Method of insuring the integrity of a filtering element

• US 8,084,259 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: DiLeo, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, In Suk
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, DENNIS MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/315,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 73/38, 73/407, 731/522.5, 731/147.7, 73/7, 738/614.2, 422/68.1, 422/119, 422/82.05, 422/82.06, 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 422/82.09, 422/82.11, 422/83, 435/7.93, 436/3, 436/164, 436/149, 156/306.6, 174/47, 204/428, 210/178, 210/198.1, 210/636, 210/639, 210/650, 210/652, 210/739, 210/741, 210/85, 210/90, 235/385, 235/491, 250/302, 250/343, 285/93, 310/328, 324/663, 324/698, 340/10.2, 340/522, 340/539.12, 340/607, 340/853.3, 340/854.1, 340/854.8, 356/438, 702/188, 702/50
• US Class Current: 436/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7509 for virus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/08 Specific process operations in the concentrate stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/14 Pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/246 Concentration control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/60 integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/22 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/104 Detection of leaks in membrane apparatus or modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0618 of the filter type G01N15/0643 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/084 Testing filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00811 consumable or exchangeable components other than sample carriers, e.g. detectors, flow cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/905 Protein
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention describes a system for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system allows the operator to certify the integrity of the filters within the filter housing at the customer site without additional equipment. In one embodiment, a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen, is added to a carrier and injected into the system. The concentration of tracer gas at a specific operating transmembrane pressure is indicative of bubble pointing specific pores in the filter. This test will give a more sensitive indication of the bubble point and the presence of defects than a standard diffusion test. In a second embodiment, two gasses, in a known ratio, are introduced into the filter housing.

Claims

1. A method of insuring the integrity of a filtering element within a filter housing, comprising:

embedding a concentration sensor, in connection with a transmitter, in the downstream side of said filtering element;

wetting said filtering element;

introducing, at a specific operating transmembrane pressure, a tracer gas into said filter housing;

monitoring the concentration of said tracer gas at the downstream side of said filtering element using said sensor; and

comparing said concentration to a predetermined range to determine integrity of said filtering element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring step is performed at regular intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter and said method further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting said monitored concentration to a receiver located outside of said housing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a solid state gas sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensor is protected by a hydrophobic filter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitter utilizes wireless communication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises an RFID tag.

8. A method of insuring the integrity of a filtering element within a filter housing, comprising:

affixing one or more concentration sensors, in connection with at least one transmitter, on the downstream side of said filtering element;

wetting said filtering element;

introducing, at a specific operating transmembrane pressure, two gasses in a known ratio into said filter housing, wherein said two gasses diffuse through said filtering element at different rates;

monitoring the concentration of said two gasses at the downstream side of said filtering element using said sensors; and

comparing the ratio of said monitored concentrations to said known ratio 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 a wireless transmitter and said method further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting said monitored concentrations to a receiver located outside of said housing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said sensor comprises a solid state gas sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said sensor is protected by a hydrophobic filter.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitter utilizes wireless communication.

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

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said concentration sensors are embedded in said filter element.