# US 11,993,768 B2 · Modular processing system and method for the modular construction of a processing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,768 B2 - Document ID: US11993768B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/126,591 - Filed: 2020-12-18 - Published: 2021-04-08 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-19 - Assignees: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH - Applicants: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH - Inventors: Martin Leuthold; Stefan Weisshaar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993768B2 ## CPC - C12M 29/00: {Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps (pumps per se F04B)} - C12M 29/04: {Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis} - B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} - C07K 1/36: by a combination of two or more processes of different types - C12M 23/44: {Multiple separable units; Modules} - C12M 41/40: {of pressure} - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) ## Abstract A modular processing system (100) for biopharmaceutical processes includes (i) at least one first and at least one second processing unit (30, 32), which can be fluidically connected to each other; and (ii) at least one adapter plate (200), through which at least one fluid flow (14), flowing from the first processing unit (30) to the second processing unit (32), can flow. The adapter plate deflects the fluid flow between the first processing unit and the second processing unit at least partially; and/or controls the fluid flow, preferably, the pressure thereof, in an open loop or closed loop manner. A method for the modular construction of a processing system (100) for biopharmaceutical processes is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular processing system for biopharmaceutical processes, said modular processing system comprising: at least one first processing unit and at least one second processing unit, configured to fluidically connect to each other; at least one adapter plate configured to control at least one fluid flow from the first processing unit to the second processing unit; such that the fluid flow between the first processing unit and the second processing unit is deflected at least partially by the adapter plate, and/or the fluid flow is controlled with the adapter plate in an open loop flow or in a closed loop flow, wherein the adapter plate has an adapter channel configured to direct the fluid flow into the adapter channel through at least two inlet openings and out of the adapter channel through at least two outlet openings, wherein at least a first of the inlet openings is arranged such that the fluid flow flows out of an outflow channel of the first processing unit into the adapter channel, wherein at least a second of the inlet openings is arranged such that the fluid flow flows out of an inflow channel of the first processing unit into the adapter channel, wherein at least a first of the outlet openings is arranged such that the fluid flow flows out of the first outlet opening into an outflow channel of the second processing unit, and wherein at least a second of the outlet openings is arranged such that the fluid flow flows out of the second outlet opening into an inflow channel of the second processing unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter plate controls a pressure of the fluid flow. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first processing unit comprises a plurality of first processing units connected in parallel, and/or wherein the at least one second processing unit comprises a plurality of second processing units connected in parallel, and wherein the first processing units form a first processing unit group and the second processing units form a second processing unit group. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet opening is configured to be connected to an outflow channel of the first processing unit and/or wherein the at least one outlet opening is configured to be connected to an inflow channel of the second processing unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter channel comprises: a first channel region, which is arranged between the first inlet opening and the first outlet opening; a second channel region, which is arranged between the second inlet opening and the second outlet opening; and a connecting channel region, which fluidically connects the first and the second channel regions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one deflection element arranged displaceably in the adapter channel such that the fluid flow is deflected by the adapter plate such that either: a first fluid flow flows into the adapter channel through the first inlet opening and flows out through the first outlet opening; and a second fluid flow flows into the adapter channel through the second inlet opening and flows out of the adapter channel through the second outlet opening; or the fluid flow flows into the adapter channel through the first inlet opening and flows out of the adapter channel through the second outlet opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising two deflection elements configured as a multiway valve, wherein a first valve is arranged in the first channel region; and a second valve is arranged in the second channel region, wherein the valves are configured such that either: a first fluid flow flows into the adapter channel through the first inlet opening and flows out through the first outlet opening; and a second fluid flow flows into the adapter channel through the second inlet opening and flows out of the adapter channel through the second outlet opening; or the fluid flow flows into the adapter channel through the first inlet opening and flows out of the adapter channel through the second outlet opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the multiway valve comprises a valve tube, which is arranged respectively displaceably in the first and the second channel region and is configured to be traversed in a corresponding manner by the first and the second fluid flow, wherein at least two valve openings are arranged in a lateral surface of the valve tube, said valve openings being arranged offset from one another in a direction of the displacement so that a fluid flow through the adapter channel is deflected as a function of a position of the displacement of the valve tube in the respective channel region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor arranged in or on the adapter channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter channel comprises at least one auxiliary input and/or at least one auxiliary output. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one pump arranged in or on the adapter channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump or piston pump. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one flow limiter arranged in the adapter channel.