Method of providing inline sterile freeze drying of a product in trays accommodated in a trolley, system for carrying out the method, and use of the method
First Claim
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1. A method of providing inline sterile freeze drying of a product containing solid matter and a solvent, which comprises:
- i. filling the product into a plurality of trays accommodated in at least one trolley in a filling station;
ii. reducing a temperature of the product;
iii. bringing the product to a pressure and a temperature below a triple point of the solvent in a freeze dryer unit;
iv. maintaining lowered pressure and thereby provide a freeze dried product by removing the solvent as vapor in the freeze dryer unit;
v. bringing the freeze dried product to a temperature and pressure above the triple point;
vi. emptying the product from the plurality of trays;
vii. sterilizing the at least one trolley with the plurality of trays; and
viii. bringing the at least one trolley with the plurality of trays to the filling station.
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Abstract
For providing inline sterile freeze drying of a product containing solid matter and a solvent, such as water, in a plurality of trays accommodated in at least one trolley, a system comprises a filling station having an inlet end and an outlet end, or a docking station, a freeze storage, a freeze dryer unit, an emptying station having an inlet end and an outlet end, or a docking station, a plurality of trays adapted to be accommodated in at least one trolley. A cleaning and sterilizing unit is provided between the outlet end of the emptying station and the inlet end of the filling station.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of providing inline sterile freeze drying of a product containing solid matter and a solvent, which comprises:
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i. filling the product into a plurality of trays accommodated in at least one trolley in a filling station; ii. reducing a temperature of the product; iii. bringing the product to a pressure and a temperature below a triple point of the solvent in a freeze dryer unit; iv. maintaining lowered pressure and thereby provide a freeze dried product by removing the solvent as vapor in the freeze dryer unit; v. bringing the freeze dried product to a temperature and pressure above the triple point; vi. emptying the product from the plurality of trays; vii. sterilizing the at least one trolley with the plurality of trays; and viii. bringing the at least one trolley with the plurality of trays to the filling station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification