Universal outlet for filter units

• US 6,319,236 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: Böck, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US09/187,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 604/240, 604/403, 604/405, 604/406, 604/190, 604/199, 604/533, 604/534, 604/535, 604/241, 604/242, 604/243, 604/236, 604/237, 604/238, 604/252, 604/256, 604/905, 128/912
• US Class Current: 604/240
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3145 Filters incorporated in syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/34 Constructions for connecting the needle , e.g. to syringe nozzle or needle hub connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4015 Bayonet connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/00 Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2205 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4077 by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1427 Positive displacement, piston, peristaltic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/247 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

Filter device comprising a filter housing, a filter disposed in the filter housing, an inlet, and an opposed outlet spaced from the inlet, wherein the outlet comprises an extension from the housing, the extension extending longitudinally in the direction of fluid flow and comprising at least a first section having a minimum outer diameter and a second section downstream from the first section and having a terminal end having a maximum outer diameter, the maximum diameter of the second section terminal end being smaller than the minimum diameter of the first section.

Claims

1. A filter unit for filtering a sample, comprising a housing for a filter having an inlet, an outlet spaced from said inlet, and a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said outlet comprising an extension extending longitudinally from said housing in the direction of fluid flow, said extension comprising at least a first section having a minimum outer diameter, said first section being dimensioned as a male luer, and a second section downstream from said first section in the direction of fluid flow and having a terminal end having a maximum outer diameter, said maximum outer diameter of said terminal end being smaller than said minimum outer diameter of said first section.

2. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein said housing has a filter having a diameter selected from the group consisting of 4 mm, 13 mm, 25 mm and 50 mm.

3. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein said inlet comprises a female luer section.

4. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein said first section of said extension is barbed.

5. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein said filter unit filters a sample, and said sample to be filtered is housed in a pipette having a terminal pipette tip, and wherein said inlet is configured to form a slip fit with said terminal pipette tip.

6. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein filtrate resulting from filtration of said sample is expelled out said outlet into a container comprising a pipette having a pipette inlet, and wherein said first section of said outlet is configured to form a slip fit with said pipette inlet.

7. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein filtrate resulting from filtration of said sample is expelled out said outlet into a container comprising a pipette having a pipette inlet, and wherein said second section of said outlet is configured to form a slip fit with said pipette inlet.

8. The filter unit of claim 1, wherein the length of said second section in the direction of fluid flow is shorter than the length of said first section in the direction of fluid flow.

9. A filtration device, comprising a housing having filter means supported therein, a fluid inlet to said housing, and a fluid outlet from said housing;

said fluid outlet comprising a male luer section having a first axial bore in fluid communication with said housing and having a minimum outside diameter, and a tip portion extending axially from said male luer section, said tip portion having a second axial bore in fluid communication with said first axial bore, said tip portion having an outside diameter smaller than said minimum outside diameter of said male luer section.

10. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein said fluid inlet comprises a female luer section.

11. The filter unit of claim 9, wherein the length of said tip portion in the direction of fluid flow is shorter than the length of said male luer section in the direction of fluid flow.

12. A method of filtering a sample, comprising:

providing a container for said sample, said container comprising a first male luer section;

providing a filter device comprising a housing having a filter, an inlet, an outlet spaced from said inlet, and a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said inlet comprising a female luer section adapted to be removably secured to said first male luer section of said container in a leakproof manner, said outlet comprising a second male luer section having a minimum outside diameter and a tip portion extending axially from said second male luer section and having a terminal end, said terminal end of said tip portion being smaller in outside diameter than said minimum outside diameter of said second male luer section;

providing a receptacle for filtrate;

placing said terminal end of said tip portion in said receptacle; and

causing said sample to flow from said container into said housing so as to be filtered by said filter and form a filtrate, said filtrate flowing through said second male luer section and said tip portion into said receptacle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said container is a syringe.

14. A filter unit for filtering a sample, comprising a housing for a filter having an inlet, an outlet spaced from said inlet, and a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said outlet comprising an extension extending longitudinally from said housing in the direction of fluid flow, said extension comprising at least a first section having a minimum outer perimeter, said first section being dimensioned as a male luer, and a second section downstream from said first section in the direction of fluid flow and having a terminal end having a maximum outer perimeter, said maximum outer perimeter of said terminal end being smaller than said minimum outer perimeter of said first section.

15. The filter unit of claim 14, wherein the length of said second section in the direction of fluid flow is shorter than the length of said first section in the direction of fluid flow.