FR2482866A1 - FILTRATION DEVICE FOR CONCENTRATING A LIQUID ENVIRONMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

FILTRATION DEVICE FOR CONCENTRATING A LIQUID MEDIUM. A POROUS MEMBRANE 6, ON A PERFORATED SUPPORT 7 8 IS MOUNTED DIAGONALLY SO AS TO DIVIDE A TRANSPARENT ENVELOPE 1, 2 INTO A 15 LOWER CHAMBER, OBTAINING THE FILTRATE, OF WHICH THE UPPER PART 4 HAS AN OUTPUT 9, 10 THAT CAN BE CONNECTED TO A SUCTION DEVICE, AND INTO A CHAMBER 14 FOR FORMING A CONCENTRATE, WITH LOWER PART 3 IN THE SHAPE OF A FUNNEL, THE COVER OF WHICH IS BORED WITH AN OPENING 5 OBTURABLE 16. MARKS 12, 12 INDICATE THE LIQUID LEVEL. APPLICATION: RAPID OBTAINING, IN THE LABORATORY, OF A CONCENTRATE TO BE ANALYZED.

Description

The invention relates to a filtration device for the concentration of

  liquid media, in particular biological samples, in which the presumed active substance is not present in a concentration which makes it possible to study it under optimum conditions. In a known filtration device, described in patent DE-PS-2 334 375, there is immediately behind the membrane a porous layer

  and therefore absorbing and, behind this layer, another cou-

  elastic foam. The membrane and the two layers are arranged mutually perpendicular. In this fixed device, the membrane is loaded by the liquid column containing the sample introduced into the formation chamber of the concentrate. The absorbent layer guarantees the migration of the filtrate, or more precisely, the most

  much of the liquid vehicle in the sample,

  to the pores of the membrane to reach the layer

  absorbent. Thus, the filtrate as such is lost.

  The concentration process is completed when the concentrate collects in the lowest funnel-shaped zone 20 which is impermeable. The filtration process lasts several

  hours, because it depends on the absorption capacity of the

  porous and naturally also the nature of the liquid

- to filter.

  It also results for this known device

  the disadvantage of the excessive length of the fil-

  tration. In laboratory practice, we would like to

  in order to carry out rapid analyzes, it is also possible

  to quickly hold the sample at the desired concentration

  examine. For some studies, it is also desirable to

  see studying the filtrate itself or being able to use it at

very fine the filtrate obtained.

  The invention therefore aims to improve with simple means a device of the nature indicated at the beginning of this presentation, so as to allow rapid filtration and therefore a concentration of liquid samples and to

  to be able to dispose of the filtrate for other examinations.

  To solve the problem that it was thus

  posed, the present invention provides a filtering device

  intended for the concentration of liquid media and

  has a transparent envelope in which is

  a membrane which is loaded by the column of the liquid medium and divides the envelope into a formation chamber of the concentrate and into a filtrate-forming chamber. The training chamber of the concentrate is

  ends with an impervious lower zone, shaped like a

  funnel, arranged directly opposite a filling and emptying opening. In a vertical sectional view of the device of the invention, the membrane is arranged almost diagonally and divides the envelope into a lower chamber for obtaining the filtrate and a chamber

  superior concentrate formation. Near his part

  the filtrate extraction chamber has an outlet pipe that can be connected to a device

suction of the filtrate.

  According to other important characteristics of

  filtering device of the invention, the tubing of

  of the filtrate is in the form of a projection projecting from

  the outside of the envelope and comprising a duct or hollow

  ventilation. The lower or lower zone of the

  concentrate forming chamber in the form of a shrink

  allowing the introduction of a narrow pipette or

  syringe. This lowest zone of the training chamber

  The concentrate is impervious and is formed by

  a segment or piece, impervious to liquid, of the membrane.

  It can also be formed by a piece, with closed cells of the porous support of the membrane. The membrane and its

  support divide the envelope into two halves held in

  seems permanently. The opening of filling and

  emptying of the concentrate forming chamber is obtura-

  ble by a closing tab integral with the cover of the envelope. This concentrate forming chamber has markers indicating the level of liquid obtained at each moment and the concentration reached, when the volume of the liquid of the formation chamber of the

  concentrate decreased to a certain mark.

  Several envelope modules can be connected and maintained

  together by a common frame that ensures stability.

  Finally, in an alternative embodiment, the inlet of the concentrate forming chamber may be constituted by a tubing that can be connected to a source of fluid under pressure.

  Some non-limiting examples of the

  The filtration apparatus of the invention will now be described.

  in more detail, to better understand the concept of

  tif, with reference to the attached drawings in which

  FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a device

  filtration unit according to the invention;

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a range of

  laughing the device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of a group of filtration units connected and held together by a frame. The filtration unit, or the filtering device module of the invention, consists of a box-shaped envelope or closed enclosure, consisting of a part 1, forming a chamber 14 for forming a concentrate, and

  of a portion 2, forming a chamber 15 for obtaining a filtrate.

  Part 2 has a peripheral flange 11 which

  on the one hand a support for a membrane support 7 and

  shape, on the other hand, an edge allowing ultrasonic welding

  sounds or gluing the edge of part 1 of the envelope.

  The support 7 of a membrane 6 has perforations or pores 8. It can be seen in the vertical section of FIG. 1 that the membrane 6 and its support 7 are arranged diagonally inside the envelope which they divide into bedroom

  14 of the concentrate and in a chamber of obtaining

  filtrate. The membrane 6 has pores of

  it is suitable for the filtration process envisaged and is impermeable in the vicinity of a zone 3, lower or lower, of the chamber 14. This is achieved

  simple by obtaining that the segment or zone 6 'of the mem-

  brane 6 is hydrophobic. We see in Figure 1 that the area

  lower 3 is in the form of a narrowing allowing the in-

  troduction of a syringe pipette through an opening 5, filling and emptying, formed in the cover of the envelope. This opening 5 corresponds to a tongue

  16 integral part of the lid and is

ble by this tab 16.

  - In the vicinity of its upper part 4, the chamber 15 for obtaining the filtrate has a tubing 9 of

  filtrate outlet and a ventilation recess permitting

both a spill of the filtrate.

  Part 1 of the envelope has landmarks

  12 which indicate the filling level and the concentration

  reached when the volume of the liquid is lowered in the chamber 14 to reach a determined mark 12. However, the level of the liquid concentrate can only be lowered to the lowest 12 'mark or to the beginning of the

  segment or zone 6 'impermeable membrane of fil-

  tration. The outlet 9, 10 is preferably tubular in shape

  protruding lure shaped like a tip or conical nozzle of a luer syringe and is suitable for ensuring the connection

with a manual suction pump.

  The variant embodiment represented on the

  Figure 2 does not include any particular lower zone.

  In this variant, a syringe pipette is guided so as to reach the corner or lower edge, forming the lower zone 3 ', of the chamber 14, and the module or unit.

  Filtration 6, 7 thus has a slight inclination. The in-

  chamber 14 is constituted by a tubing 5 'which can be connected to a source of a fluid or agent under

  in order to speed up the process of concentrating

tration.

  Several modular filtration devices (6, 7) can be combined, as shown in the figure

  3, by a common frame 13 which improves stability.

  Manipulation for the implementation of a

  positive modular filtration according to the invention is re-

  remarkably simple. The liquid to be concentrated is introduced through the inlet opening 5, '5' in the chamber 14 to the upper mark 12. With the aid of a suction pump connected to the outlet 9, 10, a depression in the chamber, which ensures the suction of most of the liquid vehicle, which leaves the chamber 14 for forming the concentrate through the membrane 6 and the openings or perforations 8 of the support 7 to reach the chamber

  obtaining the filtrate. When the desired degree of concentration

  If this is achieved, the resulting concentrated liquid can be removed from the chamber 14. Similarly, one can withdraw

  of the chamber 15, through the outlet pipe 9, 10, the filament

obtained trat.

  The filtration device is made in one

  transparent plastic material. The simple form of this

  positive makes it inexpensive and can

  to use it only once.

  It goes without saying that, without departing from the

  vention, many changes can be made

  to the filtration device described and shown.

Claims (10)

  1. Device for filtering liquid media   to be concentrated, this device comprising a membrane (6)   posed and supported in a transparent envelope (1, 2) which is loaded by the column of the liquid medium and divides   the casing (1, 2) into a chamber (14) for forming the con-   centered and in a chamber (15) for obtaining the filtrate, the   chamber (14) ending in a lower zone (3) imper-   funnel-shaped funnel arranged directly opposite an opening (5) of einplissage and emptying, this device being characterized in that the membrane (6) is mounted in the vertical direction almost on the diagonal of the envelope (1, 2) that it divides and that the chamber (15) for obtaining the filtrate, arranged below the chamber (14) for forming the concentrate, has near its upper part (4) an outlet (9, 10)   filtrate can be connected to a suction device.   2. Filtration device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (9, 10) of the filtrate has the shape of a pipe having a recess (10) aeration   and protruding outside the casing (1, 2).   3. Filtration device according to claim   1, characterized in that the lower part (3) of the chamber   (14) for forming the concentrate is carried out in the form of a constriction allowing the introduction of a pipette syringe.   4. Filtration device according to any one   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the area   watertight (3) chamber (14) is formed by a liquid impermeable segment (6 ') of the membrane (6).   5. Filtration device according to any one   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the area   watertight (3) chamber (14) is formed by a closed-pore segment of a porous support (7) supporting the membrane (6).   6. Filtration device according to any one   claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support   (7) and the membrane (6) divide the envelope (1, 2) in two   halves (1, 2) held together durably.   7. Filtration device according to any one   claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the input   (5) of the chamber (14) for forming the concentrate is closed.   by a tab (16) forming an integral part of the cover of the envelope. -   8. Filtration device according to any one   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the chamber   (14) for forming the concentrate has reference marks (12,   12 ') indicating its degree of filling at each moment.   9. Filtration device according to any one   as in claims 1 to 8, characterized in that several   modules (1, 2) are held together by a common frame   (13) which improves the mechanical stability.   10. Filtration device according to any one   claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the input   of the chamber (14) for forming the concentrate is constituted by a tubing (5 ') which can be connected to a source of a agent or fluid under pressure. * X. - -., - '-,'. - .: