Vacuum clamped multi-sample filtration apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for filtering a plurality of liquid samples using a filter membrane and for preventing cross-contamination by migration of the liquid samples along the filter membrane, the apparatus comprising: (a) a well plate having a plurality of wells for receiving the liquid samples, said well plate having a substantially flat upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface, wherein each of said plurality of wells has a top opening in said upper surface and a bottom opening in said lower surface; (b) a base plate having a substantially flat upper surface constructed and arranged to mate with said lower surface of said well plate; (c) first vacuum means for vacuum-clamping said well plate to said base plate with the filter membrane disposed therebetween such that the filter membrane is held in sealable contact with said bottom openings of said plurality of wells of said well plate to preclude leakage of the liquid samples from said plurality of wells except through the filter membrane and to substantially preclude migration of the liquid samples between said wells along the filter membrane; and (d) second vacuum means for drawing the liquid samples contained in said plurality of wells through the filter membrane, said second vacuum means being coupled to said bottom openings of said plurality of wells, through the filter membrane, when said first vacuum means clamps said base plate to said well plate.

Claim 2

An apparatus for filtering a plurality of liquid samples using a filter membrane and for preventing cross-contamination by migration of the liquid samples along the filter membrane, the apparatus comprising: (a) a well plate having a plurality of wells for receiving the liquid samples, said well plate having a substantially flat upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface, wherein each of said plurality of wells has a top opening in said upper surface and a bottom opening in said lower surface; (b) a base plate having a substantially flat upper surface constructed and arranged to mate with said lower surface of said well plate; (c) first vacuum means for vacuum-clamping said well plate to said base plate with the filter membrane disposed therebetween such that the filter membrane is held in sealable contact with said bottom openings of said plurality of wells of said well plate to preclude leakage of the liquid samples from said plurality of wells except through the filter membrane and to substantially preclude migration of the liquid samples between said wells along the filter membrane; and (d) second vacuum means for drawing the liquid samples contained in said plurality of wells through the filter membrane, said second vacuum means being coupled to said bottom openings of said plurality of wells, through the filter membrane, when said first vacuum means clamps said base plate to said well plate.

Claim 9

An apparatus for filtering a plurality of liquid samples, the apparatus comprising: (a) a well plate having a plurality of wells for receiving the liquid samples, said well plate having a substantially flat upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface, wherein each of said plurality of wells has a top opening in said upper surface and a bottom opening in said lower surface; (b) a base plate having a substantially flat upper surface constructed and arranged to mate with said lower surface of said well plate; (c) a filter membrane disposed between said lower surface of said well plate and said upper surface of said base plate; (d) first vacuum means for vacuum-clamping said well plate to said base plate and for holding said filter membrane in sealable contact with said bottom openings of said plurality of wells of said well plate to substantially preclude leakage of the liquid samples from said plurality of wells except through said filter membrane and to substantially preclude migration of the liquid samples between said plurality of wells along said filter membrane; and (e) second vacuum means for drawing the liquid samples contained in said plurality of wells through said filter membrane, said second vacuum means being coupled to said bottom openings of said plurality of wells, through said filter membrane, when said first vacuum means clamps said base plate to said well plate.

Claim 10

An apparatus for filtering a plurality of liquid samples, the apparatus comprising: (a) a well plate having a plurality of wells for receiving the liquid samples, said well plate having a substantially flat upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface, wherein each of said plurality of wells has a top opening in said upper surface and a bottom opening in said lower surface; (b) a base plate having a substantially flat upper surface constructed and arranged to mate with said lower surface of said well plate; (c) a filter membrane disposed between said lower surface of said well plate and said upper surface of said base plate; (d) first vacuum means for vacuum-clamping said well plate to said base plate and for holding said filter membrane in sealable contact with said bottom openings of said plurality of wells of said well plate to substantially preclude leakage of the liquid samples from said plurality of wells except through said filter membrane and to substantially preclude migration of the liquid samples between said plurality of wells along said filter membrane; and (e) second vacuum means for drawing the liquid samples contained in said plurality of wells through said filter membrane, said second vacuum means being coupled to said bottom openings of said plurality of wells, through said filter membrane, when said first vacuum means clamps said base plate to said well plate.

Claim 17

An apparatus for filtering a plurality of liquid samples, the apparatus comprising: (a) a base plate having a substantially flat upper surface, said base plate including a first vacuum inlet, a second vacuum inlet, a vacuum clamping valve, and a vacuum sampling valve, said base plate partially defining a vacuum clamping area and a vacuum reservoir area, said first vacuum inlet being coupled to said vacuum clamping area through said vacuum clamping valve to selectively create a vacuum in said vacuum clamping area, said second vacuum inlet being coupled to said vacuum reservoir area through said vacuum sampling valve to selectively create a vacuum in said vacuum reservoir area; (b) a well plate removably mounted on said base plate and having a substantially flat lower surface constructed and arranged to mate with said upper surface of said base plate when said well plate is mounted on said base late, said well plate having a plurality of sample wells, each of said plurality of sample wells including a top opening for receiving the liquid samples and a bottom opening in said lower surface in communication with said vacuum reservoir area of said base plate; (c) a filter membrane, through which the liquid samples are to be filtered, disposed between said upper surface of said base plate and said lower surface of said well plate, said filter membrane being positioned between said bottom openings of said sample wells and said vacuum reservoir area of said base plate; and (d) a flexible, resilient gasket disposed between said filter membrane and said upper surface of said base plate, said gasket isolating said vacuum clamping area from communication with said vacuum reservoir area and maintaining a seal between said lower surface of said well plate and said vacuum clamping area of said base plate so that said base plate is vacuum clamped to said well plate when a vacuum is created in said vacuum clamping area via said first vacuum inlet and said vacuum clamping valve, said gasket further maintaining said filter membrane in sealable contact with said bottom openings of said plurality of sample wells of said well plate to substantially preclude migration of the liquid samples between said wells along said filter membrane when the liquid samples are drawn through said filter membrane by action of a vacuum created in said vacuum reservoir area via said second vacuum inlet and said vacuum sampling valve.

Claim 18

An apparatus for filtering a plurality of liquid samples, the apparatus comprising: (a) a base plate having a substantially flat upper surface, said base plate including a first vacuum inlet, a second vacuum inlet, a vacuum clamping valve, and a vacuum sampling valve, said base plate partially defining a vacuum clamping area and a vacuum reservoir area, said first vacuum inlet being coupled to said vacuum clamping area through said vacuum clamping valve to selectively create a vacuum in said vacuum clamping area, said second vacuum inlet being coupled to said vacuum reservoir area through said vacuum sampling valve to selectively create a vacuum in said vacuum reservoir area; (b) a well plate removably mounted on said base plate and having a substantially flat lower surface constructed and arranged to mate with said upper surface of said base plate when said well plate is mounted on said base late, said well plate having a plurality of sample wells, each of said plurality of sample wells including a top opening for receiving the liquid samples and a bottom opening in said lower surface in communication with said vacuum reservoir area of said base plate; (c) a filter membrane, through which the liquid samples are to be filtered, disposed between said upper surface of said base plate and said lower surface of said well plate, said filter membrane being positioned between said bottom openings of said sample wells and said vacuum reservoir area of said base plate; and (d) a flexible, resilient gasket disposed between said filter membrane and said upper surface of said base plate, said gasket isolating said vacuum clamping area from communication with said vacuum reservoir area and maintaining a seal between said lower surface of said well plate and said vacuum clamping area of said base plate so that said base plate is vacuum clamped to said well plate when a vacuum is created in said vacuum clamping area via said first vacuum inlet and said vacuum clamping valve, said gasket further maintaining said filter membrane in sealable contact with said bottom openings of said plurality of sample wells of said well plate to substantially preclude migration of the liquid samples between said wells along said filter membrane when the liquid samples are drawn through said filter membrane by action of a vacuum created in said vacuum reservoir area via said second vacuum inlet and said vacuum sampling valve.