Chromatography cartridge and method for manufacturing a chromatography cartridge

Abstract

A chromatography cartridge and method of manufacturing same. A chromatography cartridge of the present invention can include a tubular housing having an open end and an inner surface, and a plug. The plug can be positioned within the open end of the tubular housing and can have an outer circumferential surface, a substantial portion of the outer circumferential surface being fused to the inner surface of the tubular housing. A method for manufacturing a chromatography cartridge can include coupling at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular housing in response to rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing about the longitudinal axis with respect to the other of the plug and the tubular housing.

1 . A method of manufacturing a chromatography cartridge, the chromatography cartridge comprising a housing having an open end and a longitudinal axis and a plug dimensioned to be received in the open end of the housing, the method comprising: 
 rotating at least one of the housing and the plug about the longitudinal axis with respect to the other of the housing and the plug; and    moving at least one of the housing and the plug toward the other of the housing and the plug to couple at least a portion of an outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of an inner surface of the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein rotating at least one of the housing and the plug includes rotating the plug a first amount in a first direction and rotating the plug a second amount in a second direction opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         3 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein rotating at least one of the housing and plug includes oscillating at least one of the housing and the plug.  
     
     
         4 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein rotating at least one of the housing and the plug includes rotating at least one of the housing and the plug in one direction.  
     
     
         5 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein rotating at least one of the housing and the plug and moving at least one of the housing and the plug occur simultaneously.  
     
     
         6 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein moving at least one of the housing and the plug includes inserting the plug into the open end of the housing.  
     
     
         7 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising ceasing moving at least one of the housing and the plug when at least one of a first insertion force from moving the plug into the open end of the housing has been achieved, a first insertion force from moving the open end of the housing over at least a portion of the plug has been achieved, at least one of the housing and the plug has been moved a first distance, a first interface temperature between the outer surface of the plug and the inner surface of the housing has been achieved, the plug at least partially contacts a porous member within the housing, the plug at least partially contacts a chromatography medium within the housing, a user aborts the operation, a control system aborts the operation, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising ceasing rotating at least one of the housing and the plug when at least one of a first interface temperature between the outer surface of the plug and the inner surface of the housing has been achieved, a first number of rotations has been achieved, a first number of oscillations has been achieved, a user aborts the operation, a control system aborts the operation, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising coupling the plug to a spin-welding device via a plurality of ribs on an upper surface of the plug.  
     
     
         10 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein rotating at least one of the housing and the plug and moving at least one of the housing and the plug occurs simultaneously to frictionally-weld at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein rotating at least one of the housing and the plug and moving at least one of the housing and the plug occurs simultaneously to spin-weld at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing.  
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a chromatography cartridge, the method comprising: 
 providing a tubular housing having an inlet, an outlet, a longitudinal axis, an open end and an inner surface;    providing a plug dimensioned to be received within the open end of the tubular housing and having an outer surface;    positioning a first porous member within the tubular housing adjacent the outlet;    filling the tubular housing with at least one chromatography medium;    positioning a second porous member within the tubular housing adjacent the inlet such that the at least one chromatography medium is disposed between the first porous member and the second porous member; and    coupling at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular housing in response to rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing about the longitudinal axis with respect to the other of the plug and the tubular housing.    
     
     
         13 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising moving at least one of the plug and the tubular housing toward the other of the plug and the tubular housing.  
     
     
         14 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , wherein rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing includes oscillating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing back and forth.  
     
     
         15 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , wherein rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing includes rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing in one direction.  
     
     
         16 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , wherein rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing includes rotating the plug a first amount in a first direction and rotating the plug a second amount in a second direction opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         17 . The method set forth in  claim 13 , wherein rotating at least one of the plug and tubular housing and moving at least one of the plug and the tubular housing occurs simultaneously.  
     
     
         18 . The method set forth in  claim 13 , wherein moving at least one of the plug and the tubular housing includes inserting the plug into the open end of the tubular housing.  
     
     
         19 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising coupling the plug to a mechanical drive device via at least one recess defined in upper surface of the plug.  
     
     
         20 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising coupling the plug to a mechanical drive device via at least one axially-extending bore defined in the plug.  
     
     
         21 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , wherein coupling at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular housing includes frictionally-welding.  
     
     
         22 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , wherein coupling at least a portion of the outer surface of the plug to at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular housing includes spin-welding.  
     
     
         23 . The method set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising ceasing rotating at least one of the plug and the tubular housing responsive to at least one of achieving a first interface temperature between the outer surface of the plug and the inner surface of the tubular housing, achieving a first number of rotations, achieving a first number of oscillations, a user aborting the operation, a control system aborting the operation, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising ceasing moving at least one of the plug and the tubular housing responsive to at least one of moving at least one of the plug and the tubular housing a first distance, achieving a first insertion force of the plug into the open end of the tubular housing, achieving a first insertion force of the open end of the tubular housing over at least a portion of the plug, achieving a first interface temperature between the outer surface of the plug and the inner surface of the tubular housing, the plug at least partially contacting a porous member within the tubular housing, the plug at least partially contacting at least one chromatography medium within the tubular housing, a user aborting the operation, a control system aborting the operation, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing a chromatographic column comprising the steps of: 
 molding a column body from plastics, said step of molding a column body including the substeps of molding a side wall portion, a first end portion integrally molded with the side wall portion and an open second end forming an interior of the column body and a closure for the open second end; said first end portion being integrally molded with a first port, said closure being integrally molded with a second port;    filling the column with packing material up to the second end; and    fastening the closure to the column body together at the second end with only rotary or both linear and rotary motion.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein fastening the closure to the column body includes spin welding the closure to the side wall portion.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further including the steps of: 
 placing a first filter in the first end having said integrally molded port of the column body;    filling the column with packing material up to the second end; and    placing a second filter on top of the packing in the second end.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  in which the step of filling the column with packing material includes the step of vibrating the column to evenly distribute the packing material.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the step of fastening the closure includes spin welding a seal between the closure and the tubular body.