U.S. patent application number 15/533439 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-23 for pump system for inline conditioning.
The applicant listed for this patent is GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES AB. Invention is credited to Thomas Erik Arctaedius, Bjorn Markus Olovsson.
Application Number | 20170335832 15/533439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54850211 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170335832 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Olovsson; Bjorn Markus ; et
al. |
November 23, 2017 |
Pump System for Inline Conditioning
Abstract
A pump system is disclosed. The pump system includes a cavity
(102) comprising one or more inlet check valves (120, 122) and one
or more outlet check valves (124, 126). A piston (104) having an
enlargement (106) at a substantially middle portion of the piston
(104). The piston (104) is capable of moving within the cavity
(102) for forming a first chamber (116) and a second chamber (118),
wherein up movement of the piston (104) the volume in the first
chamber (112) is increased and simultaneously the volume in the
second chamber (118) is decreased and vice versa.
Inventors: |
Olovsson; Bjorn Markus;
(Uppsala, SE) ; Arctaedius; Thomas Erik;
(Marlborough, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES AB |
UPPSALA |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
54850211 |
Appl. No.: |
15/533439 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 17, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/080224 |
371 Date: |
June 6, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 5/02 20130101; F04B
13/02 20130101; F04B 9/042 20130101; F04B 9/045 20130101; F04B 9/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 5/02 20060101
F04B005/02; F04B 9/04 20060101 F04B009/04; F04B 13/02 20060101
F04B013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 2014 |
GB |
1422588.2 |
Claims
1. An inline conditioning system comprising: a pump system
comprising: a cavity comprising at least one inlet check valve and
at least one outlet check valve; and a piston having an enlargement
at a substantially middle portion of the piston, wherein the piston
is capable of moving within the cavity for forming a first chamber
and a second chamber and receiving a solution within the cavity,
wherein upon movement of the piston the volume in the first chamber
is increased and simultaneously the volume in the second chamber is
decreased and vice versa.
2. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the piston
have a first extension and a second extension at opposite ends of
the enlargement, the first extension and the second extension
having smaller configuration compared to the enlargement.
3. The inline conditioning system of claim 2 further comprising: a
driving unit connected to the first extension for moving the
piston; and a resilient unit connected to the second extension for
retrieving the position of the piston.
4. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the piston
having an extension at an end of the enlargement, the extension
having smaller configuration compared to the enlargement, the
inline conditioning system comprising a driving unit connected to
the extension for moving the piston.
5. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein movement of
the piston facilitates receiving a solution within the cavity
through an inlet check valve and supplying the solution outside the
cavity through an outlet check valve.
6. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein when the
solution is used for inline conditioning in a chromatography
system, the solution is one of acid, base, salt and buffer.
7. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein an inlet
check valve of the at least one inlet check valve is configured at
opposite orientation as compared to the orientation of an outlet
check valve of the at least one outlet check valve.
8. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein upon moving
the piston from the first chamber to the second chamber the
solution is received within the first chamber through an inlet
check valve configured at the first chamber and the solution is
supplied out from the second chamber through an outlet check valve
configured at the second chamber.
9. The inline conditioning system of claim 8, wherein upon moving
the piston from the second chamber to the first chamber the
solution is received within the second chamber through an inlet
check valve configured at the second chamber and the solution is
supplied out from the first chamber through an outlet check valve
configured at the first chamber.
10. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the piston
having an extension at the enlargement, the inline conditioning
system comprising a driving unit connected to an end of the
extension for moving the piston, wherein the driving unit is
configured to vary the motor speed for varying the speed of
movement of the piston.
11. The inline conditioning system of claim 1, wherein a buffer
preparation unit or a mixer is connected to the pump system for
receiving the solution for buffer preparation.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to supplying
solutions using a pump system. More specifically the subject matter
relates to a pump system for supplying solutions for inline
conditioning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Numerous pumping system and mechanisms are used for
supplying solutions for different purposes. The pumping system
includes different pumps of varying capacity for supplying
solutions at different flow rates. In current systems each pump is
driven by a driving unit which makes the system complex for
functioning and bulky.
[0003] Chromatography is a well-established and valuable technique
for separating chemical and biological substances and is widely
used in research and industry, finding many applications in
compound preparation, purification and analysis. There are many
different forms of chromatography, liquid chromatography being of
particular importance in the pharmaceutical and biological
industries for the preparation, purification and analysis of
proteins, peptides and nucleic acids. A typical liquid
chromatography apparatus has an upright housing in which a bed of
packing material, which is usually particulate in nature and
consists of a porous medium, rests against a permeable retaining
layer. A liquid mobile phase enters through an inlet, for example
at the top of the column, usually through a porous, perforated
filter, mesh or frit, moves through the bed of packing material and
is removed via an outlet, typically through a second filter, mesh
or frit.
[0004] In many cases it is important to obtain liquids of precisely
known composition and/or other characteristics, such as pH, ionic
strength, viscosity, density etc. It is further not uncommon that
the composition of the liquid should not only be at each moment
precisely known and controlled, but also should vary with time in a
precise and controlled manner Such liquids are usually obtained by
mixing or blending two or more liquids with each other, typically
using a blending system, usually an on-site blending system, which
may provide for both isocratic and gradient blending modes (step
gradient and linear gradient). One application where the
composition of liquids is of utmost importance is in the field of
liquid chromatography, when buffers having a specified pH and
optionally also ionic strength are utilized, the pH and ionic
strength of the eluent being the two most important parameters that
control selectivity of protein separations in chromatography, such
as on ion exchange resins. Another such application is
filtration.
[0005] The current systems include usage of multiple pumps for
supplying solutions for inline conditioning in a chromatography
system. Each pump may have a multiple pump head and may be driven
by a driving unit per pump head. The driving unit operates the pump
to supply solutions for instance buffer solution to a
chromatography column for purifying and separation of numerous
proteins. However multiple driving units for each pump render the
system more bulky and complex in operation.
[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for an improved pump system for
supplying solutions for chromatography.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the invention is to provide an improved way of
pumping and supplying solutions, which overcomes one or more
drawbacks of the prior art. This is achieved by an improved pump
system having multiple pumps driven by one motor for supplying
solutions for as defined in the independent claim.
[0008] One advantage with the disclosed pump system is that it has
multiple pumps that can be driven by a single motor per pump for
supplying solutions. In this pump system a single piston is
configured to operate the flowing in of the solutions through inlet
pumps and flowing out of the solutions through outlet check valves.
The piston may be operated by one driving unit which renders the
pump system to be simple in construction and operable with ease.
Further in an inline conditioning application in chromatography the
pump system facilitates efficient inline dilution and purification
of proteins.
[0009] In an embodiment a pump system is disclosed. The pump system
includes a cavity comprising one or more inlet check valves and one
or more outlet check valves. A piston having an enlargement at a
substantially middle portion of the piston. The piston is capable
of moving within the cavity for forming a first chamber and a
second chamber, wherein up movement of the piston the volume in the
first chamber is increased and simultaneously the volume in the
second chamber is decreased and vice versa.
[0010] In another embodiment an inline conditioning system is
disclosed. The inline conditioning system includes a pump system
includes a cavity including one or more inlet check valves and one
or more outlet check valves. A piston present in the system has an
enlargement at a substantially middle portion of the piston. The
piston is capable of moving within the cavity for forming a first
chamber and a second chamber, wherein up movement of the piston the
volume in the first chamber is increased and simultaneously the
volume in the second chamber is decreased and vice versa. When the
piston moves a solution is filled into the cavity and
simultaneously some solution is also supplied out from the cavity.
The pump system is connected to buffer preparation unit configured
to receive solution for buffer preparation.
[0011] A more complete understanding of the present invention, as
well as further features and advantages thereof, will be obtained
by reference to the following detailed description and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a pump system for
supplying solutions according to an embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a pump system having a
piston moving towards a first chamber in a cavity for supplying
solutions according to an embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a pump system having a
piston moving towards a second chamber in a cavity for supplying
solutions according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a pump system having a
piston moving within a cavity and connected to a driving unit and a
resilient unit according to an embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a pump system having a
piston connected to an eccentric drive unit according to an
embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a pump system having
an extension at one end of the piston according to an embodiment;
and
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates an inline conditioning system according
to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing
from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed
description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of
the invention.
[0020] As discussed in detail below, embodiments of a pump system
is disclosed. The pump system includes a cavity comprising one or
more inlet check valves and one or more outlet check valves. A
piston having an enlargement at a substantially middle portion of
the piston. The piston is capable of moving within the cavity for
forming a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein up movement
of the piston the volume in the first chamber is increased and
simultaneously the volume in the second chamber is decreased and
vice versa.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a pump system 100 for supplying solutions
according to an embodiment. The pump system 100 includes a cavity
102 within which a piston 104 moves to and fro. The piston 104 may
have an enlargement at a substantial middle portion. In an
embodiment the piston 104 may have a middle portion 106 (i.e. the
enlargement) with a larger dimension and extensions 108 and 110
provided at both sides of the middle portion 106. The extensions
108 and 110 may have a smaller dimension as compared to the middle
portion 106. In an embodiment the middle portion 106 may have a
larger circumference or perimeter as compared to circumference or
perimeter of the extensions 108 and 110. The middle portion 106 and
the extensions 108 and 110 may have cylindrical structure. In other
embodiments the middle portion and the extensions 108 and 110 may
have any other structures such as but not limited to a cuboid,
cube, hexahedron and so on. In an embodiment the extensions 108 and
110 may have different structural configuration such as different
dimensions. For instance the extension 108 may have a larger
dimension as compared to the extension 110. Alternatively the
extension 108 may be longer as compared to the extension 110. The
extensions 102 and 110 may pass through and extends out of the
cavity 102 at two ends as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0022] The piston 104 may be connected to an end by a driving unit
112 for driving the piston 104. More specifically the driving unit
112 is connected to an end 114 of the extension 108 for driving the
piston 104. The driving unit 112 drives the piston 104 to move in a
to and fro manner within the cavity 102. In an embodiment the
driving unit 112 may rotate the piston 104 and simultaneously move
it in a to and fro manner. When the piston 104 moves, a first
chamber 116 and a second chamber 118 are formed within the cavity
102.
[0023] The cavity 102 may have one or more inlet check valves and
one or more outlet check valves. For example the cavity 102 may
have an inlet check valve 120, an inlet check valve 122, an outlet
check valve 124 and an outlet check valve 126. While the piston 104
moves within the cavity 102 a solution flows into and out of the
cavity 102 through these check valves. The inlet check valves 120
and 122 are capable of receiving the solution into the cavity 102
shown by arrows 128 and 130. Further the outlet check valves 124
and 126 are capable of supplying the solution from the cavity 102
shown by the arrows 132 and 134. The inlet check valves 120 and 122
are configured at opposite orientation as compared to the outlet
check valves 124 and 126. For instance the cavity 102 may have the
inlet check valves 120 and 122 arranged at one side of the cavity
102 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Whereas the outlet check valves 124
and 126 are configured at another side i.e. an opposite side of the
cavity 102 as compared to the inlet check valves 120 and 122.
[0024] During operation the piston 104 may move from the second
chamber 118 to the first chamber 116 so that volume in the second
chamber 118 increases and volume in the first chamber 116 decreases
as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the piston 104 moves towards the
first chamber 116 a suction pressure is created within the second
chamber 118 and an expelling pressure is created in the first
chamber 116. In an embodiment sealing such as sealing 136 may be
provided in the cavity 102 so that solution from these chambers
does not leak between the chambers i.e. the first chamber 116 and
the second chamber 118. The sealing 136 may be arranged at a
substantial middle portion of the cavity 102. In another embodiment
the sealing 136 may be configured to move along with the piston 104
within the cavity 102. It may be noted that the circular or ring
shaped seal 136 is merely exemplary and hence seals may have other
structural configuration and dimension. Consequently the solution
enters through the inlet check valve 122 into the second chamber
118 and the solution present in the first chamber 116 passes out
through the outlet check valve 124. The inlet check valve 122 and
the outlet check valve 124 may be arranged in opposite sides of the
cavity 102. In an embodiment the inlet check valve 122 and the
outlet check valve 124 may be arranged in a diagonally opposite
manner along the sides of the cavity 102 as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The inlet check valve 122 and the outlet check valve 124 may be in
a closed position. In an embodiment each of the outlet check valve
124 and the inlet check valve 120 may be configured to close and
open for allowing the solution to flow in and flow out of these
pumps. The outlet check valve 124 and the inlet check valve 122 may
be in a closed position. In other embodiments the inlet check valve
120 and the outlet check valve 124 may be configured in any other
manner for allowing the solution to flow in and out of the cavity
102.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the movement of the piston 104 from the
second chamber 118 to the first chamber 116 according to an
embodiment. During movement of the piston 104 volume in the second
chamber 118 increases and volume in the first chamber 116 decreases
as illustrated in FIG. 3. According to an embodiment the volume
formed in the first chamber 116 and the volume formed in the second
chamber 118 are the same. At this stage the second chamber 118 may
be filled with the solution as explained in conjunction with FIG.
2. When the piston 104 moves towards the second chamber 118 a
suction pressure is created in the first chamber thereby enabling a
solution to flow into the first chamber 116 through the inlet check
valve 120. Further the solution in the second chamber 118 is
supplied out through the outlet check valve 126 from the cavity
102. The inlet check valve 122 and the outlet check valve 124 may
be in a closed position.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates the piston 104 connected to the driving
unit 112 and a resilient unit 402 according to an exemplary
embodiment. The piston 104 is operated by the driving unit 112. The
driving unit 112 is connected to an end 114 of the extension 108.
The driving unit 112 moves the piston 104 to move from the first
chamber 116 to the second chamber 118. At this stage as explained
in conjunction with FIG. 3 the solution is received within the
first chamber 116 through the inlet check valve 120. Further the
solution in the second chamber 118 is supplied or expelled out
through the outlet check valve 124. Now the piston 104 moves from
the second chamber 118 to the first chamber 116 with the help of
the resilient unit 402. In an embodiment the resilient unit 402 may
include a piston head connected to a spring arrangement. The piston
head may be an end 404 of the extension 110 which is connected to
the resilient unit 402. The end 404 of the extension 110 may be an
open end where the resilient unit 402 is connected. The driving
unit 112 may have the power to compress the spring arrangement for
moving the piston 104. Similarly the spring arrangement may have
the strength to expand to move the piston 104 to suck liquid
through the inlet check valve 122 and to press the liquid through
the outlet check valves 124. In an embodiment the spring
arrangement may be a coil spring that connects to the end 404. In
another embodiment the spring arrangement may be connected to other
end of the piston 104 if the piston 104 has a flange where it is
connected to a driving unit. The spring arrangement compresses when
the piston 104 moves from the first chamber 116 to the second
chamber 118. The spring arrangement decompresses or expands to move
the piston 104 to move from the second chamber 118 to the first
chamber 116. During the movement the solution in the first chamber
116 is pumped out and solution is sucked into the second chamber
118. The spring arrangement may be configured to move the piston
104 at the same speed and magnitude equivalent to the speed and
magnitude associated with movement of the piston 104 driven by the
driving unit 112. The spring arrangement may be a helical spring or
any other spring arrangement configured to facilitate the movement
of the piston 104.
[0027] In an embodiment the spring arrangement may be in a fixed
position and thus it compresses and expands to facilitate the
movement of the piston 104. The spring arrangement may be removably
coupled to the end 404 of the piston 104. For instance the spring
arrangement may be coiled around the end 404. Even though only one
spring arrangement is present connected to the end 404. However it
may be envisioned that the multiple springs can be engaged with the
end 404 for moving back the piston 104 after being driven by the
driving unit 112. The spring arrangement described as the resilient
unit 402 is according to an exemplary embodiment and hence it may
be noted that the resilient unit 402 can be any mechanical or
electromechanical or pneumatic arrangement that can act as a
resilient unit to facilitate the to and fro motion of the piston
104 within the cavity 102.
[0028] Now moving on to FIG. 5 illustrating a pump system 500
having a piston 104 operated by a driving unit 502 according to an
exemplary embodiment. The driving unit 502 may be an eccentric
drive unit. The end 114 of the extension 108 is connected to the
driving unit 502 and the other end 404 may be connected to a
resilient unit 402. The resilient unit 402 may be but not limited
to a spring arrangement. The driving unit 502 connected to the end
114 is configured to move the piston 104 from the first chamber 116
to the second chamber 118. As shown in FIG. 5 the driving unit 502
is configured to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction for moving
the piston 104 from the second chamber 118 to the first chamber
116. . The pulsations from the total flow out from the two chambers
is held as low as possible by varying the motor speed during the
stroke. For this eccentric design the lowest pulsations may be
achieved by having a substantially higher motor speed at the piston
end positions than in the middle of the stroke. The pulsating force
may be unbalanced shaking forces that can affect the movement of
the piston 104. Such pulsating forces may be generated in case to
and fro movements of the piston 104 are not in the same speed and
magnitude. Due to driving the piston 104 at higher speed, to and
fro movement of the piston 104 may be made uniform i.e. the volume
developed in the first chamber 116 and the volume formed in the
second chamber 118 may become same. Consequently the amount of
solution received within the first chamber 116 and the amount of
solution received within the second chamber 118 are equal. Moreover
the flow rate of the solution moving out of the outlet pump 124 and
the outlet pump 126 may be the same due to adjusting the speed and
magnitude of operation of the driving unit 112.
[0029] In an alternate embodiment the driving unit 502 may be a cam
unit. In this case the movement of the piston 104 may be adjusted
based on a cam profile of the driving unit 502. The cam profile may
have multiple profiles that can facilitate the movement of the
piston 104. It may be noted that the driving unit 502 may have
different structural and functional configuration for facilitating
the movement of the piston 104 without limiting from the scope of
the disclosure.
[0030] Moving now to FIG. 6 illustrating a pump system 600 having a
piston 602 operated by a driving unit 604 according to an exemplary
embodiment. The piston 602 in this embodiment may have only one
extension such as an extension 606. The piston 602 may also have an
enlargement 608 with a larger dimension as compared to the
extension 606. An end 610 of the extension 606 is driven by the
driving unit 604. The driving unit 604 may be a driving unit that
can operate the piston 602. The piston 602 moves from the second
chamber 118 to the first chamber 116 in response to be driven by
the driving unit 604. The enlargement 608 gets positioned in the
second chamber 118. Here the solution in the first chamber 116 is
expelled out and solution is received into the second chamber 118.
Thereafter the piston 602 moves from the first chamber 116 to the
second chamber 118 in response to being pulled by the driving unit
604. Here the enlargement 608 moves into the second chamber 118. In
this stage the solution in the second chamber 118 is expelled out
and solution is received into the first chamber 116. In FIG. 6, it
may be noted that the two pump chambers (i.e. the first chamber 116
and the second chamber 118) may not have equal volume pumped per mm
piston stroke by the piston 602. In such a scenario the driving
unit 604 is configured to vary its motor speed so that speed of
movement of the piston 602 can be varied. Thus change in volume of
the chambers may be compensated by having a higher motor speed when
a chamber with the smaller pump effect is delivering the solution.
However the inlet flow to the pump in this case may not be stable
but that may not be significant.
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates an inline conditioning system 700
according to an exemplary embodiment. The inline conditioning
system 700 includes the pump system 100 including the cavity 102
within which the piston 104 moves to and fro. The piston 104 may
have an enlargement at a substantial middle portion. In an
embodiment the piston 104 may have a middle portion 106 with a
larger dimension and extensions 108 and 110 provided at both sides
of the middle portion 106. The extensions 108 and 110 may have a
smaller dimension as compared to the middle portion 106. The piston
104 may be connected to an end by the driving unit 112 for driving
the piston 104. More specifically the driving unit 112 is connected
to the end 114 of the extension 108 for driving the piston 104. The
driving unit 112 drives the piston 104 to move in a to and fro
manner within the cavity 102. When the piston 104 moves, a first
chamber 116 and a second chamber 118 are formed within the cavity
102. The piston 104 during it's to and fro motion moves from the
first chamber 116 to the second chamber 118. This is explained in
detail in conjunction with FIG. 1.
[0032] The cavity 102 may have one or more inlet check valve and
one or more outlet check valve. For example the cavity 102 may have
an inlet check valve 120, an inlet check valve 122, an outlet check
valve 124 and an outlet check valve 124. While the piston 104 moves
within the cavity 102 a solution flows into and out of the cavity
102 through these check valves. The inlet check valves 120 and 122
are capable of receiving the solution into the cavity 102 shown by
arrows 128 and 130. The inlet check valves 120 and 122 are
connected to a container 702 and a container 704. 0020Further the
outlet check valves 124 and 126 are capable of supplying the
solution from the cavity 102 shown by the arrows 132 and 134. The
outlet check valves 124 and 126 are connected to the buffer
preparation unit 706. The solutions supplied through the outlet
check valves 124 and 126 are supplied to the buffer preparation
unit 706. The buffer preparation unit 706 receives the solutions to
prepare the desired buffer solution. Based on the required buffer
solution the solutions supplied by the pump system 100 can be
varied. It may be noted that the inline conditioning system 700
described herein with respect to FIG. 7 is shown to include few
functional units but it may include multiple other functional units
that facilitates in inline conditioning without limiting from the
scope of this disclosure.
[0033] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the above
pump system is that it has multiple check valves that can be driven
by a single motor each for supplying solutions. In this pump system
a single piston is configured to operate the flowing in of the
solutions through inlet check valves and flowing out of the
solutions through outlet check valves. The piston may be operated
by one motor which renders the pump system to be simple in
construction and operable with ease. Further in an inline
conditioning application in chromatography the pump system
facilitates efficient inline dilution and purification of proteins.
Further the number of driving units used here is less as compared
to current systems and driven using single piston and motor. These
pump systems provided herein is free of any pulsating forces as
compared to current systems having multiple pumps which is affected
by pulsating forces. The pump system provided has uniform flow rate
accuracy that facilitates in efficient inline dilution or
conditioning in a chromatography system. The pump system is also
simple in construction and cost efficient.
[0034] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any computing system or systems and performing any
incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is
defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to
those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be
within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements
that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if
they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial
differences from the literal language of the claims.
* * * * *