Micro flow filtration system and integrated microfluidic element

Abstract

A micro fluid filtration system () preferably for increasing the concentration of components contained in a fluid sample has a fluid circuitry (). The fluid circuitry () comprises the following elements: A tangential flow filtration element () capable for separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid, an element for pumping () for creating and driving a fluid flow through the fluid circuitry () and at least one element for obtaining information about the properties of the fluid sample within the circuitry. The circuitry further comprises a plurality of conduits () connecting the elements of the fluid circuitry () through which a fluid stream of the fluid sample is conducted. The circuitry () has a minimal working volume of at most 5 ml, which is the minimal fluid volume retained in the elements and the conduits () of the circuitry () such that the fluid can be recirculated in the circuitry () without pumping air through the circuitry (). An integrated microfluidic element () of the circuitry () contains the functionality of at least two elements of the group of elements of the circuitry ().