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  Chromatography columns, systems and methodsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080017580. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates to axial chromatography columns and methods of separating one or more analytes present in a liquid from each other using such chromatography columns. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]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. [0003]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]Columns used in liquid chromatography typically comprise a tubular body enclosing the porous chromatography medium through which the carrier liquid or mobile phase flows, with separation of substances or analytes taking place between the mobile phase and solid phase of the porous medium. Typically, the porous medium is enclosed in the column as a packed bed, generally formed by consolidating a suspension of discrete particles, known as slurry that is pumped, poured or sucked into the column, usually from a central bore or nozzle located at one end of the column. The production of a stable, even bed is critical to the final separation process and optimum results are found using bores which are centrally positioned through the column end. Systems for producing such stable, even beds are known in the art and include, for example, compressing the bed by means of an end unit. [0005]Following column packing and prior to use it is necessary to install the column by connecting it to a chromatography system, usually comprising a pump, detectors and inlet and outlet manifolds. When installing the column, it is essential to avoid any draining of the column from liquid as well as to avoid introduction of air into the column and the packed bed, respectively. Furthermore, it may be necessary to purge the system employing the column of any air upstream of the column. Typically, prior art columns and systems accomplish column installation and/or purging or venting by means of a valve (a "vent" or "purge" valve) at one end of the column, usually at its base. [0006]In practice, the valve is used together with the column, which means that the column is connected and disconnected from the system upstream of the valve. For a disposable column, the introduction of such an additional valve is costly. By virtue of its position, it increases both the risk of siphoning of liquid from the column and also the likelihood of further air being introduced into the column. Furthermore, the position of the valve imposes constraints on locating the column within the laboratory and can cause problems in terms of user accessibility, since access to both the top and bottom of the column is required. [0007]JP 63293456 (Sekisui Chemicals Co.) describes a column holder to support columns having been prepared with a stationary phase and being equipped with a discharge aperture at the base and a ventilation device at the top. The column holder is designed such that on the application of gravity or a centrifugal force, to facilitate chromatographic separation of materials on the stationary phase, any surplus fluid remaining above the stationary phase can be removed without allowing air to enter the stationary phase within the column. The discharge aperture is connected to a conduit which is branched at a position that is at the same or a higher level than the upper end of the stationary phase solution and has three open ends, a first at the connection point with the discharge aperture, a second at a position above the surface level of the solution and a third located below the level of the discharge aperture. The conduit is configured such that any surplus fluid can be removed from the column through the third open end where it is collected in an acceptor vessel. [0008]Despite the high level of activity in the field of chromatography over many years there is still a need for a simple axial column that obviates the need for a vent valve or complex column holder and reduces the risk of air entering the column and/or liquid siphoning from it. To date, no axial chromatography columns are available which meet this need and/or provide improved user accessibility. Definitions [0009]Analyte" shall be defined as a substance, compound or chemical of natural or synthetic origin, or a reaction product or derivative or metabolite thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the term shall include biological molecules, such as proteins, peptides, amino acids and nucleic acids, and synthetic molecules such as drugs and/or pro-drugs. [0010]Distribution channel" refers to structures through which fluids are introduced to an enclosure or bed space for a packed bed of chromatography medium from a cross-sectional zone. [0011]A disposable column is characterized by a pre-treatment of the chromatography medium in order to reduce installation and qualification work otherwise required with non-disposable columns. As a minimum, the pre-treatment involves the formation of the bed of porous medium. Additional pre-treatment can be reduction of microbiological burden, sterilization, depyrogenation etc. [0012]Disposable column may be used as single-use columns, which means that the user is not performing cleaning regimes that require qualification (e.g. testing, validation, etc) of the packed bed before repeated use. [0013]One embodiment of a disposable column is a complete column that is delivered pre-packed with chromatography medium. [0014]Another embodiment of a disposable column consists of a first device representing a frame or vessel designed to resist pressure and load exerted on one or multiple lateral surfaces of the packed bed during operation in order to provide dimensional stability for a packed bed, and a second device, representing a container, shell, cartridge, bag or the like containing the porous medium or bed that is attached to the first device for operation. With the latter embodiment, the porous medium is contained in the secondary container and can be replaced while the frame is re-usable. In this case, the degree of compression of the porous medium required for operation may be adjusted after inserting the contained medium into the frame (see, for example US2002/0166816, Allen & Dawson and WO2005/009585, Sigma-Aldrich Co.). [0015]Level" shall be defined as a horizontal plane or specified height. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0016]The object of the invention is to provide a chromatography column which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art systems. This is achieved by the chromatography column as defined in claim 1. [0017]One advantage with such a chromatography column is that it reduces the risk of siphoning from the column. [0018]Another advantage of the invention is that it is easy and cheap to produce, compared with existing columns that required an adjacent purge valve. This is especially important when using the column as a disposable column. [0019]A further advantage of the chromatography column is that it is easier to use than conventional columns because both the first port and second port which provide an inlet and an outlet for liquids such as mobile phase are at essentially the same level or elevation above the level of the bed space on one end of the column and thus provide improved user accessibility. [0020]The simplicity of the design comprising few interconnected elements is advantageous in that it reduces the requirement for dynamic seals tightening and moving or rotating parts, as required for a (disposable) purge valve, hence decreasing the likelihood of leakage or contamination due to sanitary problems. These features are especially important for disposable columns comprising a reduction of microbiological burden during preparation (production) of the column, as well as to maintain those conditions during storage and shipping of the column. Continue reading... Full patent description for Chromatography columns, systems and methods Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Chromatography columns, systems and methods patent application. 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