AUTOMATED PARTICULATE CONCENTRATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus for extracting an analyte from a test fluid, comprising:
- a concentration subsystem further comprising a filter having a first side and a second side, wherein the filter is selected to separate at least one analyte from the test fluid;
a test fluid input port disposed on the first side of the filter and in fluid communication with the test fluid source;
a test fluid output port disposed on the second side of the filter;
a plurality of backflush subsystems in fluid communication with the concentration subsystem, wherein the backflush subsystem further includesa liquid backflush in fluid communication with the second side of the filter;
an air backflush comprising an air source in fluid communication with the first side of the filter;
said backflush subsystem adapted to remove at least one analyte from the filter thereby providing a sample, anda sample output disposed on the first side of the filter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system for concentrating potentially harmful substances from various water types or other non-viscous liquids to facilitate detection of those substances is disclosed herein. The automated system comprises a water pressure driven or pump driven concentration unit that filters the test fluid through a hollow-fiber filter. Material collected on the filter is backflushed into a collection vessel by passing a small volume of sterile solution through the filter in the reverse direction. The automated system can be configured to be portable or to be integrated into a continuous liquid stream for online monitoring of test fluids. Optionally, an electronic signal at the end of the backflush sequence triggers a detector, such as an automated array biosensor, to begin processing and analyzing the sample.
38 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for extracting an analyte from a test fluid, comprising:
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a concentration subsystem further comprising a filter having a first side and a second side, wherein the filter is selected to separate at least one analyte from the test fluid; a test fluid input port disposed on the first side of the filter and in fluid communication with the test fluid source; a test fluid output port disposed on the second side of the filter; a plurality of backflush subsystems in fluid communication with the concentration subsystem, wherein the backflush subsystem further includes a liquid backflush in fluid communication with the second side of the filter; an air backflush comprising an air source in fluid communication with the first side of the filter; said backflush subsystem adapted to remove at least one analyte from the filter thereby providing a sample, and a sample output disposed on the first side of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of extracting an analyte from a test fluid, comprising the steps of:
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providing a test fluid source; providing a filter with a first side and a second side; collecting an analyte in the filter by passing the test fluid along a first path of travel through a filter whereby the analyte is captured in the first side of the filter; equilibrating the filter with a recovery fluid by flowing the recovery fluid in the same direction as the test fluid; removing the equilibrating recovery fluid from the filter by flowing air in the same direction as the test fluid; forming a retentate by initiating at least one backflush sequence to remove the analyte from the filter, wherein the at least one backflush sequence comprises at least one air backflush followed by a plurality of liquid backflushes; and collecting the backflush liquid as a sample. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification