Patent ID: 8146446

Claim:
A liquid sample concentrator device comprising: a pressure vessel including: an inlet configured to introduce pressurized air into a first portion of the pressure vessel; a first outlet fluidly coupled with a second portion of the pressure vessel and adapted to be selectively opened and closed; and a second outlet configured to receive a capillary tube inserted into the first portion of the pressure vessel; and a filter element disposed within the pressure vessel and configured to receive a liquid sample to be concentrated, wherein the filter element comprises a centrifugal ultrafiltration element having a predetermined molecular weight cut-off value, and wherein the filter element substantially separates the first portion of the pressure vessel from the second portion of the pressure vessel and defines a retentate side adjacent to the first portion and a filtrate side adjacent to the second portion, whereby when pressurized air is introduced through the inlet and the first outlet is open, a filtrate of the liquid sample received in the filter element passes from the retentate side to the filtrate side such that a concentrated retentate of the liquid sample remains on the retentate side, and whereby when the first outlet is closed, the concentrated retentate of the liquid sample is forced out through the capillary tube.