Systems, apparatus and methods for vacuum filtration

• US 7,798,333 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foxx Life Sciences
• Original Assignee: Roush Life Sciences, LLC
• Inventors: Zuk, Peter Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cecil; Terry K
• Application Number:
  US11/516,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 422/101, 422/102, 422/104, 422/103, 248/94, 248/154, 210/406, 210/248, 210/250, 210/416.1, 210/241, 210/473, 210/474, 210/455, 435/308.1
• US Class Current: 210/406
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/204 Systems for applying vacuum to filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/085 Funnel filters; Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/4077 by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1053 for separating part of the liquid, e.g. filters, extraction phase

Abstract

A liquid filtering system and methods for filtering are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a filtering apparatus having a receiving receptacle coupled with an adapter. The adapter has an adapter port for receiving a vacuum and an interface for coupling with an output receptacle that receives filtered liquid from the filtering apparatus. The adapter is between the receiving receptacle and output receptacle when the output receptacle is coupled with the adapter interface. The system also includes a base having a substantially rigid housing containing an internal vacuum channel terminating at a base vacuum delivery port. The adapter is couplable with the base to connect the adapter port to the base vacuum delivery port.

Claims

1. A liquid filtering system comprising:

a filtering apparatus having a receiving receptacle coupled with an adapter having an adapter channel terminating at a generally planar surface defining an adapter port for receiving a vacuum, the adapter port being substantially unmovable relative to any part of the adapter channel, the adapter also having an interface for removably coupling with an output receptacle for receiving filtered liquid from the filtering apparatus, the adapter being configured to couple between the receiving receptacle and output receptacle; and

a base suspending the receiving and output receptacles and having a substantially rigid housing containing an internal vacuum channel terminating at a base vacuum delivery port, the base vacuum channel terminating at a generally planar surface defining the base vacuum delivery port, the base vacuum delivery port being substantially unmovable relative to the base vacuum channel,

the adapter being removably couplable with the base to connect the adapter port to the base vacuum delivery port and to suspend the receiving and output receptacles,

the adapter configured so that the adaptor port generally planar surface abuts the base vacuum delivery port generally planar surface to fluidly connect the base vacuum delivery channel and the adapter channel.

2. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein the filtering apparatus also comprises a cell culture medium filter for filtering a liquid received by the receiving receptacle.

3. The system as defined by claim 1 further comprising the output receptacle coupled with the adapter interface.

4. The system as defined by claim 3 wherein the output receptacle comprises threads that mate with corresponding threads in the interface.

5. The system as defined by claim 1 further comprising the output receptacle coupled with the adapter interface, the base having a bottom portion, the base suspending the output receptacle above the bottom portion to form a gap therebetween.

6. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein the housing defines the vacuum channel.

7. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein at least one of the adapter port and the base vacuum delivery port comprises a gasket.

8. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein at least one of the filtering apparatus and base has two registration details that prevent the filtering apparatus from rotating relative to the base, the registration details being configured to provide a registration coupling in a manner that connects and substantially locks the base vacuum delivery port with the adapter port.

9. The system as defined by claim 8 wherein the filtering apparatus has a first aligning detail, the base having a second aligning detail, the first and second aligning details being in registry while the base is coupled with the adapter to align the base vacuum delivery port with the adapter port.

10. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein the base has a vacuum receiving port for receiving a vacuum from an external source, the internal vacuum channel being between the vacuum receiving port and the base vacuum delivery port.

11. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein the receiving receptacle comprises a funnel.

12. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein the receiving receptacle is an integral part of the adapter.

13. A liquid filtering system comprising:

a filtering apparatus having a receiving receptacle coupled with an adapter, the adapter including a vacuum channel terminating at a port defined by a generally planar surface;

an output receptacle for receiving filtered liquid from the filtering apparatus; and

a substantially rigid base couplable with the adapter, the base having a coupling portion configured to suspend the filtering apparatus and output receptacle, the coupling portion having a base vacuum channel terminating at a base vacuum port defined by a generally planar surface, the coupling portion fluidly connecting the base vacuum channel of the coupling portion and the output receptacle by abutting the generally planar surfaces while suspending the output receptacle.

14. The system as defined by claim 13 wherein the base has a bottom portion, the output receptacle being spaced from the bottom portion.

15. The system as defined by claim 13 wherein the vacuum channel is contained substantially entirely within the base, the vacuum channel connecting with the adapter to provide a vacuum.

16. The system as defined by claim 13 wherein the output receptacle is removably couplable with the filtering apparatus.

17. The system as defined by claim 13 wherein the base is removably couplable with the adapter.

18. The system as defined by claim 13 wherein the filtering apparatus and base are configured to provide a registration coupling in a manner that connects the vacuum channel with the adapter.

19. The system as defined by claim 13 wherein the receiving receptacle is an integral part of the adapter.

20. A liquid filtering system comprising:

a filtering apparatus having a receiving receptacle coupled with an adapter, the adapter having an adapter vacuum channel terminating at an adapter port positioned at a substantially fixed location relative to the adapter vacuum channel, the adapter port being defined by an exterior, generally planar surface of the adapter vacuum channel;

an output receptacle for receiving filtered liquid from the filtering apparatus; and

a substantially rigid base having a rigid coupling portion with a base vacuum channel, the coupling portion being configured for removably supporting and suspending the receiving and output receptacles and having a support port that terminates the base vacuum channel, the support port being defined by an exterior, generally planar surface of the base vacuum channel,

the filtering apparatus and coupling portion having corresponding registration details for forming a registration fit that substantially locks the filtering apparatus to the coupling portion, the registration fit also aligning and abutting the adapter port and the support port generally planar surfaces, the adapter port and abutting support port generally planar surfaces together forming a seal that fluidly connects the adapter vacuum channel with the base vacuum channel.

21. The system as defined by claim 20 wherein the details comprise a protrusion and a corresponding recess.

22. The system as defined by claim 20 wherein the filtering apparatus and base are in registry when oriented in the manner that connects the vacuum channel with the adapter.

23. The system as defined by claim 20 wherein the adapter is upstream of the output receptacle.

24. The system as defined by claim 20 wherein the base has a housing, the base vacuum channel is substantially entirely within the housing.

25. The system as defined by claim 20 wherein the receiving receptacle is an integral part of the adapter.

26. A filtering assembly for use with a substantially rigid base having a base vacuum channel, the assembly comprising:

a receiving receptacle;

an output receptacle; and

an adapter having an adapter body coupled with the receiving and output receptacles and having an adapter port defined by a generally planar surface at the terminal end of an adapter vacuum channel,

the adapter being coupled with the base and having a first registration detail and a second registration detail for orienting the adapter in a manner that connects the base vacuum channel with the adapter port, the registration details substantially locking the adapter to the base to fluidly connect the base vacuum channel and adapter port and suspending the receiving and output receptacles, the first registration detail being spaced from the second registration detail about the body of the adapter to substantially prevent rotation of the adapter when in registry with the base.

27. The filtering assembly as defined by claim 26 wherein the registration detail comprises at least one of a protrusion and a recess.

28. The filtering assembly as defined by claim 26 wherein the base has a plurality of base registration details, the first and second registration details complimentarily mating with at least two of the base registration details while coupled with the base.

29. The filtering assembly as defined by claim 26 further comprising a filter sealed to the receiving receptacle.

30. The assembly as defined by claim 26 wherein the receiving receptacle is an integral part of the adapter.

31. A support base for supporting a filtering apparatus coupled with an output receptacle, the filtering apparatus having a filtering apparatus port, defined by a generally planar surface at the terminal end of a vacuum channel of the filtering apparatus, for receiving a vacuum, the support base comprising:

a substantially rigid housing containing a base vacuum channel terminating at a base vacuum delivery port defined by a generally planar surface; and

a support configured for suspending the filtering apparatus and output receptacle,

the support having a first base registration detail and a second registration detail for orienting the filtering apparatus in a manner that connects the base vacuum channel with the filtering apparatus port, the first and second registration details configured to substantially lock the filtering apparatus to the support to connect the base vacuum channel to the filtering apparatus port while the support supports the filtering apparatus, the first and second registration details substantially preventing rotation of the filtering apparatus when in registry, the first and second registration details being spaced apart on the base, the registration details also abutting the base vacuum delivery port with the filtering apparatus port while substantially locked to fluidly connect the filtering apparatus vacuum channel and the base vacuum channel, the support being upstream of at least a portion of the output receptacle while supporting the filtering apparatus.

32. The base as defined by claim 31 wherein the base registration details comprises one of a protrusion and a recess.

33. The base as defined by claim 31 wherein the vacuum channel is substantially entirely within the housing.

34. The base as defined by claim 31 further including a vacuum receive port for coupling the base vacuum channel with an external vacuum source.

35. A support base for supporting a filtering apparatus coupled with an output receptacle, the filtering apparatus having a filtering port for receiving a vacuum, the filtering port being defined by a generally planar surface at the terminal end of a filtering apparatus vacuum channel, the support base comprising:

a substantially rigid housing substantially entirely containing a base vacuum channel having a base port defined by a generally planar exterior surface at the end of the base vacuum channel, the housing forming a support for removably supporting the filtering apparatus, the support forming an interior containing at least a portion of the base vacuum channel, the base vacuum channel being connected to the filtering port in an abutting relationship of the generally planar surfaces while the support supports the filtering apparatus; and

the support being upstream of the output receptacle while the support couples with the filtering apparatus to suspend the output receptacle,

wherein the support has a plurality of base registration details for orienting the filtering apparatus in a manner that connects the base vacuum channel with the filtering port.

36. The base as defined by claim 35 further comprising a bottom portion, the output receptacle being spaced from the bottom portion when the support couples with the filtering apparatus.

37. A liquid filtering system comprising:

a filtering apparatus having a receiving receptacle for receiving a fluid and a vacuum channel terminating at a port defined by a generally planar surface;

an output receptacle removably coupled with the filtering apparatus; and

a substantially rigid base having a coupling portion with a base vacuum channel terminating at a base port defined by a generally planar surface, the coupling portion being removably couplable with the filtering apparatus to abut the generally planar surfaces to provide a vacuum to the receiving receptacle, the coupling portion suspending the filtering apparatus and output receptacle while the vacuum is provided to the receiving receptacle and the output receptacle is coupled with the filtering apparatus,

the coupling portion of the base being upstream of the output receptacle.

38. The system as defined by claim 37 wherein the filtering apparatus has a plurality of spaced apart registration details, the base having corresponding registration details for orienting the filtering apparatus in a manner that fluidly connects the vacuum channel with the filtering apparatus, the registration details of the base and filtering apparatus substantially preventing movement of the filtering apparatus when coupled with the base.