IP Library Granted Patent US 12,491,481
Granted Patent B2
US 12,491,481 · App. 17/127,070 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Buffer management system with manifold for bioprocessing system

Inventors: Michael B. Seal (Hampshire, GB); Matthew J. Loveless (Hampshire, GB)
Assignee: Pall Corporation
B01F23/49B01F23/405B01F33/5026B01F35/2133B01F35/22141B01F35/2217B01F35/7176B01F35/718051B01F35/7547B01D15/08B01D65/00B01F23/483B01F2101/48
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,491,481
App. No.
17/127,070
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A buffer management system includes at least one workstation configured to support a supply of concentrated buffer solution and an inline dilution skid having a manifold. The manifold is in fluid communication with the supply of concentrated buffer solution and is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a source of water for injection (WFI). The manifold includes a buffer inlet line in selective fluid communication with the supply of concentrated buffer solution, a WFI inlet line in selective fluid communication with the source of WFI, and a discharge line in fluid communication with both the buffer inlet line and the WFI inlet line. The inline dilution skid is configured to variably mix the supply of concentrated buffer solution and the source of WFI to obtain a range of diluted buffer solutions.

Claims (22)

1 . A manifold for a buffer management system, the manifold comprising:

a mixing junction;

a buffer inlet line, the buffer inlet line in fluid communication with the mixing junction;

a water for injection (WFI) inlet line, the WFI inlet line in fluid communication with the mixing junction;

a discharge line, the discharge line in fluid communication with both the buffer inlet line and the WFI inlet line via the mixing junction;

a first pump component, the first pump component disposed in the buffer inlet line, the first pump component configured to be operably arranged with a first pump motor to selectively generate a fluid displacement within the buffer inlet line;

a second pump component, the second pump component disposed in the WFI inlet line, the second pump component configured to be operably arranged with a second pump motor to selectively generate a fluid displacement within the WFI inlet line;

a buffer characteristic sensor, the buffer characteristic sensor disposed in the discharge line, the buffer characteristic sensor configured to detect a value of a buffer characteristic of a fluid in the discharge line and to generate a buffer characteristic signal indicative of the sensed value for the buffer characteristic;

wherein the buffer inlet line includes a plurality of buffer inlet ports in fluid communication therewith, the WFI inlet line includes a water port in fluid communication therewith, and the discharge line includes a plurality of buffer discharge ports in fluid communication therewith, the plurality of buffer discharge ports corresponding to the plurality of buffer inlet ports.

2 . The manifold according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer inlet line, the WFI inlet line, and the discharge line comprise tubing adapted to be selectively occluded by a pinch valve externally mounted thereto.

3 . The manifold according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a drain junction, the drain junction in fluid communication with the discharge line;

a waste line, the waste line being in fluid communication with the discharge line via the drain junction.

4 . The manifold according to claim 3 , wherein the buffer characteristic sensor comprises a first buffer characteristic sensor, the manifold further comprising:

a second buffer characteristic sensor, the second buffer characteristic sensor disposed in the waste line, the second buffer characteristic sensor configured to detect a value of the buffer characteristic of a fluid in the waste line and to generate a second buffer characteristic signal indicative of the sensed value for the buffer characteristic in the waste line.

5 . The manifold according to claim 4 , wherein the first buffer characteristic sensor and the second buffer characteristic sensor both comprise a conductivity sensor.

6 . The manifold according to claim 4 , wherein the drain junction comprises a first drain junction, the manifold further comprising:

a second drain junction, the second drain junction in fluid communication with both the WFI line and the waste line such that the WFI line is in fluid communication with the waste line via the second drain junction.

7 . The manifold according to claim 6 , wherein the buffer inlet line is in fluid communication with the waste line.

8 . The manifold according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a third drain junction, the third drain junction in fluid communication with, and interposed between, the buffer inlet line and the WFI inlet line;

wherein the buffer inlet line is in fluid communication with the waste line via the third drain junction, the WFI line, and the second drain junction.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2023
From: PALL CORPORATION
To: CYTIVA US LLC
Reel/Frame 063144/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2021
From: SEAL, MICHAEL B.; LOVELESS, MATTHEW J.
To: PALL EUROPE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 055021/0128 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2021
From: PALL EUROPE LIMITED
To: PALL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055021/0151 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62955836 · Dec 31, 2019
Related Publication 20210197142A1 · Jul 1, 2021
References Cited (30)
US 9327212B2 · Blank et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20070253463A1 · Perry et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080279038A1 · Bellafiore et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20120065482A1 · Robinson · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120217192A1 · Blank et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130161245A1 · Schick · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20170326474A1 · Olovsson · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20210197189A1 · Isailovic et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210199484A1 · Seal et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210199679A1 · Seal et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CN 102549516A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 3160636A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009519440A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013506128 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018503809 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021110740 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021136995 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2000009069A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007067882A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015200269A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2016196810A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019231652 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
Fabbrini, et al.; Addressing the Challenge of Complex Buffer Management; BioProcess International; 15(11); Dec. 2017; 4 pgs. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Extended European Search Report in European Patent Application No. 20216970.2; 7 pgs. May 21, 2021. [cited by applicant]
English-language translation of Oct. 5, 2022 issued in Chinese counterpart patent application No. 202011617602.3. [cited by applicant]
English-language translation of Jun. 20, 2022 issued in Korean counterpart patent application No. 10-2020-0189413. [cited by applicant]
China National Intellectual Property Administration, Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 202011617602.3 (Jan. 19, 2023). [cited by applicant]
China National Intellectual Property Administration, Rejection Decision in Chinese Patent Application No. 202011617602.3 (Jun. 28, 2023). [cited by applicant]
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, Written Opinion in Singaporean Patent Application No. 10202013201P (Oct. 11, 2022). [cited by applicant]
English-language translation of Jan. 25, 2021 Office Action issued in Japanese counterpart patent application No. P2020-215382. [cited by applicant]