Filter Device Recovering Retained Fluid via Gas Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In closed systems, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, a significant issue arises from the retention of filtered fluid between the filter medium and the receiving container, leading to costly losses and potential shortages during clinical trials, as even small volumes of retained fluid can be economically and operationally significant.
Innovation Solution
A method and system involving a filter device with a housing, porous filter medium, and a fluid flow path comprising coaxially arranged hollow conduits, where sterile air or gas is used to displace retained filtered fluid from the filter device into the receiving container, utilizing the space between the conduits to recover the retained fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter device is used to filter fluid in a closed system, then fluid filtration is achieved, but a residual volume of filtered fluid is retained between the downstream side of the filter medium and the filtered fluid receiving container
Solution Approach 1:
A gas permeable membrane is introduced as an intermediary component between the filter medium and the receiving container. This membrane allows gas to pass through while preventing liquid from passing, enabling the displacement of retained liquid by gas without direct contact between the gas source and the liquid, thus recovering the residual fluid volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses gas pressure (pneumatics) to displace the retained filtered liquid from the space between the filter medium and the receiving container. By introducing gas through the gas permeable membrane, the retained liquid is pushed out through the membrane into the receiving container, recovering the residual volume without compromising the closed system integrity.
2Loss of substance
If the retained fluid volume is reduced, then economic losses are minimized, but the system complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The gas permeable membrane serves multiple functions: it acts as a barrier to liquid passage, a pathway for gas displacement, and a recovery mechanism for retained fluid. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby minimizing system complexity while effectively recovering the residual fluid volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a gas permeable membrane (porous material) enables selective passage of gas while blocking liquid. This single material component accomplishes both the filtration function and the fluid recovery function, simplifying the overall system design compared to using multiple separate components for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively recovers retained filtered fluid, reducing economic losses and ensuring adequate product quantities for critical data generation, while being compatible with integrity testing and suitable for various bioprocessing systems and fluid types.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the sterile air and/or sterile gas to pass from the filtered fluid receiving container through the first inner diameter of the first hollow conduit along the fluid flow path and through the outlet into the housing of the filter device, and displacing retained filtered fluid through the space between the first outer wall and the second inner wall along the fluid flow path into the filtered fluid receiving container
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for recovering retained filtered fluid are provided.