Patent EP-1134581-B1 (EP)
Inventor: PRIOR ADALBERT DIPL-ING DR
IPC: G01N30/58
Filed: 2000-03-07
Granted: 2006-06-07
Abstract: The continuous annular chromatography (CAC) apparatus has a rotating plate (4) with an extension at its under side, with a quick-release coupling to the drive shaft (2) of the drive (8). The static column head, the rotary body (1) with the rotating plate (4) and the elute catch ring (5) are combined to form a CAC module which can be detached from the drive shaft (2). The end of the projection under the rotating plate (4) is shaped into a bush (32), to grip around a complementary end of the drive shaft (2). Or the end of the drive shaft (2) is a bush to grip around the shaped projection from the plate (4). The CAC module is clamped between a base plate (22) and a head plate (23), together with spacer rods (24) if required. The column head has at least one fluid feed (27), preferably integrated into the head plate (23) or in one piece with it. The rotating plate (4) lies on an axial bearing (25), carried by the spacer rods (24), for a sliding movement with an O-ring. The elute catch ring (5) is pressed against the rotating plate (4) by a pressure block (7) at its under side. The pressure block (7) has a recess, open downwards in a peripheral zone, to take a coil spring (6) as the pressure spring around the drive shaft (2) axis and supported by the base plate (22). The rotating plate (4) lies on two concentric sliding surfaces at the elute catch ring (5). The elute catch ring (5) has a recess chamfered outwards between the inner sliding surface and its inner edge against the drive shaft (2), which forms a hollow zone (20) together with the rotating plate (4). The hollow zone (20) has at least one drilling (21) at its deepest point, leading out of the elute catch ring (5). The elute catch ring (5) has a number of chambers separated by radial walls, with a wall thickness which is smaller than the diameter of a channel at the rotating plate (4). The chambers have connected elute take-off channels, preferably as flexible hoses, in an S-shape leading initially downwards and then in an upwards curve into a downwards outlet into the elute collection vessel (19). The highest point of the take-off hose is preferably over the level of the elute catch ring (5). The inner cylinder of the double-cylinder rotating body (1) is firmly bonded at the lower end to a base mounting (11), keyed to the rotating plate (4) by a bolt, pin, or screw (12) to prevent sliding. A number of extension tubes are linked to the fluid inflow lines (27a,27c) at the head room over the barrier medium, leading into the ring zone of the hollow cylinder mantle of the rotating body (1), to slide in a circle along the circumference of the ring gap to be locked in the required angular positions. A heating/cooling circuit is within and/or outside the rotating body (1) for temperature and/or thermostat control. An independent claim is included for the cleaning, separation and/or concentration of substances by liquid chromatography, using a CAC apparatus, which takes sample material, e.g., a liquid, containing one of the substances to be distributed evenly over the whole circumference of a chromatographic barrier medium in the hollow cylinder mantle of a rotating body. It is a requirement that the liquids to elute the substances and condition the barrier medium are applied to the barrier medium at points of given angular positions and, in the zones of the these positions, the sample material is prevented from penetrating into the barrier medium. Preferred Features: The sample material is fed into a central inlet at a head zone of the CAC apparatus, over the barrier medium and, preferably, the whole of the head zone is flushed with the sample material. The elution and/or conditioning liquids are delivered at selected angular positions so that sample material cannot penetrate the barrier medium in between. The sample material may contain organic substances, and especially natural or recombinant proteins or protein mixtures, and preferably a conditioning liquid for the hygiene of the barrier medium. The sample material may contain recombinant human Factor VII antihemophilic factor (AHF) to give an enriched factor (rFVIII) by a multiple of the start concentration.