Disposable Alternating Tangential Flow Filtration Units

Abstract

Disclosed herein are robust disposable alternating tangential flow (ATF) housing and diaphragm pump units and associated methods of manufacturing, testing, wetting, and using the same.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable alternating tangential flow housing and diaphragm pump unit comprising:
 a hollow tube of a sterilizable, non-toxic, rigid plastic;   a first pump hemisphere secured to an end of the hollow tube, wherein the first pump hemisphere comprises a first circumferential flange, and wherein an opening in the first pump hemisphere enables fluid to flow between the first pump hemisphere and the hollow tube;   a second pump hemisphere comprising a second circumferential flange configured to mate with the first circumferential flange;   a flexible diaphragm configured to be arranged between the first and second circumferential flanges; and   a clamp ring configured to be placed over one of the first and second pump hemispheres to extend circumferentially and continuously around the first circumferential flange and the second circumferential flange to seal the flexible diaphragm between the first circumferential flange and the second circumferential flange.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable alternating tangential flow unit of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp ring is configured to be placed over the one of the first and second pump hemispheres in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable alternating tangential flow unit of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp ring has an internal surface shaped to correspond to a curved or angled outer surface of one of the first or second pump hemispheres. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable alternating tangential flow unit of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the inner surface of the clamp ring is threaded to engage threading on the other of the first and second pump hemispheres. 
     
     
         5 . A cylindrical disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring comprising:
 a first cylindrical portion comprising a first continuous inner surface configured to be removably disposed over and engaged with a first pump hemisphere; and   a second cylindrical portion comprising a second continuous inner surface configured to be removably disposed over and engaged with a second pump hemisphere to secure the first pump hemisphere and the second pump hemisphere together.   
     
     
         6 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the first inner surface is configured to accommodate a curved or angled outer surface of the first pump hemisphere. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the first inner surface has a first internal diameter, and the second inner surface has a second internal diameter larger than the first internal diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion is configured to be disposed adjacent to a first circumferential flange of the first pump hemisphere. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 8 , wherein an angle of the first inner surface accommodates a curvature of the first circumferential flange. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the second inner surface is threaded to engage external threads on the second pump hemisphere. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the first inner surface is threaded. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to couple to a first circumferential flange of the first pump hemisphere and a second circumferential flange of the second pump hemisphere, respectively, with a diaphragm disposed between the first circumferential flange and the second circumferential flange. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the disposable alternating tangential flow clamp ring comprises one or more of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate and polysulfone plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable alternating tangential flow pump clamp ring of  claim 5 , wherein the first inner surface is configured to reinforce the first pump hemisphere during high pressure conditions. 
     
     
         15 . A method of clamping together a disposable alternating tangential flow housing comprising a first pump hemisphere and a second pump hemisphere, the method comprising:
 placing a clamp ring over one of the first and second pump hemispheres to extend circumferentially and continuously around the first pump hemisphere and the second pump hemisphere; and   engaging the inner surface of the clamp ring with the outer surfaces of the first pump hemisphere and the second pump hemisphere to clamp the first pump hemisphere and the second pump hemisphere together.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first pump hemisphere has a first circumferential flange and the second pump hemisphere has a second circumferential flange, and wherein clamping the first pump hemisphere and the second pump hemisphere together further comprises clamping a peripheral portion of a flexible diaphragm between the first circumferential flange and the second circumferential flange. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising engaging an internal surface of the clamp ring with a curved or angled surface of the one of the first or second pump hemispheres, the internal surface of the clamp ring being shaped to correspond to the curved or angled surface of the one of the first or second pump hemispheres. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising engaging internal threads on an internal surface of the clamp ring with external threads on the other of the first and second pump hemispheres. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising engaging internal threads on an internal surface of the clamp ring with external threads on the other of the first and second pump hemispheres. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein placing the clamp ring over one of the first and second pump hemispheres comprises placing the clamp ring over the one of the first and second pump hemispheres to encircle the one of the first and second pump hemispheres and in a direction towards the other of the first and second pump hemispheres.