	US 12,306,081 B2
	Apparatuses and methods for formation of particles
Michael Beauregard, Boston, MA (US); Faith C. David-Hegerich, Providence, RI (US); John Patrick Golden, Providence, RI (US); Joseph Gordon, Providence, RI (US); Erika Ellen Johnston, Cambridge, MA (US); Robert James Miller, East Bridgewater, MA (US); Justin David Morse, Providence, RI (US); and Peter Calvin Costello, Providence, RI (US)
Assigned to SIGILON THERAPEUTICS, INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
Appl. No. 17/782,368
Filed by SIGILON THERAPEUTICS, INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 4, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/063465 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 3, 2022, PCT Pub. No. WO2021/113751, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/943,533, filed on Dec. 4, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0008121 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 1/31 (2006.01); B01D 43/00 (2006.01); B01J 2/02 (2006.01); B01J 2/04 (2006.01); B01J 13/04 (2006.01); B01J 13/08 (2006.01); B01J 13/14 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)

CPC G01N 1/31 (2013.01) [B01D 43/00 (2013.01); B01J 2/02 (2013.01); B01J 2/04 (2013.01); B01J 13/046 (2013.01); B01J 13/08 (2013.01); B01J 13/14 (2013.01); G01N 35/1097 (2013.01)]

29 Claims

1. An apparatus for making conditioned particles comprising:

a) a particle dispensing unit comprising a first orifice from which particles are dispensed;

b) a conditioning chamber comprising an exit portal, wherein the conditioning chamber is configured to hold a first fluid to present a receiving surface of the first fluid, and to receive the particles from the particle dispensing unit;

c) an exchange unit in fluid connection with the exit portal of the conditioning chamber in which the particles are separated from a conditioning fluid; and

d) a property selected from i) to x):

i) the apparatus is configured to separate particles from one another based on an attribute of the particles,

ia) the apparatus is configured to separate a particle of a first class from a particle of a second class after particle dispensation but prior to the dispensed particles impinging on the receiving surface of the first fluid disposed in the conditioning chamber, and comprises a capture element disposed between the orifice and the receiving surface and configured and to hinder, the second class particle from impinging on the receiving surface of the first fluid; or

ib) the apparatus comprises a filter element for fractionation of conditioned particles in the exchange unit;

ii) a component of the apparatus is configured to receive a signal and responsive to the signal modulate the process parameter or the particle parameter;

iia) the apparatus is configured such that responsive to the signal a field through which the particle passes is modulated;

iib) the apparatus is configured to sense a distance from the orifice to the receiving surface of the first fluid in the conditioning chamber and to change to a desired distance;

iii) the apparatus includes one or more sensors for sensing a parameter;

iv) the first orifice and the receiving surface are disposed within a housing wherein the housing comprises a port in connection with a source of displacement entity;

v) the conditioning chamber comprises, in fluid connection, a portion configured to present the receiving surface and an exit portal, configured such that a received particle flows through the conditioning chamber and through the exit portal;

vi) the apparatus comprises a source of the first fluid in fluid connection with a first-fluid inlet port on the conditioning chamber and the apparatus is configured so as to allow introduction of the first fluid through the first-fluid inlet port into the conditioning chamber

vii) a portion, or all, of the conditioning chamber beneath the receiving surface is configured to provide a substantially linear path;

viii) the apparatus comprises the exchange unit in fluid connection with the exit portal of the conditioning chamber in which conditioned particles are separated from the first fluid by introduction of a second fluid;

and

x) the apparatus is configured such that the orifice and the receiving surface of the first fluid, are disposed within a housing that can maintain sterility.