Patent ID: 6332540
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: B01J,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
A device for separating polymeric beads from a suspension of a plurality of such beads in a suspension fluid being a liquid, which comprises:a flow cell through which a suspension of the beads in the suspension fluid can flow;the flow cell having an inlet end through which the suspension of beads may be introduced into the flow cell, such that the beads are arranged in a successive serial flow stream as they flow through the flow cell toward an exit end of the cell;a radiation source capable of directing incident radiation into the flow cell in an incident direction such that as beads flow through the flow cell they intercept the incident radiation;a radiation detector positioned relative to the radiation source and to the flow of beads such that a change in the radiation detected by the detector occurs as the bead intercepts the incident beam;a bead outlet channel and a suspension fluid outlet channel located downstream from the point where the beads intercept the incident radiation, and being in communication with the exit end;valve means which in a first configuration directs suspension fluid flow preferentially through the bead outlet channel rather than through the suspension fluid outlet channel, and alternatively which in a second configuration directs suspension fluid flow preferentially through the suspension fluid outlet channel rather than through the bead outlet channel, so that in the first valve configuration beads are caused to flow through the bead outlet channel;control means responsive to a signal from the radiation detector resulting from bead intercepting the incident beam, and which directs the valve means into the first valve configuration so that a bead flows through the bead outlet channel, and after the bead is downstream of the valve means then directs the valve means into the second valve configuration;and wherein the valve means comprise a valve plug, and a conforming valve sleeve into which leads the common outlet channel and out of which lead the bead outlet and fluid outlet channels, the valve plug being rotatably moveable within the valve sleeve, a ""Y"" shaped channel passing through the valve plug,such that by rotation of the plug within the sleeve the common outlet channel can be brought into communication with the ""Y"" shaped channel to allow entry of fluid from the common outlet channel into one or other of the limbs or stem of the ""Y"", and exit of fluid respectively through the stem or another limb and thence into the bead exit channel to thereby provide a first configuration of the valve,and rotation of the plug causing a different limb or the stem to be brought into communication with the bead exit channel or the fluid exit channel, to thereby allow entry of fluid from the common outlet channel into the different limb or stem of the ""Y"", and exit of fluid through the stem or another limb and thence into the fluid exit channel to thereby provide a first configuration of the valve,the valve sleeve having a flushing fluid conduit through which flushing fluid may be introduced into the valve sleeve from the exterior of the valve sleeve, the valve plug having a flushing fluid channel passing through the plug which by relative rotation of the plug within the sleeve and be brought into contact with both the flushing fluid conduit and the bead outlet channel to thereby direct flushing fluid from the flushing fluid conduit into the bead to thereby direct a bead along the bead outlet channel.