Filtration Container Sloping Retentate Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtration containers for concentrating macromolecules, such as proteins, face challenges in achieving complete sample recovery due to the design of the retentate chamber, which leads to significant percentage losses during the ultrafiltration process.
Innovation Solution
The retentate chamber is designed with a sloping bottom and a rounded transition to facilitate complete sample recovery, featuring an inclined angle between 5° and 30°, and is made from chemically inert polystyrene to prevent protein binding, with conically widening filtrate channels to enhance flow and collection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retentate chamber is provided as a dead-stop pocket to prevent sample from running dry, then sample protection is improved, but sample recovery is worsened due to significant losses in the dead volume
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the retentate chamber is designed with a rounded transition instead of a sharp corner, creating a curved surface that facilitates complete sample evacuation. This curvature eliminates dead volumes where sample would be trapped, enabling practically complete recovery while maintaining the protective function of the retentate chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The retentate chamber features an asymmetric design with a sloping bottom that is inclined at an angle between 5° and 30° relative to the horizontal lower edge of the filter window. This asymmetric geometry directs the concentrated sample toward a specific exit region, optimizing both protection during filtration and complete recovery during retrieval.
2Ease of manufacture
If the retentate chamber has vertical walls, then manufacturing is simplified, but sample recovery is worsened due to sample adhesion to chamber walls
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded transition at the bottom of the retentate chamber creates a curved surface that reduces sample adhesion compared to sharp corners. This curvature design maintains manufacturing feasibility while significantly improving sample recovery by preventing sample from being trapped in dead volumes.
3Device complexity
If the filter window is horizontal, then structural simplicity is maintained, but sample recovery is worsened due to incomplete drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The filter window is inclined at an angle between 5° and 30° relative to the horizontal plane. This asymmetric orientation, combined with the sloping chamber bottom, creates a gravity-assisted drainage system that directs the concentrated sample toward the exit region, enabling complete recovery while adding minimal structural complexity.
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
This configuration allows for practically complete recovery of the concentrated sample, minimizing losses and ensuring chemical inertness for accurate results.
Implementation Method 1
Macromolecules, especially protein samples, are concentrated in a volume range of 500 μl to 20 ml in filtration containers, which are inserted into a filtrate collection tube and concentrated in centrifugal units using the ultrafiltration method.
Implementation Method 2
concentrated in centrifugal units using the ultrafiltration method
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a filtration container for concentrating macromolecules, which can be inserted into a filtrate collection tube (5). The filtration container has an upper section (2), a center section (3) which axially adjoins the upper section (2), and a lower section (4) which axially adjoins the center section (3), the upper section (3) defining a sample container (7) which has the shape of a hollow cylinder and the upper end face (8) of which has an inlet opening (9). The center section (3) tapers towards the bottom and has a filtration chamber (11) comprising two opposite main walls (12, 13) which converge downwards, at least one of the main walls (12, 13) comprising a filter window (16) for accommodating a flat membrane filter (17) and the lower section (4) defining a retentate chamber (21) which adjoins the lower edge (18) of the filter window (16), the bottom (26) of the retentate chamber (21) sloping unilaterally.