Repligen Corporation

The present disclosure relates to hollow fiber tangential flow filter units, including hollow fiber tangential flow depth filter units, for various applications, including bioprocessing and pharmaceutical applications, systems employing such filters, and methods of filtration using the same.

A self-contained filtration assembly with a self-contained filtration cassette therein. The cassette may be formed from one or more layers membranes and spacers (spacers, screens, or combinations thereof) all having the same general shape. The cassette may have a feed inlet path and a retentate outlet path extending through the layers of the cassette within the perimeter of the cassette, and a permeate outlet path between the cassette exterior and the interior of the cassette housing. The housing may have a generally circular or elliptical cross-section. A clamping assembly may hold together the components of the housing, and may be elongated in a direction along the flow path of the feedstream through the cassette. Various port-defining zones defined in the layers of the cassette may be sealed in a manner facilitating assembly of the cassette as well as isolation of the flow paths therein.

A compact light source for coupling to a movable optic probe may include a light emitting diode (LED), to generate a probe signal at a first bandwidth, an optic coupler, disposed adjacent to the LED, and arranged to couple the probe signal into the movable probe, and a narrow bandpass filter disposed to receive the probe signal at the first bandwidth, and to output the probe signal into the movable probe at a second bandwidth, less than the first bandwidth.

Systems include a chromatography column tube having an inlet and outlet and port assembly arranged in a wall of the column tube between flow distributors that together form a chamber within the tube that is filled with packing medium are described. The port assembly facilitates the removal of resin from the pre-packed column and the port assembly does not affect fluid flow in the normal use of the column for chromatographic separation or ability to maintain sanitary conditions within the column. Also described are methods that include attaching tubing to a pump and to a column inlet and a column outlet, opening the port assembly, attaching tubing to the port assembly and to a second reservoir, and pumping aqueous solution from a reservoir into the chamber and out through the port assembly into the second reservoir, thereby removing packing medium from the column along with the flowing aqueous solution.

A method includes determining whether a variation in probe radiation intensity meets a stability criterion; directing the probe radiation through a probe, when the probe is disposed at a first position, defining a first path length L 1 of the probe radiation through the fluid sample; measuring a transmitted intensity I 1 of the probe radiation after passing through the fluid sample when the probe is disposed at the first position; directing the probe radiation through the probe when the probe is disposed at a second position, defining a second path length L 2 of the probe radiation through the fluid sample; measuring a transmitted intensity I 2 of the probe radiation after passing through the fluid sample when the probe is disposed at the second position; and determining a concentration C of a material in the fluid sample based upon L 1 , I 1 , L 2 , and I 2 , when the stability criterion is met.

A system may include a light source, to generate a probe signal, comprising incident radiation; an optical probe, to direct the incident radiation through a fluid sample; a motor, to move the optical probe along a probe axis, to change a path length of the incident radiation through the fluid sample; and a detector, to receive the incident radiation as attenuated radiation after passing through the fluid sample. The system may include a control system, arranged to: initiate an absorbance measurement by directing movement of the optical probe along the probe axis; direct the light source to emit the incident radiation; and automatically adjust at least one measurement parameter of a set of measurement parameters for the sample measurement, based upon a slope parameter m, wherein m is derived from a rate of change in an intensity of the attenuated radiation with a change in the path length.

Fluid management systems for handling pressurized fluid connect various subsystems or subunits without the need to use reinforced tubing. The system utilizes one or more segments of unreinforced conduit that are encapsulated at various points along a length of the segment with one or more rigid encapsulating members. The unreinforced conduit may be made a disposable element while the rigid encapsulating members may be re-used. In one aspect, the encapsulating member may include a two-part valve body that surrounds and encapsulates a portion of the unreinforced conduit. In another aspect, the encapsulating member may include a two-part jacket that surrounds and encapsulates a portion of the unreinforced conduit. The two-part valve bodies and two-part jackets may be joined at various points within the system as part of the overall flow system.

A valve assembly with a multidirectional flow path includes a valve body that includes respective hinged portions defining respective passageways extending through the valve body when in a closed state. A flexible conduit or tubing having a loop portion and a plurality of branches extending from the loop portion is at least partially positioned within the valve body. Portions of the loop that extend beyond the valve body are encapsulated by respective rigid jackets. Multiple valves are situated on the valve body and are used to selectively pinch the loop portion in different pinching configurations to direct fluid to or from the particular branches. The valve assembly may be integrated into a manufacturing or other production process with optional additional jackets used to encapsulate the flexible conduit branches.

A fluid filtration system includes a fluid storage vessel such as a bioreactor, a filter housing including a filter element disposed therein, a pump coupled between the fluid storage vessel and the filter housing, and a flow diverter disposed between the pump and the filter housing. The pump is configured to move fluid from the fluid storage vessel through the filter element, and the flow diverter is configured for selectively directing fluid received from the pump to the first or second end of the filter housing. In a first mode of operation, the flow diverter directs flow through the filter housing in a first direction, while in a second mode of operation, the flow diverter directs flow through the filter housing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A system may include a light source, to generate a probe signal, comprising incident radiation; an optical probe, to direct the incident radiation through a fluid sample; a motor, to move the optical probe along a probe axis, to change a path length of the incident radiation through the fluid sample; and a detector, to receive the incident radiation as attenuated radiation after passing through the fluid sample. The system may include a control system, arranged to: initiate an absorbance measurement by directing movement of the optical probe along the probe axis; direct the light source to emit the incident radiation; and automatically adjust at least one measurement parameter of a set of measurement parameters for the sample measurement, based upon a slope parameter m, wherein m is derived from a rate of change in an intensity of the attenuated radiation with a change in the path length.