Filter with memory, communication and pressure sensor

• US 20070240492A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: DiLeo, Anthony, Hubbard, John Dana
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/38
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/56 Wireless systems for monitoring the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/14 Pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/44 Cartridge types
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/147 Microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/22 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/102 Detection of leaks in membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/104 Detection of leaks in membrane apparatus or modules

Abstract

The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the pressure within a filter housing. A pressure sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the pressure within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the pressure sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of pressure values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read pressure values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment. In addition, integrity testing for individual filters within multi-filter configurations is possible.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring the pressure within a filter housing having at least one filtering element, comprising:

said filtering element,

a pressure sensor embedded in said filtering element, and

a transmitter, in communication with said sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage element adapted to store measurements from said sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a MEMS device, a piezoelectric device, a conductive polymer device, an elastomer device, and an ink device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter utilizes wireless communication.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor and said transmitter are provided in a single enclosure.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a wireless receiver, adapted to receive signals transmitted from said wireless transmitter.

8. A method of insuring the integrity of a filtering element, having an upstream side and an outlet, within a filter housing,

affixing a sensor, in connection with a transmitter, adapted to measure an operating parameter at the outlet of said filtering element;

pressurizing the upstream side of said filtering element to a predetermined pressure;

monitoring said parameter at the outlet of said filtering element; and

determining whether said parameter is within a predetermined range to determine integrity of said filtering element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said monitoring step is performed at regular intervals.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitter comprises and wireless transmitter and said method further comprising the step of wireless transmitting said monitored parameter to a receiver located outside of said housing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor and said parameter is pressure drop.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said sensor selected from the group consisting of a MEMS device, a piezoelectric device, a conductive polymer device, an elastomer device, and an ink device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a flow restriction is placed in the flow path and said parameter is measured across said restriction.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said upstream side is pressurized at a plurality of pressures, and said corresponding parameters are measured.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein said sensor is a direct gas flow sensor and said parameter is gas flow rate.

17. A method of maintaining a uniform flow within a filter housing, comprising:

affixing a plurality of sensors, each in communication with a transmitter, to a plurality of locations with said filter housing;

monitoring an operating parameter at said locations with said filter housing using said sensors;

comparing said monitored parameters to one another; and

regulating the flow within said filter housing in response to said comparison.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of transmitting said monitored parameter to a receiver located outside of said housing.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor and said parameter comprises pressure.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said pressure sensor is selected from the group consisting of a MEMS device, a piezoelectric device, a conductive polymer device, an elastomer device, and an ink device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said sensor comprises a flow rate sensor and said parameter comprises flow rate.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitter utilizes wireless communication and said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said filter housing comprises tangential flow filtration (TFF) devices.

24. A method of measuring the integrity of a TFF device, having a plurality of connecting ports between modules, comprising:

a. Positioning a sensor in at least one of said connecting ports;

b. Pressurizing said device to a known pressure;

c. Monitoring an operating parameter within said at least one of said connecting ports;

d. Comparing said operating parameter with a predetermined range to determine the integrity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said operating parameter is gas flow.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said operating parameter is pressure.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said sensor is a gas flow sensor.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said TFF device is pressurized to a plurality of pressures, and said corresponding operating parameters are monitored.

30. A method of measuring the liquid flow within a TFF device, having a plurality of connecting ports between modules, comprising:

a. Positioning a pressure sensor in at least one of said connecting ports;

b. Monitoring the pressure within said at least one of said connecting ports; and

c. Converting said monitored pressure into a liquid flow rate.

31. A method of measuring the liquid flow within a TFF device, having a plurality of connecting ports between modules, comprising:

a. Positioning a flow rate sensor in at least one of said connecting ports; and

b. Monitoring the flow rate through said at least one of said connecting ports.

32. A Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) device comprising at least one connecting port;

a filtering element and at least one sensor located in at least one of said at least one connecting port.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein said sensor comprises a flow rate sensor.

35. A method of determining the integrity of a particular filtering element within a multi-filter environment, comprising:

a. Positioning a first sensor to measure an operating parameter at the input side of said filtering element;

b. Positioning a second sensor to measure an operating parameter at the output side of said filtering element; and

c. Determining the integrity of said filter based on the difference between said measured parameter at said input side and said measured parameter at said output side.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said operating parameter comprises pressure and said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said operating parameter comprises flow rate and said sensor comprises a flow rate sensor.