Regulated vacuum off-gassing of gas filter for fluid processing system and related methods

• US 10,059,916 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Nephi D., Brau, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/249,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 95 19, 95 22, 95214, 95226, 96333, 96337, 96340, 96342, 553851
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0005 with one or more auxiliary substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0036 Flash degasification the other groups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2271/02 Gaskets, sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0002 Casings; Housings; Frame constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2414 End caps including additional functions or special forms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/446 by pressure measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/58 connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/00 Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation B01D8/00 takes precedence; condensers F28B
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/26 flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/04 Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/20 Degassing; Venting; Bubble traps means for collection or storage of gas C12M23/36; gas collection apparatus for laboratory use B01L5/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/14 Incubators; Climatic chambers per se B01L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/40 of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00

Abstract

A method for filtering a gas includes delivering a gas into a compartment of a gas filter, the compartment being at least partially bounded by a casing comprised of a flexible sheet of polymeric film. A partial vacuum is applied to the gas filter so that the partial vacuum assists in drawing the gas through a porous filter body of the gas filter that is at least partially disposed within the compartment of the gas filter.

Claims

1. A method for filtering a gas, the method comprising:

delivering a gas into a compartment of a gas filter assembly, the compartment being at least partially bounded by a casing comprised of a flexible sheet of polymeric film; and

applying a partial vacuum to the gas filter assembly so that the partial vacuum assists in drawing the gas through a porous filter body of the gas filter assembly that is at least partially disposed within the compartment of the gas filter assembly.

2. The method for filtering as recited in claim 1, further comprising sparging the gas through a liquid within a compartment of a container prior to delivering the gas into the compartment of the gas filter assembly.

3. The method for filtering as recited in claim 2, wherein the container comprises a flexible, collapsible bag.

4. The method for filtering as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically regulating the application of the partial vacuum based on a pressure reading of the gas upstream of the gas filter assembly.

5. The method for filtering as recited in claim 2, further comprising regulating the application of the partial vacuum based on a sensed value for gas pressure within the container.

6. The method for filtering as recited in claim 2, wherein the liquid comprises a culture that includes media and cells or microorganisms suspended therein and the container comprises a bioreactor.

7. The method for filtering as recited in claim 1, further comprising passing gas through a condenser assembly to remove moisture from the gas prior to delivering the gas into the compartment of the gas filter assembly.

8. The method for filtering as recited in claim 7, wherein the condenser assembly comprises a flexible bag through which the gas is passed.

9. The method for filtering as recited in claim 2, wherein the filter body of the gas filter assembly has a pore size of 0.22 micometers (μ

m) or smaller.

10. The method for filtering as recited in claim 1, further comprising maintaining a pressure differential between a gas intake port of the gas filter assembly and a gas exhaust port of the gas filter assembly in a range between 0.5 kPa and 50 kPa, the gas exhaust port having the partial vacuum applied thereto.

11. The method for filtering as recited in claim 1, further comprising activating a heating element secured to the gas filter assembly to heat the gas passing through the gas filter assembly.

12. The method for filtering as recited in claim 1, wherein the casing of the gas filter assembly comprises a flexible, collapsible bag.

13. A system for filtering a gas comprising:

a container having a compartment configured to hold a liquid;

a first gas filter assembly coupled with the container so that a gas can pass from the compartment of the container to the first gas filter assembly, the first gas filter assembly comprising;

a casing comprised of a flexible polymeric film bounding a compartment; and

a first filter body being at least partially disposed within the compartment of the casing; and

a first vacuum pump coupled with the first gas filter assembly so that when the first vacuum pump is activated a partial vacuum is produced that assists in drawing gas from the container through the first gas filter assembly.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the container comprises a flexible, collapsible bag.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the casing of the first gas filter assembly comprises a flexible, collapsible bag.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a pressure sensor positioned to sense a gas pressure within the compartment of the container; and

a computer processor in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and the first vacuum pump.

17. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a pressure sensor positioned to sense a gas pressure within the compartment of the container;

a control valve disposed in fluid communication between the first gas filter assembly and the first vacuum pump; and

a computer processor in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and the control valve.

18. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a second vacuum pump coupled with the first gas filter assembly.

19. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a condenser assembly coupled with the container so that gas passing from the container to the first gas filter assembly passes through the condenser assembly, the condenser assembly comprising:

a condenser bag coupled with the container and the first gas filter assembly; and

a condenser panel disposed adjacent to the condenser bag and coupled with a chiller.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first filter body has a pore size of 0.22 micometers (μ

m) or smaller.