Chamber for a freeze-drying device

• US 6,920,701 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STERIS GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: STERIS GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Oetjen, Georg-Wilheim, Haseley, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/485,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 342/84, 34/92, 625/32, 621/23, 516/113, 264/5
• US Class Current: 34/92
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/06 the process involving freezing

Abstract

A chamber for a freeze-drying device with storage surfaces, whose temperature can be regulated, for containers containing the product that is to be freeze-dried. The chamber includes an optical shield comprised of shield components, whose temperature can be regulated. The shield is positioned between the storage surfaces and the interior wall surfaces of the chamber.

Claims

1. A freeze-dryer for freeze-drying a product, the freeze-dryer comprising:

a chamber having interior wall surfaces;

means connected to said chamber for producing a vacuum in said chamber;

a temperature controlled storage surface for receiving a container disposed within said chamber; and

a plurality of temperature controlled shield components, said shield components disposed about said storage surface and said container such that no direct path exists between said container and said interior walls, and said shield components being spaced apart from each other such that vapor flow is permitted therebetween.

2. Chamber pursuant to claim 1 characterized in that said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are equipped with bent sections.

3. Chamber pursuant to claim 1 comprising a chamber door, characterized in that an interior wall of said door carries at least one of said plurality of temperature controlled shield components.

4. Chamber pursuant to claim 1 characterized in that a pressure sensor is disposed relative to said plurality of temperature controlled shield components such that no direct path exists between said pressure sensor and said interior walls.

5. Chamber pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that said temperature controlled shield components are double-wall plates and are part of a cooling medium circuit.

6. Chamber pursuit to claim 5, characterized in that said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are equipped with bent sections.

7. Chamber pursuant to claim 5, characterized in that the distances between said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are dimensioned such that water vapor transport between said storage surfaces and a condenser that is connected to said chamber is essentially unimpaired.

8. Chamber pursuant to claim 5, characterized in that said storage surfaces and said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are part of a common cooling circuit.

9. Chamber pursuant to claim 5, characterized in that said storage surfaces and said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are parts of independent cooling circuits.

10. Chamber pursuant to claim 5, comprising a chamber door, characterized in that an interior wall of said door carries at least one of said plurality of temperature controlled shield components.

11. Chamber pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are arranged such that they overlap.

12. Chamber pursuit to claim 11, characterized in that said plurality of temperature controlled shield components are equipped with bent sections.