DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILTERING BLOOD

• US 20140134595A1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Europe GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Europe GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Kurowski, Dirk, Osterloh, Dirk, Yu, Ying
• Granted Patent: US 9,182,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502723 characterised by venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4005 by transferring a selected component through a membrane

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for filtering a liquid sample, wherein first capillary-driven filtration occurs and, after initial filling, pressure-operated filtration is performed by applying a vacuum or a positive pressure.

Claims

1. A device (1) for filtration of a liquid sample (2),

having a membrane (3) for filtering the sample (2), and

having a carrier (4) that comprises or forms a fluidic system (5) for receiving the filtered sample (2),

characterized in that

the device (1) has an associated conveying device (15) which generates a negative or positive pressure for further filtration or acceleration of the filtration only after the filtered sample (2) has reached or partly filled the fluidic system (5) as a result of capillary forces, or

the device (1) comprises a feed device (11) for the sample (2), in capillary contact with the membrane (3).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluidic system (5) comprises a receiving opening (8) arranged at least substantially centrally under the membrane (3) for receiving and draining off the filtered sample (2).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiving opening (8) opens towards the membrane (3) in an elevated region (9) of the carrier (4), the membrane (3) preferably lying on the region (9).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the region (9) is surrounded, particularly in an annular configuration, by a cover (6) of the carrier (4), the membrane (3) preferably resting loosely on the cover (6), optionally together with a receiving device (14) for the sample (2).

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that adjoining the receiving opening (8) is a receiving channel (7) which is formed by an opening in the carrier (4), the membrane (3) being directly connected to the carrier (4) at the edges and/or circumferentially and/or being accommodated in a recess (19) of the carrier (3).

6. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the carrier (4) comprises a structure (16) facing the membrane (3) for supplying the filtered sample (2) to the receiving opening (8).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane (3) preferably rests loosely on the carrier (4) or its cover (6), together with a receiving device (14) for the sample (2), connected therewith, and/or is not secured in gas-tight manner.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed device (11) is of funnel-shaped configuration.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed device (11) is arranged in a receiving device (14) for the sample (2), the membrane (3) being connected to the receiving device (14) at its edges and/or circumferentially.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)