# US 11,112,021 B2 · Flexible tubing management system for pharmaceutical, bioprocess applications, and food/dairy applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,021 B2 - Document ID: US11112021B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/794,160 - Filed: 2020-02-18 - Published: 2020-10-15 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-15 - Assignees: Repligen Corporation - Applicants: Repligen Corporation - Inventors: Michael C. Gagne; Dean C. Richards; Steven V. Cates; Scott Bendon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112021B2 ## CPC - F16K 27/00: Construction of housing (methods for welding housings B23K); Use of materials therefor - A23C 7/00: Other dairy technology (preservation of milk or dairy products A23B11/00) - A61J 3/00: Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms - A61M 5/1418: {Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads} - F16K 7/07: by means of fluid pressure - F16L 3/13: and engaging it by snap action {(F16L3/1203 takes precedence)} - F16L 3/24: with special member for attachment to profiled girders - F16L 3/245: {the special member embracing the entire profiled girder} - A61M 5/1413: {Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements} - A61M 39/28: Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps {(tube strippers A61M1/83)} - F16L 3/26: specially adapted for supporting the pipes all along their length, e.g. pipe channels or ducts - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - A23C: DAIRY PRODUCTS, e.g. MILK, BUTTER OR CHEESE; MILK OR CHEESE SUBSTITUTES; PREPARATION THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B11/00) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A system for managing flexible conduit or tubing used in pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or food/dairy applications includes a segment of flexible conduit or tubing and a plurality of conduit tracks, each conduit track including a conduit channel disposed on a first side thereof and extending along the length of each respective conduit track and dimensioned to receive the segment of flexible conduit or tubing therein, each conduit track further including a connector channel disposed on a second, opposing side and extending along the length of each respective conduit track and containing the one or more connectors that connect adjacent conduit tracks. The conduit tracks can be connected to each other or other process components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of managing flexible conduit or tubing used in pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or food/dairy applications, the method comprising: connecting at least two conduit tracks in an end-to-end manner with at least one connector, each conduit track including an open conduit channel disposed on a first side thereof and extending along the length of each respective conduit track and dimensioned to receive a segment of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing therein, each conduit track further including a connector channel disposed on a second side thereof and extending along the length of each respective conduit track, at least a portion of the at least one connector being inserted in the connector channels of adjacent conduit tracks to connect the adjacent conduit tracks; connecting the at least one connector to a valve body or valve assembly, via a portion of the at least one connector positioned between adjacent connected conduit tracks, to couple the adjacent connected conduit tracks to the valve body or valve assembly; and inserting one or more segments of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing into the open conduit channels of the adjacent connected conduit tracks. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least two conduit tracks are connected to a processing component selected from the group consisting of a pump, valve, sensor, filter, chromatography column, elution column, reactor, reservoir, and manifold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the segment of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing, and inserting another segment of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing into the open conduit channels of adjacent connected conduit tracks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two conduit tracks are mounted on a scaffold or support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the scaffold or support is stationary. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the scaffold or support is mobile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two conduit tracks comprise conduit tracks of different shapes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two conduit tracks comprise conduit tracks of different lengths. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector comprises a base and a pair of walls extending along and away from the base, the method further comprising inserting the pair of walls of the at least one connector into the connector channels of adjacent conduit tracks to connect the adjacent conduit tracks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the pair of walls of the at least one connector are angled and are disposed non-orthogonal to the base, the method further comprising inserting the angled pair of walls into the connector channels of adjacent conduit tracks and engaging the angled pair of walls with the conduit tracks to connect the adjacent conduit tracks. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein inserting the pair of walls of the at least one connector into the connector channels of adjacent conduit tracks further comprises pressing the pair of walls into the connector channels to flex the pair of walls to enter the connector channels and allowing the pair of walls to engage with the connector channels to be held in place therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing the segment of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing during insertion into the conduit channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the at least one connector to a valve. ### Claim 14 A method of managing flexible conduit or tubing used in pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or food/dairy applications, the method comprising: connecting at least two conduit tracks with a connector, each conduit track including an open conduit channel disposed on a first side thereof and extending along the length of each respective conduit track and dimensioned to receive a segment of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing therein, each conduit track further including a connector channel disposed on a second side thereof and extending along the length of each respective conduit track, at least a portion of the connector being inserted in the connector channels of the at least two conduit tracks; inserting a segment of flexible silicone or polymer conduit or tubing into the open conduit channel of at least one of the connected conduit tracks; and coupling a first mating structure of the connector to a second mating structure of a valve body or valve assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second mating structure of the valve body or valve assembly comprises a mounting channel configured to mate with first mating structure of the connector for coupling the connector to the valve body or valve assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a portion of the segment of conduit or tubing extends into a passageway in the valve body or valve assembly. ### Claim 17 A method of managing flexible conduit or tubing used in a pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or food/dairy applications, the method comprising: inserting a segment of a first flexible conduit or tubing into a conduit channel of a first conduit track; inserting a segment of a second flexible conduit or tubing into a conduit channel of a second conduit track; coupling the first conduit track and the second conduit track to a valve body or valve assembly; inserting a portion of a connector into at least one of the first conduit track or the second conduit track; and coupling a connector to the valve body or valve assembly; wherein the valve assembly includes a mounting channel configured to receive a portion of the connector to couple the connector and the first and second conduit tracks to the valve body or valve assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the connector is matingly coupled with a structure on the valve body or valve assembly.