Method for securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of a chromatography column and a chromatography column

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9278296-B2
Application number	US-201113990160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2011
Priority date	Nov 29, 2010
Publication date	Mar 8, 2016
Grant date	Mar 8, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of a chromatography column without the need for releasable fixing means as screws or bolts. The invention also relates to chromatographic columns utilizing such methods. The method employs a negative pressure or vacuum that is generated internally within the column to affix the distributor to the backing plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of an adaptor assembly of a chromatography column comprising:
providing the distributor plate and the backing plate of the adaptor assembly and a base assembly;
wherein the distributor plate and the backing plate of the adaptor assembly have an air pocket therebetween;
wherein the base assembly and the adaptor assembly have a cavity therebetween;
wherein the adaptor assembly is movable within the cavity of the chromatography column;
wherein the air pocket is in fluid connection with the cavity via an adapter passage in the distributor plate of the adaptor assembly; and
wherein the chromatography column comprises an adapter port putting the cavity in fluid connection with an exterior of the chromatography column;

closing fluid communication through the adapter port and through the adapter passage; and
moving the adaptor assembly within the cavity so that an internal vacuum is created between the distributor plate and the backing plate.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
closing the adapter port;
opening the adapter passage;
moving the adapter assembly away from the base assembly to remove air from the air pocket; and
closing the passage to secure the distributor plate to the backing plate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the face of the distributor plate in contact with the backing plate is reinforced.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the distributor plate is reinforced by ribbing.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using locating means to co-locate the backing plate and the distributor plate.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of allowing air to return to the air pocket to release the distributor plate from the backing plate.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of securing the chromatography column to the base distributor plate by generating an internal vacuum therebetween.

8. A method of securing a distributor plate to a backing plate of a base assembly of a chromatography column comprising:
providing the distributor plate and the backing plate of the base assembly and an adapter assembly;
wherein the distributor plate and the backing plate of the base assembly have an air pocket therebetween;
wherein the base assembly and the adaptor assembly have a cavity therebetween;
wherein the base assembly is movable within the cavity of the chromatography column;
wherein the air pocket is in fluid connection with the cavity via a base passage in the distributor plate of the base assembly; and
wherein the chromatography column comprises a base port putting the cavity in fluid connection with an exterior of the chromatography column;

closing fluid communication through the base port and through the base passage; and
moving the base assembly within the cavity so that an internal vacuum is created between the distributor plate and the backing plate.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
closing the base port;
opening the base passage;
moving the base assembly away from the adapter assembly to remove air from the air pocket; and
closing the base passage to secure the distributor plate to the backing plate.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the face of the distributor plate in contact with the backing plate is reinforced.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the distributor plate is reinforced by ribbing.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising using locating means to co-locate the backing plate and the distributor plate.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of allowing air to return to the air pocket to release the distributor plate from the backing plate.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of securing the chromatography column to the base distributor plate by generating an internal vacuum therebetween.

Assignees

• Ramakrishna Manoj Kumar
• Agnihotry Shashikanth
• Ge Healthcare Bio Sciences Ab

Inventors

• Ramakrishna Manoj Kumar
• Agnihotry Shashikanth

Classifications

• G01N30/6017

  Fluid distributors · CPC title

• G01N30/6047

  with supporting means; Holders · CPC title

• G01N30/6004 Primary

  end pieces · CPC title

• G01N30/6052

  body · CPC title

• Y10T29/49883

  Ribbing · CPC title