Millipore Corporation

Emd Millipore Corporation

Millipore Investment Holdings, Ltd.

Millipore Coporation

Brian D Foley

Phillip Clark

Aldo M Pitt

Joseph E Gabriels

Jeffrey Busnach

Christopher A Scott

Thomas G Zermani

James C Groves

John Iovaine

A multi-well assembly including a filter plate and receiver plate. Each plate includes a plurality of wells, which, when the filter plate is placed in nesting relationship with the receiver plate, each filter plate well has a corresponding receiver plate well into which it extends. The receiver plate wells are of a non-uniform cross-section in order to increase the gap between the outer walls of the filter plate wells and the inner walls of a corresponding receiver plate well when the receiver plate and filter plate are in nesting relationship. The increased gap size reduces wicking and cross-contamination. A multi-section well of maximum cross-section in an upper region and a minimized cross-section in a lower region, with a gradual transition between the regions, is thus provided. The multi-well assembly of the present invention also improves the repeatability of positioning the filter plate and receiver plate in proper nesting relationship and provides stability during handling, mixing and shaking operations.

Receiver plate with multiple cross-sections

The present invention provides a mechanical lock for securing one or more filters within a filtration device and methods for producing the mechanical lock. The use of an interference fit punch causes a portion of the inner surface of the wall to be skived and rolled along the wall until it reaches the desired location where it forms a mechanical crimp to retain the one or more filters within the device. In one embodiment, the inner surface has an inwardly taper. In the other, it has straight walls or outwardly tapered walls. The use of a gasket such as an O-ring on top of the filter before the wall is skived provides a liquid tight seal.

Method for making a mechanical interlock for filters

A device and method for removal of liquid from the downstream side of a membrane or a well, such as a well of a multiwell plate. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a wicking structure, which channels droplets of liquid away from a membrane in communication with a plurality of wells. In the preferred embodiment, the wicking structure is placed in a manifold.

Underdrain for filtration membrane

A vacuum filter device is disclosed which includes a filter body which is adapted to receive in fluid-tight, sealed relationship a pair of closed containers for solutions to be filtered by a membrane filter positioned within the filter body. A vacuum port in the filter body communicates with the downstream side of the membrane and a venting passageway also located in the filter body communicates with the closed sample container to serve as a vent to atmospheric pressure. The venting passageway is made of an air permeable hydrophobic filter or preferably a small enough opening to prevent the sample solutions from leaking out of the device during normal use.

Method for making a vaccum filter device

Vacuum filter device

A vacuum filter device is disclosed which includes a filter body which is adapted to receive in fluid-fight, sealed relationship a pair of closed containers for solutions to be filtered by a membrane filter positioned within the filter body. A vacuum port in the filter body communicates with the downstream side of the membrane and a venting passageway also located in the filter body communicates with the closed sample container to serve as a vent to atmospheric pressure. The venting passageway is made of an air permeable hydrophobic filter or preferably a small enough opening to prevent the sample solutions from leaking out of the device during normal use.

A gel electrophoresis cassette is formed of two plates and two spacers between the plates which plates and spacers form a void volume for housing a gel. The spacers are positioned slightly inward of the edges of the plates to form a first and a second small space. A strip and an adhesive are positioned within the small space. When the strips are removed from the small spaces, the adhesive is torn and the plates can be opened manually.

Gel electrophoresis cassette with removable strip

A gel electrophoresis cassette is provided having two plates and two spacers between the plates. The spacers are positioned slightly inward of the plate edges to form small edge spaces. A soft adhesive is positioned within the small edge spaces and, subsequent to electrophoresis, the adhesive can be easily removed from the small spaces. The plates and separators then can be separated manually.

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Westford, MA, United States of America

Brian D Foley