Patent ID: 7399410

Claim:
A device for performing separations comprising: a. a column housing having a cylindrical wall, said cylindrical wall defining a longitudinal axis and having an interior face, an exterior face, a first end, and a second end, said first end having a first rim which defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and said second end having a second rim which defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said interior face between the first rim and said second rim defining a chamber for receiving a separation media; b. a separation media held in the chamber and having particles that form a bed that compresses during as the bed is formed in the column to form a compressed volume which occupies the chamber, and upon depressurization forms a decompressed volume in which a portion of the compressed volume is forced out of the chamber to form a waste volume; c. a first separation media retaining means and a second separation media retaining means, said first separation media retaining means affixed to one said first rim and said second rim, said second separation media retaining means affixed to the remaining first rim and second rim, a least one of said first separation media retaining means and said second separation media retaining means comprising a compressible filter assembly, said compressible filter assembly having a filter, cap and compression housing, said cap having an axial passage, a protruding section and a coupling section, said axial passage extending axially through said cap to place fluids in said chamber and said coupling section for placing said passage with fluid lines or devices, said compression housing for affixing said cap to said column housing and placing said chamber in fluid communication with said axial passage, said filter interposed between said cap and said separation media, said protruding section constructed and arranged to be received inside said chamber and compact said separation media a volume substantially equal to the waste volume as said compression housing secures said cap to said column housing.