Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Liquid/liquid solvent or colloidal extraction or diffusing...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-04-17
Kim, John (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Liquid/liquid solvent or colloidal extraction or diffusing...
C210S232000, C210S242100, C210S257200, C210S321600, C210S787000, C436S177000, C436S178000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217772
ABSTRACT:
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INVENTION
There are many devices currently available in the market for dialyzing small sample volumes. These devices require advanced preparation, including setting up before a sample can be dialyzed. A common feature of all such dialysis devices is that the sample must be transferred into the dialysis device and after dialysis the sample must be extracted from the dialysis device. Extraction, is accomplished using a pipetting device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,741 discloses one such dialysis device. Dialysis devices have also been fabricated by wrapping dialysis membranes on test tubes.
When dealing with small volume samples, one of the major problems is a loss of sample due to the transfer of samples to and from the dialysis equipment. When sample is present in such a small volume and not readily available the loss of sample becomes a critical consideration. Therefore, there is a need to develop a method and a device for dialysis that does not require the transfer of samples out of the dialyzer and which minimizes handling loss.
The present invention relates to a method and a device for the dialysis of sample in which the sample is dialyzed in a container device which can be centrifuged for collection of the dialyzed sample. The dialysis device or the part that collects the dialyzed sample can also be used to store the dialyzed sample which minimizes handling of the dialyzed sample. The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating a dialysis reservoir and a device for fabricating the dialysis reservoir.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and a device for dialysis of liquid samples. According to the present invention the liquid sample to be dialyzed is deposited into a dialysis reservoir, the dialysis reservoir has an open end, and the end opposite the open end is closed with a dialysis membrane, preferably a semipermeable dialysis membrane. The open end of the dialysis reservoir is adapted to receive a collection reservoir. The collection reservoir has an open end and the end opposite the open end is closed. The open end of the collection reservoir is adapted to receive the open end of the dialysis reservoir. Thus, the open ends of both the collection reservoir and the dialysis reservoir may be connected, engaged, mounted or brought together, either by free positioning or by screw mounting. The dialysis reservoir and the collection reservoir are adapted or designed to be subjected to centrifugal force by spinning in a centrifuge. Preferably, the collection reservoir is shaped like a centrifuge tube.
The dialysis reservoir is secured in a floatation device and floated in an appropriate dialysis buffer such that the dialysis membrane of the dialysis reservoir is in contact with the dialysis buffer. During dialysis, the collection reservoir may be either mounted, engaged or positioned on the open end of the dialysis reservoir or kept removed or separated from the open end of the dialysis reservoir.
After dialysis is complete, the dialysis reservoir is subjected to centrifugal force by positioning it in a centrifuge in the orientation which allows centrifugal migration of the dialyzed sample in the dialysis reservoir, through the open end of the dialysis reservoir, into the collection reservoir. If the collection reservoir was not positioned on the open end of the dialysis reservoir during the dialysis then the collection reservoir is positioned on the open end of dialysis reservoir prior to centrifugation of the dialysis reservoir for collection of dialyzed samples. The centrifugation allows the dialyzed sample in the dialysis reservoir to migrate into the collection reservoir for collection.
After collecting the dialyzed sample in the collection reservoir, the sample may be stored in the collection reservoir itself by placing a closure means on the open end of the collection reservoir.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dialysis reservoir has outer and inner elements, wherein the outer element sleeves over the inner element, sandwiching or securing a dialysis membrane which forms the closed end opposite the open end of the dialysis reservoir.
The depositing of the dialyzable samples into the dialysis reservoir may be achieved either by directly depositing samples into the dialysis reservoir or depositing the sample first into the collection reservoir and then allowing the sample to migrate from the collection reservoir to the dialysis reservoir, either by inverting the open end of the collection reservoir into the open end of the dialysis reservoir in which case the sample will migrate under gravity into the dialysis reservoir or by centrifugation force, i.e. centrifuging the collection reservoir. For collecting the dialyzed sample after dialysis, the assembly of the dialysis reservoir and the collection reservoir is spun in a centrifuge which allows dialyzed sample to collect into the collection reservoir.
The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating a dialysis reservoir, a device for fabricating a dialysis reservoir, a device for fabricating the dialysis reservoir of the instant invention and a dialysis device of the instant invention. The method of fabricating a dialysis reservoir comprises: forming or providing a through-hole cap, having a depending skirt so that the through-hole is defined by a narrowing lip, the inside surface of the skirt being threaded; positioning a gasket through the skirt so that it contacts the inside surface of the lip; and fastening a dialysis membrane on the gasket.
A method of fabricating a dialysis reservoir comprises: forming or providing a through-hole cap having a depending skirt so that the through-hole is defined by a narrowing lip, the inside surface of said skirt, preferably, being threaded; and positioning a gasket having a dialysis membrane mounted within the gasket through the skirt so that it contacts the inside surface of the lip.
In an alternative embodiment, the method of fabricating a dialysis reservoir comprises: forming or providing a through-hole cap having a depending skirt so that the through-hole is defined by a narrowing lip, the inside surface of said skirt, preferably, being threaded; positioning a gasket through the skirt so that it contacts the inside surface of the lip: and fastening a dialysis membrane on the gasket. Preferably, the membrane is larger in diameter that the gasket.
A device for fabricating a dialysis reservoir comprises: one or more pillars, the pillar is provided to receive a gasket and a dialysis membrane; a means to hold the dialysis membrane securely in position on top of the pillar; and a means to engage a through-hole cap on top of the pillar wherein the open end of the through-hole cap sleeve over the pillar having the dialysis membrane and the gasket so that the dialysis membrane contacts the inside surface of the narrowing lip and closes the end opposite the open end of the dialysis reservoir.
A device for fabricating a dialysis reservoir, comprising: one or more pillars, the pillar is adapted to receive a gasket and a dialysis membrane;
a means to position a sheet of dialysis membrane on top of the pillar, the dialysis membrane is secured on the structure surrounding the pillar;
a membrane cutting means to cut the dialysis membrane to size and deposit on top of the pillar; and
a pressure means to hold the dialysis membrane securely in position on top of the pillar and engage a through-hole cap defined by a skirt and a narrowing lip on top of the pillar so that the membrane contacts the inside surface of the narrowing lip.
The pillar has a diameter smaller than the open end of the through-hole cap, defined by a circumferential lip and a skirt, so that the cap sleeves freely over the pillar. The pillar may be provided with a geometrical structure to allow the gasket to be secured on top of the pillar. A sheet of dialysis membrane is positioned on top of the pillar, preferably, the sheet of dialysis membrane is held under tension on top of the pillar supported on the surrounding structure. A membrane cutting die i
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Kim John
LandOfFree
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