Underdrain for filtration membrane
View Patent ↗A device and method for removal of liquid from the downstream side of a membrane or a well, such as a well of a multiwell plate. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a wicking structure, which channels droplets of liquid away from a membrane in communication with a plurality of wells. In the preferred embodiment, the wicking structure is placed in a manifold.
1. Apparatus, comprising, in combination:
a sample preparation device for preparing a liquid sample, comprising a plurality of sample reservoirs, a common filtrate collection chamber, a membrane between each of said plurality of sample reservoirs and said filtrate collection chamber and having an upstream side and a downstream side, and a wick positioned downstream, in the direction of fluid flow, of said membrane and in said filtrate collection chamber, such that a gap between said downstream side of said membrane and said wick is formed, said gap accommodating the formation of liquid droplets on said downstream side of said membrane as a result of said liquid sample flowing from each of said plurality of sample reservoirs through said membrane, said wick comprising an array of spaced ribs, each rib in said array being positioned to contact said droplets in said gap, combine said droplets from a plurality of said sample reservoirs, and direct said droplets away from said membrane and to waste via said common collection chamber; and
a source for providing a driving force for causing said liquid sample to flow from said sample reservoirs through said membrane.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said membrane has a surface, and wherein said surface is hydrophobic.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said gap is less than 5 mm.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said driving force is selected from the group consisting of gravity, positive pressure and vacuum.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wick is housed in said collection chamber.
6. A sample preparation device for filtering a liquid sample, comprising:
a plurality of sample reservoirs;
a membrane in fluid communication with each of said sample reservoirs, said membrane having a surface;
a vacuum manifold in fluid communication with each of said sample reservoirs for driving said liquid sample in each of said sample reservoirs through said membrane to form respective sample filtrates, said sample filtrates forming filtrate droplets on said membrane surface; and
a wicking structure in said vacuum manifold positioned downstream, in the direction of fluid flow, of said membrane such that a gap between said membrane and said wick devoid of structure is formed, said gap accommodating the formation of said filtrate droplets on said membrane surface as a result of said liquid sample flowing from each of said plurality of sample reservoirs through said membrane, said wick contacting said filtrate droplets and for directing said filtrate droplets to waste via a common collection chamber, said wick comprising an array of spaced ribs, wherein each rib in said array is positioned to contact and combine droplets from a plurality of said sample reservoirs.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said driving force is positive pressure.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said driving force is vacuum.
9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said driving force is gravity.