CHROMATOGRAPHY CARTRIDGE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CHROMATOGRAPHY CARTRIDGE

• US 20070163102A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analogix Incorporated (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: DeMarco, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 8,696,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/525.140
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/22 relating to the construction of the column
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6004 end pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6091 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49604 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining

Abstract

A chromatography cartridge and method of manufacturing same. A chromatography cartridge of the present invention can include a tubular housing having an open end and an inner surface, and a plug. The plug can be positioned within the open end of the tubular housing and can have an outer circumferential surface, a substantial portion of the outer circumferential surface being fused to the inner surface of the tubular housing. A method for manufacturing a chromatography cartridge can include coupling at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular housing in response to rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing about the longitudinal axis with respect to the other of the plug and the tubular housing.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a chromatography column, the method comprising:

providing an elongated tubular housing having a first end and a second end, the first end integrally formed with the housing and including a port defining a fluid inlet, the tubular housing defining an interior space;

positioning a first frit adjacent the first end in the interior space;

filling the tubular housing with chromatography medium between the first frit and a second frit positioned adjacent the second end in the interior space; and

spin-welding a cap to the tubular housing to close the second end, the cap including a port defining a fluid outlet, the cap including an exterior surface and a plurality of radially extending ribs on the exterior surface.

2. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 1, wherein spin-welding the cap includes spin-welding a portion of the cap to an interior surface of the tubular housing.

3. The method of manufacturing chromatography column of claim 1, wherein spin-welding the cap includes spin-welding a portion of the cap to an exterior surface of the tubular housing.

4. The method of manufacturing chromatography column of claim 1, wherein spin-welding the cap includes spin-welding a portion of the cap to an exterior surface of the tubular housing and an interior surface of the tubular housing.

5. The method of manufacturing chromatography column of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a shroud at least partially in contact with an exterior surface of the tubular housing.

6. The method of manufacturing chromatography column of claim 5, wherein the shroud includes an interior surface, and further comprising spin-welding a portion of the inside surface of the shroud to the exterior surface of the tubular housing.

11. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 5, wherein the cap includes a shroud at least partially in contact with an exterior surface of the tubular housing.

12. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 11, wherein the shroud includes an interior surface, and further comprising spin-welding a portion of the inside surface of the shroud to the exterior surface of the tubular housing.

7. A method of manufacturing a chromatography column, the method comprising:

providing an elongated tubular housing having a first end and a second end, the first end integrally formed with the housing and including a port defining a fluid outlet, the tubular housing defining an interior space;

positioning a first frit adjacent the first end in the interior space;

filling the tubular housing with chromatography medium between the first frit and a second frit positioned adjacent the second end in the interior space; and

spin-welding a cap to the tubular housing to close the second end, the cap including a port defining a fluid inlet, the cap including an exterior surface and a plurality of radially extending ribs on the exterior surface.

8. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 7, wherein spin-welding the cap includes spin-welding a portion of the cap to an interior surface of the tubular housing.

9. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 7, wherein spin-welding the cap includes spin-welding a portion of the cap to an exterior surface of the tubular housing.

10. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 7, wherein spin-welding the cap includes spin-welding a portion of the cap to an exterior surface of the tubular housing and an interior surface of the tubular housing.

13. A method of manufacturing a chromatography cartridge, the method comprising:

providing an elongated tubular housing having a substantially constant cross-section along its length, the tubular housing having an open first end;

positioning a plug within the first end, the plug having a body portion and a shroud extending over the first end in a spaced-apart relationship with the body portion such that an inside surface of the tubular housing first end is in contact with the plug body portion and an outside surface of the tubular housing first end is in contact with the plug shroud;

welding the inside surface of the tubular housing first end to the plug body portion and the outside surface of the tubular housing first end to the plug shroud;

filling the tubular housing with a chromatography medium; and

positioning a porous frit between the chromatography medium and the plug.

14. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 13, wherein the tubular housing is manufactured from one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

15. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 13, wherein the plug includes a top surface having a feature for interaction with a driver of a spin-welding machine.

16. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 15, wherein the feature is one of a blind bore and a raised rib.

17. The method of manufacturing a chromatography column of claim 13, wherein welding includes spin-welding.