Stepped Occlusion Peristaltic Pump for Protein Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small-scale protein processing systems face significant protein damage due to increased surface area to volume ratio, leading to insoluble aggregates and cloudiness in solutions, making it difficult to mimic larger scale systems for evaluating protein robustness and stability, especially in cross-flow filtration applications.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump with a stepped occlusion plate and adjustable sprung rollers or occlusion plate, combined with silicone/PTFE composite tubing, minimizes protein damage by reducing tubing deformation and pulsation, and optimizing the compression and decompression of tubing to minimize mechanical stress on proteins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If small-scale protein processing systems are used, then rapid process development is enabled, but protein damage increases due to increased surface area to volume ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the tubing system by introducing a stepped occlusion plate with specific compression zones and using sprung rollers/occlusion plate with adjustable force. These parameter changes reduce the mechanical stress applied to proteins during pumping, thereby reducing protein damage while maintaining small-scale system productivity for rapid process development
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of compression force through sprung rollers or sprung occlusion plate that can adjust the force applied to the tubing. This dynamic adjustment allows optimization of the balance between achieving sufficient tubing compression for pumping and minimizing excessive compression that would cause protein damage, enabling small-scale systems to better mimic large-scale conditions
2Productivity
If peristaltic pump with high compression force is used, then pumping efficiency is improved, but protein damage increases due to mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compression parameter by introducing a stepped occlusion plate that creates specific compression zones with controlled pressure distribution. The sprung rollers/occlusion plate further allow dynamic adjustment of compression force, enabling sufficient pumping efficiency while minimizing protein damage through optimized mechanical stress parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The stepped occlusion plate segments the compression process into distinct zones (initial compression zone, constant compression zone, decompression zone) with different compression levels. This segmentation allows the system to achieve effective pumping in the constant compression zone while reducing overall mechanical stress on proteins compared to uniform high compression
3Object-affected harmful factors
If tubing deformation is reduced, then protein damage is minimized, but pumping capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compression parameter distribution along the tubing by using a stepped occlusion plate with varying compression zones. This allows sufficient local deformation in the constant compression zone for effective pumping while limiting overall tubing deformation and stress on proteins, resolving the contradiction between pumping capability and protein damage
Solution Approach 2:
The sprung rollers or sprung occlusion plate provide dynamic compression force that adapts to tubing properties and flow conditions. This dynamic control enables sufficient tubing deformation for pumping capability while preventing excessive deformation that would cause protein damage, maintaining the balance between pumping performance and protein stability
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
The solution effectively reduces protein damage, minimizes pulsation, prolongs tubing life, and allows for the assessment of protein robustness and protective factors, enabling small-scale systems to mimic larger scale conditions, thus facilitating the evaluation and optimization of protein processing.
Implementation Method 1
A peristaltic pump with a pump head for cross-flow comprises a stepped occlusion plate and at least one pump roller
Implementation Method 2
The tubing deforms significantly by the force of the rollers of a peristaltic pump. The tubing internal tube surfaces may stretch 30% as the pump rollers pass
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to devices and methods for improving and evaluating stability of pumped protein solutions in cross-flow filtration applications. Inter alia, the present invention provides a peristaltic pump for cross-flow filtration having a pump head, wherein the pump head comprises a stepped occlusion plate and at least one pump roller, wherein a tubing is to be arranged between the stepped occlusion plate and the at least one pump roller, wherein the stepped occlusion plate has a specific configuration.