Transfer station for API seed crystals
AssigneeLonza Ltd.
InventorsLuca Colonna, Leander Stoffel, Thomas Buchner, Viktor Schnyder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a big-bag transfer station for API seed crystals. The transfer station may permit the filling of smaller containers, such as bags or pouches, from a large container, such as a big bag. The transfer station may permit the transfer without contaminating the atmosphere of the room in which the station is housed. Additionally, the transfer station may limit cross-contamination between filling cycles by employing single-use liners.
Claims12
A method for transferring a biological or pharmaceutical product from a dispensing container to a receiving container comprising:
- flowing a biological or pharmaceutical product from a dispensing container through a sealed conduit to a receiving container, the sealed conduit including a rigid section and a flexible feed sleeve that extends from the dispensing container to the rigid section of the conduit, wherein the biological or pharmaceutical product flows through the flexible feed sleeve into the livid section of the conduit, the rigid section being lined by a flexible conduit liner, the flexible conduit liner including a first end and a second and opposite end, the flexible conduit liner preventing the biological or pharmaceutical product from contacting a surface of the rigid section;
- containing residual biological or pharmaceutical product within the flexible conduit liner after flow of the biological or pharmaceutical product has ceased;
- removing the flexible conduit liner from the conduit without releasing the contained residual biological or pharmaceutical product from within the flexible conduit liner;
- and
- wherein the method further includes the steps of:
- after flow of the biological or pharmaceutical product has ceased, crimping the used flexible feed sleeve at an intermediate section and separatism the flexible teed sleeve into two parts wherein each part includes a sealed end where the flexible feed sleeve as been crimped;
- inserting a second and unused flexible feed sleeve between the two separate parts of the used flexible teed sleeve and extending the second flexible feed sleeve over each part of the used flexible feed sleeve such that the second flexible feed sleeve extends from the dispensing container to the rigid section of the conduit;
- and
- removing the separated parts of the used flexible feed sleeve from within the second flexible feed sleeve without permitting release of a residual biological or pharmaceutical product.
A method for the transfer of a biological or pharmaceutical product comprising:
- feeding a biological or pharmaceutical product from a dispensing container through a sealed conduit;
- constricting the sealed conduit wherein the constriction forms a seal between two portions of the sealed conduit;
- severing the sealed conduit to form two severed portions of the sealed conduit, wherein at least one of the two severed portions forms an internal seal within the sealed conduit;
- installing a replacement portion of the sealed conduit over at least one of the constricted severed portions;
- and
- removing at least one of the constricted severed portions from within the replacement portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.