Patent ID: 8778187

Claim:
A method for packing a disposable pre-sterilized axial flow chromatography column with a bed of pre-sterilized particulate medium of a target bed height, said disposable column comprising a housing comprising an elongated tubular side wall; opposed, axially spaced first and second end units separated by said side wall, wherein at least one said unit is axially movable by drive means relative to the other said unit; tie rods for securing said first end unit against said second end unit; a first filter adjacent to said first unit and a second filter adjacent to said second unit which together with the side wall define an enclosed bed space for containing a bed of particulate medium and wherein relative movement of the first and/or second filter alters the bed height; said first end unit comprising a first valve means for filling of the bed space with said particulate medium; and a first port for adding a liquid to or removing a liquid from the bed space; a second port ( 240 ; 340 ) comprising a passageway ( 242 ) which extends through the second end unit ( 213 ; 313 ) and which is in fluid communication with the enclosed bed space ( 209 ) for adding a liquid to or removing a liquid from the bed space; and said first port ( 233 ; 333 ) and said second port ( 240 ; 340 ) are at essentially the same level or elevation above the level of the bed space ( 209 ) on said chromatography column, and wherein the second port ( 240 ; 340 ) is in fluid communication with the bed space ( 209 ) by means of a hollow member ( 260 ; 360 ) connected to the passageway ( 242 ) in the second end unit ( 213 ; 313 ), said method comprising: i. adjusting the axial spacing between the first and second filters to a distance greater than that of the target bed height, wherein the tie rods are not attached to the column in this state; ii. introducing a suspension of the pre-sterilized particulate medium into the bed space via the first valve means to provide a bed of particulate medium therein; iii. compressing said bed of particulate medium to produce the target bed height by axial movement of the first and/or second end filters by said drive means which is non-integral to and is external to the column and which is in contact with both end units during compression; iv. securing the first end unit against the second end unit by means of the tie rods after the compression; and v. releasing the column from the drive means while keeping the first end unit secured against the second end unit by means of the tie rods.