Composite chromatography column

Abstract

Apparatus for chromatography, featuring a composite chromatography column including a tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end, where the tubular member includes an innermost first layer comprised of a first material and asecond layer comprised of a second material. The chromatography apparatus can also include a first intermediate layer formed from a third material, where at least a portion of the first intermediate layer is disposed between the innermost first layer and the second layer. A second intermediate layer formed from a fourth material, can further be included in the chromatography apparatus, where at least a portion of the second intermediate layer is disposed between the innermost first layer and the second layer. A portion of the second intermediate layer can be disposed between the second layer and the first intermediate layer.

1 . A chromatography apparatus comprising: 
 a tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end, said tubular member having a plurality of layers, said layers including at least an innermost first layer comprising a first material and a second layer comprising a second material.    
     
     
         2 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first intermediate layer comprising a third material, at least a portion of said first intermediate layer being disposed between said innermost first layer and said second layer.    
     
     
         3 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a second intermediate layer comprising a fourth material, at least a portion of said second intermediate layer being disposed between said innermost first layer and said second layer.    
     
     
         4 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of said second intermediate layer is disposed between said second layer and said first intermediate layer.  
     
     
         5 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first intermediate layer comprises an adhesive material.  
     
     
         6 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of layers comprises an adhesive material.  
     
     
         7 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is an intermediate layer and an outermost layer is comprised of the first material.  
     
     
         8 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer has an outer surface having a cross-sectional shape having at least one substantially flat side.  
     
     
         9 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said outer surface has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         10 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said outer surface has a substantially square cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         11 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer has an outer surface having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         12 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer has an outer surface having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         13 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer has an outer surface having a substantially hexagonal cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         14 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer has an outer surface having a substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         15 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises a rigid material.  
     
     
         16 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises a deformable material.  
     
     
         17 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises polypropylene.  
     
     
         18 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         19 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises stainless steel.  
     
     
         20 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises aluminum.  
     
     
         21 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises anodized aluminum.  
     
     
         22 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises acetal.  
     
     
         23 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises polycarbonate.  
     
     
         24 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises glass.  
     
     
         25 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said innermost first layer comprises a chemically inert material.  
     
     
         26 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said inner layer comprises a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         27 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said fluoropolymer is TEFLON.  
     
     
         28 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said fluoropolymer is TEFZEL.  
     
     
         29 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said fluoropolymer is PTFE.  
     
     
         30 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the fluoropolymer is EFEP.  
     
     
         31 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said innermost first layer is a lining.  
     
     
         32 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said innermost first layer is a sleeve.  
     
     
         33 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first material encapsulates said second layer, thereby forming an outermost layer comprised of the first material.  
     
     
         34 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises polypropylene and said innermost first layer comprises TEFLON.  
     
     
         35 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second layer comprises polyethylene and said innermost first layer comprises TEFLON.  
     
     
         36 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second porous members and a chromatography media disposed within said tubular member, said chromatography media being bounded between said first and second porous members.  
     
     
         37 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said first porous member is spaced from said inlet end, so as to define an inflow region.  
     
     
         38 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said second porous member is spaced from said outlet end, so as to define an outflow region.  
     
     
         39 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said second porous member is in slidable contact with said tubular member.  
     
     
         40 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said first porous member is in slidable contact with said tubular member.  
     
     
         41 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said second porous member is in slidable contact with said tubular member.  
     
     
         42 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said inflow region is longer than said outflow region.  
     
     
         43 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said inflow region is substantially longer than said outflow region.  
     
     
         44 . The chromatography apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising a sample carried on said chromatography media, so that the apparatus may be employed as a chromatography sample module.  
     
     
         45 - 65 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         66 . A chromatography column comprising: 
 a tubular member having an inlet and outlet end, said tubular member including an innermost first layer comprising a chemically inert material and a rigid, deformable second layer;    first and second porous members disposed within said tubular member; and    a chromatography or separating media disposed within said tubular member and bounded by said first and second porous members;    wherein said second porous member abuts said media and said second porous member is held firmly by crimping a first portion of said tubular member against said second porous member.    
     
     
         67 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said tubular member includes a plurality of layers, including at least the innermost first layer comprised of the chemically inert material and the rigid, deformable second layer.  
     
     
         68 . The chromatography column of  claim 67 , wherein the second layer is an intermediate layer and an outermost layer is comprised of the chemically inert material.  
     
     
         69 . The chromatography column of  claim 67 , wherein said chemically inert material encapsulates said second layer, thereby forming an outermost layer comprised of the chemically inert material.  
     
     
         70 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said first porous member is in slidable contact with said innermost first layer and is spaced sufficiently from said inlet end to form a module receiving region deep enough for a sample module to be inserted completely into said receiving region.  
     
     
         71 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said first porous member is held firmly by crimping a second portion of said tubular member against said first porous member.  
     
     
         72 . The chromatography column of  claim 71 , wherein said crimped first porous member is spaced sufficiently from said inlet end to form a module receiving region deep enough for a sample module to be inserted completely into said receiving region.  
     
     
         73 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said tubular member further comprises a sealing region between said inlet end and said module receiving region, said sealing region being sufficiently long to receive a sealing head for making a seal with said innermost first surface of said tubular member.  
     
     
         74 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said tubular member further comprises a chamfered region near said inlet end.  
     
     
         75 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises polypropylene.  
     
     
         76 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         77 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises stainless steel.  
     
     
         78 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises aluminum.  
     
     
         79 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises anodized aluminum.  
     
     
         80 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises acetal.  
     
     
         81 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises polycarbonate.  
     
     
         82 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises glass.  
     
     
         83 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said innermost first layer comprises a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         84 . The chromatography column of  claim 83 , wherein said fluoropolymer is TEFLON.  
     
     
         85 . The chromatography column of  claim 83 , wherein said fluoropolymer is TEFZEL.  
     
     
         86 . The chromatography column of  claim 83 , wherein said fluoropolymer is PTFE.  
     
     
         87 . The chromatography column of  claim 83 , wherein said fluoropolymer is EFEP.  
     
     
         88 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein said second layer comprises polypropylene and said innermost first layer comprises TEFLON.  
     
     
         89 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein the inlet end of the tubular member includes an inlet tube abutting an upper surface of the first porous member, the inlet tube having an inner layer comprising a chemically inert material.  
     
     
         90 . The chromatography column of  claim 89 , wherein the chemically inert material is a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         91 . The chromatography column of  claim 90 , wherein the fluoropolymer is TEFLON.  
     
     
         92 . The chromatography column of  claim 90 , wherein said fluoropolymer is TEFZEL.  
     
     
         93 . The chromatography column of  claim 90 , wherein said fluoropolymer is PTFE.  
     
     
         94 . The chromatography column of  claim 90 , wherein said fluoropolymer is EFEP.  
     
     
         95 . The chromatography column of  claim 66 , wherein the outlet end of the tubular member includes an outlet tube abutting a lower surface of the second porous member, the outlet tube having an inner layer comprising a chemically inert material.  
     
     
         96 . The chromatography column of  claim 95 , wherein the chemically inert material is a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         97 . The chromatography column of  claim 96 , wherein the fluoropolymer is TEFLON.  
     
     
         98 . The chromatography column of  claim 96 , wherein said fluoropolymer is TEFZEL.  
     
     
         99 . The chromatography column of  claim 96 , wherein said fluoropolymer is PTFE.  
     
     
         100 . The chromatography column of  claim 96 , wherein said fluoropolymer is EFEP.  
     
     
         101 . A chromatography column comprising: 
 a tubular member having an inlet and outlet end;    first and second porous members disposed within said tubular member; and    a chromatography or separating media disposed within said tubular member and bounded by said first and second porous members;    wherein said second porous member abuts said media and said second porous member is held firmly by crimping a portion of said tubular member against said second porous member.    
     
     
         102 . The chromatography column of  claim 101 , wherein said first porous member is in slidable contact with an inner surface of said tubular member and is spaced sufficiently from said inlet end to form a module receiving region deep enough for a sample module to be inserted completely into said receiving region.  
     
     
         103 . The chromatography column of  claim 101 , wherein said tubular member is crimped near the inlet end and above said first porous member, such that said first porous member is restrained from sliding above the crimped portion of said tubular member.  
     
     
         104 . The chromatography column of  claim 103 , wherein the crimped portion of said tubular member is spaced sufficiently from said inlet end to form a module receiving region deep enough for a sample module to be inserted into said receiving region.  
     
     
         105 . The chromatography column of  claim 101 , wherein said first porous member is held firmly by crimping a portion of said tubular member against said first porous member.  
     
     
         106 . The chromatography column of  claim 105 , wherein said crimped first porous member is spaced sufficiently from said inlet end to form a module receiving region deep enough for a sample module to be inserted completely into said receiving region.  
     
     
         107 . The chromatography column of  claim 101 , wherein said tubular member further comprises a sealing region between said inlet end and said module receiving region, said sealing region being sufficiently long to receive a sealing head for making a seal with said inner surface of said tubular member.  
     
     
         108 . The chromatography column of  claim 101 , wherein said tubular member further comprises a chamfered region near said inlet end.  
     
     
         109 . A chromatography column comprising: 
 a tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end;    first and second porous members disposed within said tubular member and in slidable contact with an inner surface of said tubular member; and    a chromatography or separating media disposed within said tubular member and bounded by said first and second porous members;    wherein said tubular member is first crimped near the inlet end above the first porous member, such that the first porous member is restrained from sliding above said first crimping, and wherein said tubular member is second crimped near the outlet end below the second porous member, such that the second porous member is restrained from sliding below said second crimping.    
     
     
         110 . The chromatography column of  claim 109 , wherein: 
 said first crimping of said tubular member is spaced sufficiently from said inlet end to form a module receiving region deep enough for a sample module to be inserted into said receiving region.