Article comprising a filter pocket-plate

Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C422S091000, C422S105000, C422S105000, C435S287300, C435S292100, C435S293200, C435S299200, C435S300100, C435S301100, C436S178000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06315957

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device that is particularly useful for separating a solid support from a liquid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Filter bottom microtiter plates are widely used in conjunction with various synthesis, production and analytical processes. An illustrative filter bottom microtiter plate
100
depicted in
FIG. 1
includes a plurality of “bottomless” wells
102
, one of which is shown. A filter
106
is disposed within each well
102
near a lower end
104
. A flexible seal
108
having a capillary-sized opening
110
(i.e., about 200 microns) depends from lower end
104
.
When filter bottom microtiter plate
100
is stationary or static, the filter
106
/flexible seal
108
within each well
102
is capable of retaining both a resin
112
, such as a 50-1000 micron solid support as is often used for solid-phase synthesis, and a liquid
114
. Under acceleration, such as when filter bottom microtiter plate
100
is centrifuged, filter
106
/flexible seal
108
pass liquid
114
but retain resin
112
.
Filter bottom microtiter plates have been used in conjunction with solid-phase synthesis methods. Solid-phase synthesis involves linking a first chemical “base structure” molecule to a solid support media and subsequently adding, seriatim, chemical building blocks, or, alternatively, effecting chemical structural changes to the base structure (e.g., ring opening or closing). The base structure molecule participates in one or more reaction steps with the added chemical building blocks. Chemical compounds derived from the base structure molecule are thereby generated.
Each chemical compound, and its base structure molecule precursor, is typically attached to the solid support media via a cleavable linker that covalently links the chemical compound to the support media. For assay purposes, the various chemical compounds are usually removed from the support media. Such removal is accomplished by cleaving the linker, such as by exposure to long-wave ultraviolet light. The cleaved chemical compounds are typically eluted into a solvent that is recovered.
The elution operation may be carried out in wells
102
of filter bottom microtiter plate
100
. To separate liquid
114
(e.g., solvent) from the solid support media
112
, plate
100
is accelerated, such as by centrifuging. Such acceleration drives liquid
114
through filter
106
/flexible seal
108
. The solid support media is retained by the filter.
While filter bottom microtiter plate
100
provides satisfactory performance, it has a relatively complex structure. Such complexity is reflected in the cost of such plate, which can reach $10.00 per plate. The art would thus benefit from a simpler filter plate design that is less costly to implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method and an article for segregating solid support media or other solids, from liquid, while at the same time maintaining such solids and liquid in intimate contact as may be required for various processing or chemical operations.
In an illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present teachings, such an article comprises a plate having a plurality of holes. A mesh-like or foraminous material projects through each hole such that a “pocket,” akin to a pocket of a billiards table, is formed within each hole. Each of such pockets (hereinafter “filter pockets”) comprises an amount of mesh suitable for retaining a small quantity of solid material.
In use, the aforedescribed plate/filter pockets (hereinafter “filter pocket plate”) engages a vessel having one or more wells suitable for retaining liquid and for receiving the filter pockets of the filter pocket plate. In one embodiment, the filter pockets are advantageously arrayed in a standard pattern that complements the location of wells in a standard multi-well plate so that the filter pocket plate can be used therewith. The filter pockets contain a solid material that is to be exposed to the liquid in the well. After exposure, the solid material is readily removed from the liquid by simply disengaging the filter pocket plate, which retains the solid support media, from the vessel, which retains the liquid.
In an illustrative application, the filter pocket plate provides a means for solid phase synthesis. In such an application, a filter pocket plate is engaged to a multi-well plate. The filter pockets receive solid support media useful for solid phase synthesis. The mesh comprising the filter pockets is suitably selected to retain the solid support media. Liquid comprising one or more chemical building blocks for reacting with a reactive functionality on the solid support media, or comprising a solvent for eluting a compound that has resulted from such a reaction, is in intimate contact with the solid support media. Such liquid typically passes freely between the filter pocket and the surrounding well.
At various stages during synthesis, or after synthesis is completed, it may be desirable to separate the solid support media from the liquid. This can be done by manually disengaging the filter pocket plate, which retains the solid support media, from the multi-well plate. As desired, the filter pocket plate can be readily re-engaged to the multi-well plate to effect further contact between the solid support media and the liquid. Moreover, once the filter pocket plate is disengaged from the multi-well plate, it can be engaged to additional multi-well plates for exposure different liquids.
In a further embodiment, which is useful for both the illustrative solid-phase synthesis application or other applications, the present invention further includes disengagement means for “automatically” separating the filter pocket plate from an engaged vessel. The disengagement means are advantageously actuated via an accelerative force, such as may be provided by a centrifuge.
In one embodiment, the disengagement means comprises two arms that are rotatably supported at a fulcrum providing a “scissors-type” lifting mechanism. Upper ends of the arms abut and underlie a portion of a filter pocket plate that is engaged to a vessel. Under acceleration, the arms rotate in opposite directions about the fulcrum, whereby the upper ends of the arms “rise” (i.e., the “scissors” close). As the upper ends of the arms rise, the overlying filter pocket plate is lifted off of the cooperating vessel. A locking means prevents the disengaging means from returning the filter pocket plate to the vessel when acceleration is reduced.
The present filter pocket plate is disposable and far less expensive than conventional filter bottom microtiter plates.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4427415 (1984-01-01), Cleveland
patent: 4631211 (1986-12-01), Houghten
patent: 4895706 (1990-01-01), Root et al.
patent: 4948564 (1990-08-01), Root et al.
patent: 5039493 (1991-08-01), Oprandy
patent: 5116496 (1992-05-01), Scott
patent: 5141719 (1992-08-01), Fernwood et al.
patent: 5223133 (1993-06-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5227137 (1993-07-01), Monti et al.
patent: 5741462 (1998-04-01), Nova et al.
patent: 5925732 (1999-07-01), Ecker et al.
patent: 5939024 (1999-08-01), Robertson
patent: 5961926 (1999-10-01), Kolb et al.
patent: 6103199 (2000-08-01), Bjornson et al.
patent: 6117397 (2000-09-01), Antonenko et al.
patent: 6159368 (2000-12-01), Moring et al.

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