, annular body 138 Steps, Stops 140 Distal end 200 Unlocking Tool 210 Bifurcated end 230 Locking plate, collar element, collar 230´ Locking collar, collar element 231 Locking Plate 232 Through Aperture 233 Spherical Mount 234 Protrusion 280 Outlet 281 Open End, End Section 282 Sealing Ridge 290 Outlet 291 Trailing edge 292 Sealing Ridge 295 Outlet 296 Trailing edge 297 Sealing Ridge 300 Coupling 310 Collet, tube end, cylindrical internal component 318 Finger 330 Collar, Locking Collar, Collar Element 334 Wing 340 Distal end 345 Bayonet opening 350 Clamping Section 400 Chromatography equipment, remaining systems, chromatography systems 410 Collet, cylindrical internal component, support 418 Finger, elastically deflectable part 420 Apertured front panel, front face 430 Color, Color Elements 431 Tapered section, circumferentially inclined section 432 Detent 433 Complementary recess 500 Waste Containers 501 Container 510 Fluid inlet 520 Fluid outlet, port 526 Blank Plate 530 display screen 531 Fluid Port 541 Fluid Port 542 Fluid Port 550 port 580 Short dashed line, tube interconnection 600 Controller 601 Long dashed line 700 First Column 710 Hydraulic Cylinder 800 Second Column 810 Modular components, components 811 Port 812 Fluid communication section 813 Coupling 820 Modular Components 821 Port, open end 822 First Fluid Tube 823 Converter 830 Body 831 Flange 832 Through hole 833 Outlet 910 Modular components, components 911 Port, screw hole 912 Tube 913 Screw Connector 914 End flange 915 Threaded part, adapter 915´ Adapter 916 Grip part 920 Body 921 Screw part 922 Through hole 923 Outlet 925 Converter 930 Body 931 Screw hole, threaded part 932 Through hole 933 Outlet

Claims

1. A chromatography column (13) having at least one spigot (20) for connecting the chromatography column (13) to a respective releasable coupling (100) in a chromatography system (11), The releasable coupling (100) comprises: a cylindrical inner component (110) for receiving a fluid tube (30), the cylindrical inner component (110) including a resiliently deflectable portion (118) configured to bias an outer surface of said fluid tube towards a respective receptacle (20); a cylindrical collar element (130) having an internal through aperture (132) for slidably receiving said inner component, said aperture and said resiliently deflectable portion having complementary surface features which, in use, provide resiliently deflection in a first position in which said collar element (130) is attached to said inner component, and which, in a different, second position, provide no resiliently deflection; wherein the collar element (130) includes at least one protrusion that is a collar flange (134) or collar wing (334) extending outwardly away from the aperture sized to permit manual manipulation of the collar element (130) between the first and second positions.

2. 2. The chromatography column (13) of claim 1, wherein the inner component (110) further comprises a stop portion (138, 114) that can cooperate with the collar element (130) to prevent or inhibit sliding of the collar element (130) away from the inner component (110) in at least one direction.

3. 3. The chromatography column (13) of claim 2, wherein the collar element (130) is slidable on the inner component (110) from the first position, in which deflection is provided, to the second position, in which the collar element (130) abuts against the stop portion (138, 114).

4. 3. The chromatography column (13) of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is formed at one end of the collar element (130) and the stop portion (138, 114) is formed at one end of the inner component (110), the protrusion and the stop portion can be moved adjacent to the second position by manual operation, and the collar element (130) can be further slid by manual operation to the first position where the protrusion is spaced apart from the stop portion (138, 114).

5. 2. The chromatography column (13) of claim 1, wherein the collar flange (134) and the outer surface of the collar element (130) on which the collar flange is formed have a continuously curved profile without any abrupt turns.

6. 2. The chromatography column (13) of claim 1, wherein the resiliently deflectable portion (118) of the inner component (110) comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed fingers that are inwardly deflectable in use.

7. 2. The chromatography column (13) of claim 1, wherein the inlet (20) comprises a sealing ridge (22).

8. 8. The chromatography column (13) of claim 7, wherein the spigot (20) has a base diameter of 3.25 mm and the sealing ridge (22) has a diameter of 3.45 mm.

9. A releasable coupling (100) for holding a fluid tube to a male part in a chromatography system, comprising: a cylindrical inner component (110) for receiving a fluid tube (30), the cylindrical inner component (110) comprising an elastically deflectable portion (118) configured to bias an outer surface of said tube towards the male part; a cylindrical collar element (130) having an internal through aperture (132) for slidably receiving said inner component, said aperture and said elastically deflectable portion having complementary surface features which, in use, provide elastic deflection in a first position in which said collar element (130) is attached to said inner component, and which, in a different, second position, provide no elastic deflection; Equipped with The coupling (100) is characterized in that the collar element (130) has at least one protrusion, which is a collar flange (134) or collar wing (334), extending outwardly away from the aperture sized to permit manual manipulation of the collar element (130) between the first position and the second position.

10. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, wherein the inner component (110) further comprises a stop portion (138, 114) that can cooperate with the collar to prevent or inhibit sliding of the collar away from the inner component in at least one direction.

11. 11. The coupling (100) of claim 10, wherein the collar element (130) is slidable on the inner component from the first position, where a deflection is provided, to the second position, where the collar element (130) abuts the stop portion (138, 114).

12. 11. The coupling (100) of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is formed on one end of the collar element (130) and the stop portion is formed on one end of the inner component, the protrusion and the stop portion can be moved adjacent to the second position by manual operation, and the collar element (130) can be further slid by manual operation to the first position where the protrusion is separated from the stop portion.

13. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, wherein the collar flange and an outer surface of the collar element (130) on which the collar flange is formed have a continuously curved profile without any abrupt turns.

14. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, wherein the resiliently deflectable portion of the inner component comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed fingers (118) which are deflectable inwardly towards the fluid tube in use.

15. 15. The coupling (100) of claim 14, wherein the fingers (118) extend from a middle portion (116) of the cylindrical inner component (110) to a distal end (120) of the cylindrical inner component (110).

16. The coupling (100) of claim 15, wherein the fingers (118) flare outwardly toward the distal end (120).

17. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, formed from two plastic material mouldings.

18. 20. The coupling (100) of claim 17, wherein said cylindrical inner component (110) and said cylindrical collar element (130) are formed from clear plastic.

19. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, wherein a distal end (340) of the cylindrical collar element (330) is provided with a pair of bayonet-type openings (345) for receiving complementary locking pins (27).

20. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical collar element (430) comprises a detent (432) which acts as a tapered portion (431) of the finger (418) when the cylindrical collar element (430) is twisted relative to the finger (418), and the tapered portion (431) acts as a cam such that the detent (432) in the cylindrical collar element (430) urges the cylindrical collar element (430) inwardly relative to the cylindrical collar element (430) when the cylindrical collar element (430) is twisted.

21. 21. The coupling (100) of claim 20, wherein the fingers (418) each include a complementary recess (433) for receiving a respective detent (432) therein.

22. 10. The coupling (100) of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical collar element (130) is part of a locking plate (230) having a plurality of apertures (232) therethrough.

23. 23. The coupling (100) of claim 22, wherein the cylindrical collar element (130) is attached to the locking plate (230) by a flexible mount.

24. 24. The coupling (100) of claim 23, wherein the flexible mount is a spherical mount (233) that allows the cylindrical collar element (130) to rotate about a center point of the flexible mount.

25. A releasable coupling assembly (10) for holding a fluid tube to a male part, comprising: A flexible fluid tube (30); A male part (20) that can be inserted into the fluid tube; a cylindrical inner component (110) for fitting over said fluid tube, said cylindrical inner component (110) comprising an elastically deflectable portion (118) configured to bias an outer surface of said fluid tube onto said male part; a cylindrical collar element (130, 230) having an internal through aperture (132, 232) for slidable mounting of the collar element onto said inner component; Equipped with said aperture and said elastically deflectable portion have complementary surface features which in a first position, when said collar element is mounted on said inner component, provide an elastic deflection in use, whereby said fluid tube is biased by said elastically deflectable portion against said male part when said inner component is fitted onto said fluid tube, and in a second position, do not cause a deflection, whereby said fluid tube is not so biased, or is biased less strongly, against said male part; The releasable coupling assembly (10) is characterized in that the collar element has a collar flange (134, 234) extending outwardly away from an aperture sized to permit manual manipulation of the collar element between the first position and the second position.

26. 26. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 25, wherein said resiliently deflectable portion (118) comprises a plurality of resiliently deflectable circumferentially disposed fingers.

27. 27. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 26, wherein the fingers extend from a middle portion (116) of the cylindrical inner component (110) to a distal end (120) of the cylindrical inner component (110).

28. 28. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 27, wherein the fingers (118) flare outwardly toward the distal end (120).

29. 26. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 25, formed from two plastic material mouldings.

30. 30. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 29, wherein said cylindrical inner component (110) and said cylindrical collar element (130) are formed from clear plastic.

31. 26. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 25, wherein a distal end (340) of the cylindrical collar element (330) is provided with a pair of bayonet-type openings (345) for receiving complementary locking pins (27).

32. 26. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 25, wherein the cylindrical collar element (430) comprises a detent (432) which acts as a tapered portion (431) of the finger (418) when the cylindrical collar element (430) is twisted relative to the finger (418), and the tapered portion (431) acts as a cam such that the detent (432) in the cylindrical collar element (430) urges the cylindrical collar element (430) inwardly against the cylindrical collar element (430) when the cylindrical collar element (430) is twisted.

33. 33. A coupling assembly (10) as set forth in claim 32, wherein said fingers (418) each include a complementary recess (433) for receiving a respective detent (432) therein.

34. 26. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 25, wherein the cylindrical collar element (130) is part of a locking plate (230) having a plurality of apertures (232) therethrough.

35. 35. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 34, wherein the cylindrical collar element (130) is attached to the locking plate (230) by a flexible mount.

36. 36. The coupling assembly (10) of claim 35, wherein the flexible mount is a spherical mount (233) that allows the cylindrical collar element (130) to rotate about a center point of the flexible mount.

37. A reconfigurable fluid interconnect (580) for coupling to at least one modular component (51-75) in a chromatography device (400), the reconfigurable fluid interconnect (580) comprising a coupling assembly (10) according to any one of claims 25 to 36.

38. 38. The reconfigurable liquid interconnect (580) of claim 37, wherein the modular components (51-75) comprise one or more of a control panel (51), a pH monitor (52), an outlet valve (53, 54, 56), a conductivity monitor (55), a pre-column conductivity monitor (57), a column valve unit (58) with pre-column and post-column pressure sensors, a bottle (59), an inlet valve (60, 61, 62, 63), a system pump (66, 67), a flow restrictor (68) with a system pressure monitor, a mixer modular component (69), a mixer valve (70), an air trap valve (71) with an air sensor, an air trap (72), a holder for an in-line filter (74), and / or a UV monitor (75).

39. 40. The reconfigurable fluid interconnect (580) of claim 37, further comprising at least one tube (30) formed from a substantially rigid material.

40. 40. The reconfigurable fluid interconnect (580) of claim 39, wherein the substantially rigid material comprises Fluorinated Ethene Propene (FEP) plastic.

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