Vacuum Separation Device for Rapid Biological Sample Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-performance filtration methods, such as centrifugal ultrafiltration and miniature Tangential-Flow Filtration (TFF) systems, are inefficient and complex for concentrating biological samples, particularly for volumes between 20 ml to 1 L, requiring multiple devices, long processing times, and limited control over concentration factors.
Innovation Solution
The VacuCon concentrator employs a vacuum or pressure source to facilitate rapid ultrafiltration, using a separation device with a membrane area of 60 cm² to concentrate 50-100 mL samples to high concentration factors (up to 100-fold) without the need for centrifuges, pumps, or complex setups, allowing for walk-away operation and optional buffer exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional centrifugal ultrafiltration or miniature TFF systems are used, then separation function is achieved, but device complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of vacuum generation from complex pump systems and implements it through a simple vacuum source connected to the permeate compartment. This eliminates the need for centrifuges, peristaltic pumps, and complex control systems while maintaining the ultrafiltration function, thereby significantly simplifying device complexity and ease of operation.
2Productivity
If conventional methods are used, then separation is achieved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous ultrafiltration by maintaining constant vacuum pressure across the membrane, allowing continuous permeate flow and solute concentration in the retentate compartment. This continuous action eliminates idle times between processing steps and significantly increases productivity while reducing total processing time compared to batch centrifugal methods.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional miniature TFF systems are used, then concentration is achieved, but control over concentration factors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by monitoring the concentration process through membrane resistance changes and adjusting vacuum pressure or feed flow rate accordingly. This allows precise control over concentration factors and retentate volume, achieving manufacturing precision without requiring complex automated control systems, as the vacuum pressure can be easily adjusted to maintain optimal transmembrane pressure throughout the concentration process.
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 VacuCon concentrator enables simple, fast, and efficient concentration of biological samples, achieving high concentration factors with ease of operation and reduced equipment complexity, suitable for various applications including protein concentration and buffer exchange.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure differential source applied across the separation module... inducing permeation and fluid flow in at least one retentate channel in the separation module
Implementation Method 2
inducing permeation and fluid flow in at least one retentate channel in the separation module and consuming the fluid sample and concentrating a retained species within a retentate compartment of the separation module
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are disclosed for a separation device. A separation device includes a separation module having a separation membrane separating an interior of the separation module into a retentate compartment and a permeate compartment. The retentate compartment includes at least one retentate channel, a feed port fluidly coupled to the at least one retentate channel and a retentate port. The permeate compartment includes at least one permeate channel disposed within the permeate compartment and a permeate port fluidly coupled to the at least one permeate channel. a retentate collector fluidly connected to the retentate port. The device further includes a feed reservoir, a permeate reservoir, a fluidic gate located between the feed reservoir and the separation module, a vent located between the retentate channel and the permeate channel end adjacent the retentate port and a pressure differential source applied across the separation module.