CONTAINER WITH FILM SPARGER

• US 20130082410A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hyclone Laboratories, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodwin, Michael E., Jones, Nephi D., West, Derik R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,643,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 261/42
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/44 Mixing of ingredients for microbiology, enzymology, in vitro culture or genetic manipulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23113 characterised by the disposition of the bubbling elements in particular configurations, patterns or arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231151 the bubbling devices being fixed or anchored in the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231231 the outlets being in the form of perforations
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23124 consisting of flexible porous or perforated material, e.g. fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231241 the outlets being in the form of perforations
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231262 having disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231266 being in the form of rings or annular elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231269 being spirally wound, coiled tubes or spirally wound, coiled and joined bands or wires
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/513 Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/26 flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/40 Manifolds; Distribution pieces fluid transfer means B01L3/563
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26

Abstract

A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall including a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet. A first weld line welds the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a first sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet. A plurality of first perforations are formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the first perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

Claims

1. A container assembly comprising:

a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall being comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet;

an first weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a first sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet; and

a plurality of first perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the first perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

2. The container assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first weld line bounds a perimeter of a first sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first sparger pathway comprising a first gas transfer path extending from a first end to an opposing second end and the first sparging area formed at the second end and communicating with the first gas transfer path.

3. The container assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the first gas transfer path is constricted relative to the first sparging area.

4. The container assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the first gas transfer path is elongated while the first sparging area is substantially circular.

5. The container assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein there are no perforations extending through the portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first gas transfer path.

6. The container assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising a first gas line coupled with the first end of the first gas transfer path.

7. The container assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first gas line welded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet.

8. The container assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hole formed on the second polymeric sheet, a port secured to the second polymeric sheet and extending through the hole, and a first gas line coupled with the port.

9. The container assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hole formed on the first polymeric sheet, a port secured to the first polymeric sheet and extending through the hole, and a first gas line coupled with the port.

10. The container assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an second weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the second weld line bounding a second sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet; and

a plurality of second perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the second sparging area.

11. The container assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with the first sparging area and the second sparging area.

12. The container assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the manifold comprises:

a first valve that regulates the flow of gas through the manifold and to the first sparging area; and

a second valve that regulates the flow of gas through the manifold and to the second sparging area.

13. The container assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the first valve and the second valve are electrically operated.

14. The container assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the first valve and the second valve each comprise a hose clamp.

15. The container assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the manifold comprises:

a body with a gas inlet port and a plurality of gas outlet port, the gas inlet port being in fluid communication with each of the plurality of gas outlet ports;

a first gas line being in fluid communication with the first sparging area and a first one of the gas outlet ports; and

a second gas line being in fluid communication with the second sparging area and a second one of the gas outlet ports.

16. The container assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the first perforations have a different size or number than the second perforations.

17. The container assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rigid support housing bounding a compartment, the flexible bag being disposed within the compartment of the support housing.

18. A container assembly comprising:

a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a bottom end wall being comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet;

an first weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a first sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, a plurality of first perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area; and

an second weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the second weld line bounding a second sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, a plurality of second perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the second sparging area.

19. The container assembly as recited in claim 18, further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with the first sparging area and the second sparging area.

20. The container assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the manifold comprises:

a first valve that regulates the flow of gas through the manifold and to the first sparging area; and

a second valve that regulates the flow of gas through the manifold and to the second sparging area.

21. The container assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein the first valve and the second valve are electrically operated.

22. The container assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein the first valve and the second valve each comprise a hose clamp.

23. The container assembly as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a first port coupled with the second polymeric sheet and communicating with the first sparging area; and

a second port coupled with the second polymeric sheet and communicating with the second sparging area.

24. The container assembly as recited in claim 23, wherein the manifold comprise:

a body with a gas inlet port and a plurality of gas outlet ports, the gas inlet port being in fluid communication with each of the plurality of gas outlet ports;

a first gas line extending from the first port to a first one of the gas outlet ports; and

a second gas line extending from the second port to a second one of the gas outlet ports.

25. The container assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the first perforations have a different size or number than the second perforations.

26. A container assembly comprising:

a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a bottom end wall comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet;

at least one weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the at least one weld line bounding an elongated sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet and extending between a first end and an opposing second end, a plurality of perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area;

a first gas line coupled with the first end of the sparging area; and

a second gas line coupled with second end of the sparging area.

27. A container assembly as recited in claim 26, a manifold coupled with the first gas line and the second gas line.

28. A container assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein the sparging area covers at least 40% of the surface area of one side of the bottom end wall.

29. The container assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising a rigid support housing bounding a compartment, the flexible bag being disposed within the compartment of the support housing.