Apparatus, system, and method for collecting a target material

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a displacement fluid, a collector, and a primary vessel. In another implementation, the system includes a processing vessel, a displacement fluid, a collector, and a primary vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a primary vessel comprising an open end and a suspension comprising a target material; and   a collector comprising
 a main body comprising a first end comprising a cavity and second end comprising an opening, and 
 a septum extending from an apex of the opening to the cavity; and 
   a processing vessel comprising
 an inner chamber between a first end and a second end, 
 a cannula extending away from the second end and providing fluid communication with the inner chamber; and 
 a displacement fluid within the inner chamber, the displacement fluid having a density greater than the density of at least a portion of the target material, 
   wherein the cannula of the processing vessel is inserted through the septum thereby providing fluid communication between the inner chamber of the processing vessel and the opening of the collector,   wherein at least the second end of the collector is located within the open end of the primary vessel, and   wherein the collector extends upwardly from the primary vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement fluid is selected from the group consisting of: a solution of colloidal silica particles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polysaccharide solution, iodixanol, a liquid wax, an oil, olive oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, immersion oil, mineral oil, paraffin oil, silicon oil, fluorosilicone, perfluorodecalin, perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluorooctylbromide, ionic liquids, a polymer-based solution, a surfactant, a perfluoroketone, perfluorocyclopentanone, perfluorocyclohexanone, a fluorinated ketone, a hydrofluoroether, a hydrofluorocarbon, a perfluorocarbon, a perfluoropolyether, silicon, a silicon-based liquid, phenylmethyl siloxane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula extends into the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula extends to the apex of the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a float to be inserted within the primary vessel.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sealing ring to tighten around the primary vessel to collapse the primary vessel inwardly until a seal is formed between the primary vessel and the float, the sealing ring to create a force directed toward a central axis of the primary vessel to cause the primary vessel to collapse inwardly.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector further comprises a shoulder extending circumferentially around the main body to inhibit further translation of the collector into the primary vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a lock ring to apply to the outside of the primary vessel at the location of the shoulder to inhibit movement of the collector relative to the primary vessel when the collector is inserted into the primary vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal between the second end of the collector and an inner wall of the primary vessel to maintain a fluid-tight sealing engagement between the collector and inner wall of the primary vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the septum is composed of a material capable of resealing after being punctured. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a primary vessel comprising an open end and a suspension comprising a target material;   inserting a collector into the open end of a primary vessel, the collector comprising:
 a main body comprising a first end comprising a cavity and second end comprising an opening, and 
 a septum extending from an apex of the opening to the cavity, 
 wherein at least the second end of the collector is located within the open end of the primary vessel, and 
 wherein the collector extends upwardly from the primary vessel; 
   inserting a processing vessel into the collector, the processing vessel comprising
 an inner chamber between a first end and a second end, 
 a cannula extending away from the second end and providing fluid communication with the inner chamber; and 
 a displacement fluid within the inner chamber, the displacement fluid having a density greater than the density of at least a portion of the target material; and 
   centrifuging the primary vessel, the collector, and the displacement fluid, wherein the displacement fluid flows into the primary vessel via the cannula and displaces the at least one portion of the target material from the primary vessel into the cavity of the collector via the cannula,   wherein inserting the cannula of the processing vessel through the septum provides fluid communication between the inner chamber of the processing vessel and the opening of the collector.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 adding a float to the primary vessel prior to inserting the collector into the primary vessel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 separating the suspension into fractions by centrifugation; and   removing at least one of the fractions from the primary vessel,   wherein the separating and removing steps occur before inserting the collector into the primary vessel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 forming a seal between the float and the primary vessel after the separating and removing steps.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the displacement fluid is selected from the group consisting of: a solution of colloidal silica particles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polysaccharide solution, iodixanol, a liquid wax, an oil, olive oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, immersion oil, mineral oil, paraffin oil, silicon oil, fluorosilicone, perfluorodecalin, perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, perfluorooctylbromide, ionic liquids, a polymer-based solution, a surfactant, a perfluoroketone, perfluorocyclopentanone, perfluorocyclohexanone, a fluorinated ketone, a hydrofluoroether, a hydrofluorocarbon, a perfluorocarbon, a perfluoropolyether, silicon, a silicon-based liquid, phenylmethyl siloxane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cannula extends into the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cannula extends to the apex of the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the septum is composed of a material capable of resealing after being punctured.