A device for separating one or more molecules of interest in a liquid specimen including a monolithic body defining a fractionation column. The column includes an inlet opening at a proximal end of the fractionation column; an outlet opening at a distal, opposite end of the fractionation column; a solid phase chamber positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; a specimen introduction area adjacent a proximal end of the solid phase chamber; an analyte exit area adjacent a distal end of the solid phase chamber; an inlet chamber adjacent the inlet opening that tapers into the specimen introduction area; and an outlet chamber that extends from the analyte exit area to the outlet opening. A metered amount of solid phase packed within the solid phase chamber between a first porous frit and a second porous frit of the solid phase chamber.

Chromatography apparatus and methods are described, especially for expanded bed adsorption. A column tube has a process fluid input device at the bottom and a movable piston in the top. The piston is enclosed in the column by a cover plate. The piston body has an inflatable seal, and is connected by a frame to a contact ring which carries another inflatable member to contact the tube wall. Process fluid leaves the operating volume through an opening of the piston and flexible hose, through the enclosed space and out through the cover plate. The space above the piston can be pressurised to control piston movement. The contact ring maintains piston alignment. The inflatable seals are used to fix the piston in position, allow it to slide or allow washing. The piston outlet may include a vortex-inhibitor. Bed and piston levels may be monitored by ultrasound sensors.

In some examples, a filter assembly may include a filter including a first gasket having a first channel adjacent to a first side of the filter and a second gasket having a second channel adjacent to a second side of the filter. The first gasket and the second gasket may include a beveled surface adjacent to the filter. The first channel and the second channel may include a diameter of from about 0.01 mm to about 0.5 mm. A finger tightening system may securely hold the filter without any leaks.

A liquid chromatography column, utilizing horizontal or radial flow of sample material passing there through, includes a housing defining a chamber therein, at least one removable screw lid, and first and second longitudinally extending porous frits positioned within the chamber. A bed or packing of particulate, chromatographic separation material is positioned within the chamber and intermediate the porous frits, the first of the porous frits being adjacent the housing and an inlet channel, the second of the porous frits being positioned adjacent a core member and an outlet channel. A distributor is operatively connected to the inlet channel, and a collector is connected to the outlet channel. The distributor and the inlet channel are constructed to direct associated material to be separated in the bed evenly across a longitudinal length of the bed in a horizontal direction.

The invention discloses a method for individually assessing the cleanness of at least one of an upper (2) and a lower (3) bed support in a process column (1). The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a process column (1) comprising an upper (2) and a lower (3) bed support, a column chamber, a movable adaptor (5), an upper outlet (6) and a lower outlet (7); b) conveying liquid through one of the lower (3) and upper (2) bed supports, e.g. by moving the adaptor (5) downwards at a predetermined rate with one of the upper and lower outlets closed and the other open to force liquid through one of the lower and upper bed supports, and; c) measuring the differential pressure over the bed support through which liquid passes.

Methods and systems for chromatography are disclosed that employ a flexible container configured to fit within a support structure and adapted to receive a filtration or absorptive medium. The flexible container can include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a separation barrier peripherally sealed within the container to separate the container into a resin containing portion and a drainage portion. The barrier can be configured to exclude the resin material from the drainage portion while allowing fluids to pass therethrough. The disposable chromatography system can further include one or more agitators disposed within the flexible container and adjustably configured to be raised or lowered in the flexible container. When the agitator is in the raised position, the resin packing material can operate in a settled, packed-bed configuration. Alternatively, the agitator in the lowered position permits the chromatography resin packing material to operate in a mixed, slurry configuration.

Chromatography apparatus and methods are described, especially for expanded bed adsorption. A column tube has a process fluid input device at the bottom and a movable piston in the top. The piston is enclosed in the column by a cover plate. The piston body has an inflatable seal, and is connected by a frame to a contact ring which carries another inflatable member to contact the tube wall. Process fluid leaves the operating volume through an opening of the piston and flexible hose, through the enclosed space and out through the cover plate. The space above the piston can be pressurised to control piston movement. The contact ring maintains piston alignment. The inflatable seals are used to fix the piston in position, allow it to slide or allow washing. The piston outlet may include a vortex-inhibitor. Bed and piston levels may be monitored by ultrasound sensors.

A cylindrical column body (101) holds a filler. A pair of end caps (105, 106) covers both ends of the column body (101) and has a flow hole for a carrier liquid (111, 112) arranged in the center thereof. An end surface on the side of a large diameter portion (113a, 114a) of a pair of columnar joint members (113, 114) contacts an end surface of the pair of end caps (105, 106) and also has a communication hole (115, 116) arranged in the center thereof. A sealing member (117, 118) is arranged on a contact surface between the end cap (105, 106) and the joint member (113, 114). A bottomed cylindrical case (121) accommodates the pair of end caps (105, 106) and a large diameter portion of the pair of joint members (113, 114) in an engaged state. A cover member (124) is detachably installed on a side of an opening of the case (121).

Herein is reported the use of a chromatography column support comprising at least one plane of symmetry, one axis of symmetry, at least three legs, at least three straight connectors, whereby the connectors define a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the support, whereby the connectors are connected to each other at the axis of symmetry, whereby each leg is connected to a connector, whereby each leg is perpendicular to the plane defined by the connectors, whereby all legs are on the same side of the plane defined by the connectors for stabilizing the packing of a chromatography column.

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that includes obtaining a porous medium comprising a porous material having a first shape and an initial porosity profile. The porous medium is engaged with a cavity in a fluidic device, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with a channel of the fluidic device. The first shape of the porous material can be adjusted to a second shape resulting in the initial porosity profile being adjusted to a target porosity profile. Such adjustment can be accomplished by the engaging of the porous medium with the cavity, by pre-adjusting a shape of the porous media before insertion into the cavity, or by some combination thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.