Disposable container for use in fluid processing

• US 20040221897A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stedim, Inc. (Sartorius AG)
• Original Assignee: Stedim SA (Sartorius AG)
• Inventors: Schubmehl, Barry F., Lansky, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,004,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/574
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2202 Mixing compositions or mixers in the medical or veterinary field
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4231 using baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/51 in which the mixture is circulated through a set of tubes, e.g. with gradual introduction of a component into the circulating flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/50 Mixing receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/513 Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86204 Fluid progresses by zigzag flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86212 Plural compartments formed by baffles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86372 Inlet internally extending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87571 Multiple inlet with single outlet

Abstract

A flexible, disposable container used in fluid processing apparatus including flow control means to promote mixing of fluid within the flexible container.

Claims

1. A closed sterilizable disposable fluid container for use in fluid processing where fluid flows into and out of the container, comprising in combination:

a bag constructed of flexible material defining an interior chamber which can retain fluid;

at least one inlet port through which fluid can flow into the interior chamber of said bag;

at least one outlet port through which fluid can flow out of the interior chamber of said bag;

fluid flow control means between said inlet port and said outlet port preventing the direct passage of fluid from said inlet port to said outlet port.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said fluid flow control means is further described as causing fluid flowing into said inlet port to mix with fluid in said bag whereby the fluid flowing out of said outlet port at any given time is a substantial admixture of all the fluid in the bag at that time.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said fluid flow control means is one or more baffles that create an indirect flow path within said bag between said inlet port and said outlet port and promote mixing of fluid in said bag with fluid flowing in said inlet port.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said bag is further described as having a front panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, and a back panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, with the end edges of said front panel sealed to the end edges of said back panel to form opposing bag end edges, and the side edges of said front panel sealed to the side edges of said back panel to form opposing bag side edges wherein said bag end edges and said bag side edges define the interior chamber.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said baffles are one or more lines along which said front panel is in contact with said back panel.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said baffles are formed by one or more clamps.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein said baffles are formed by heat seals.

8. The container of claim 5 wherein said baffles are formed by a book frame clamp.

9. The container of claim 3 wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are located on the same edge of said bag;

and

a said baffle extends between said inlet port and said outlet port from said same edge to a point at least halfway to the edge opposite said same edge.

10. The container of claim 3 wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are located on opposing end edges of said bag;

and

at least one said baffle extends from a said side edge of said bag toward, but not to, the opposite said side edge.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein there are a plurality of said baffles with one or more extending from each of said side edges.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein said bag is further described as having a front panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, and a back panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, with the end edges of said front panel sealed to the end edges of said back panel to form opposing bag end edges, and the side edges of said front panel sealed to the side edges of said back panel to form opposing bag side edges wherein said bag end edges and said bag side edges define the interior chamber wherein said fluid flow control means comprises a dip tube extending from said inlet port into said interior chamber.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein said inlet port is located in an end edge of said bag and said dip tube extends at least halfway to the other said end edge of said bag.

14. The container of claim 1 further comprising a disposable filter connected to said outlet port.

15. The container of claim 4 wherein there are two inlet ports with one located at a said end edge and one located at a said side edge.

16. In a fluid processing system that circulates fluid from a reservoir through a filter and back to the reservoir, the improvement comprising in combination;

a bag constructed of flexible material defining an interior chamber which can retain fluid;

at least one outlet port through which fluid can flow out of the interior chamber of said bag;

at least one inlet port through which fluid can flow into the interior chamber of said bag;

fluid tubes connecting said inlet port to the filter; and

fluid flow control means between said inlet port and said outlet port preventing the direct passage of fluid in said bag from said inlet port to said outlet port.

17. The fluid processing system of claim 16 wherein said fluid flow control means is further described as causing fluid flowing into said inlet port to mix with fluid in said bag whereby the fluid flowing out of said outlet port at any given time is a substantial admixture of all the fluid in the bag at that time.

18. The fluid processing system of claim 16 wherein said fluid flow control means is one or more baffles that create an indirect flow path in said bag between said inlet port and said outlet port and promote mixing of any fluid in said bag with fluid flowing in said inlet port.

19. The fluid processing system of claim 18 wherein said bag is further described as having a front panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, and a back panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, with the end edges of said front panel sealed to the end edges of said back panel to form opposing bag end edges, and the side edges of said front panel sealed to the side edges of said back panel to form opposing bag side edges wherein said bag end edges and said bag side edges define the interior chamber.

20. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein said baffles are one or more lines along which said front panel is in contact with said back panel.

21. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein said baffles are formed by one or more clamps.

22. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein said baffles are formed by heat seals.

23. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein said baffles are formed by a book frame clamp.

24. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are located on the same edge of said bag;

and

a said baffle extends between said inlet port and said outlet port from said same edge to a point at least halfway to the edge opposite said same edge.

25. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are located on opposing end edges of said bag;

and

at least one said baffle extends from a side edge of said bag toward, but not to, the opposite side edge.

26. The fluid processing system of claim 25 wherein there are a plurality of said baffles with one or more extending from each of the side edges.

27. The fluid processing system of claim 16 wherein said bag is further described as having a front panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, and a back panel defined by opposing end edges and opposing side edges, with the end edges of said front panel sealed to the end edges of said back panel to form opposing bag end edges, and the side edges of said front panel sealed to the side edges of said back panel to form opposing bag side edges wherein said bag end edges and said bag side edges define the interior chamber wherein said fluid flow control means comprises a dip tube extending from said inlet port into the interior chamber.

28. The fluid processing system of claim 27 wherein said inlet port is located in an end edge of said bag and said dip tube extends at least halfway to the other end edge of said bag.

29. The fluid processing system of claim 19 wherein there are two inlet ports with one located at a said end edge and one located at a said side edge.

30. The fluid processing system of claim 16 wherein the filter is disposable.