# US 12,005,028 B2 · Disposable port device for connecting a functional unit to a flexible wall of a disposable container and method of manufacturing a disposable port device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,028 B2 - Document ID: US12005028B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/268,505 - Filed: 2019-08-14 - Published: 2021-10-14 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-22 - Assignees: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH - Applicants: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH - Inventors: Isabelle Gay; Thomas Regen; Marek Hoehse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005028B2 ## CPC - A61J 1/1475: {Inlet or outlet ports} - A61J 1/00: Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes (capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00) - B01L 3/50: {Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes (devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15)} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B01L 2300/0627: Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated - B01L 2300/0832: cylindrical, tube shaped - 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 - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A disposable port device for connecting a functional unit to a flexible wall of a disposable container includes a flange to be connected to the flexible wall of the disposable container and an insert providing or receiving the functional unit. The flange and the insert are separate parts made from different materials with different material characteristics. A method of manufacturing such a disposable port device includes the steps of producing the flange from a first material, producing the insert from a different second material, the first and second materials having different material characteristics, and connecting the insert to the flange. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A disposable port device for connecting a functional unit to a flexible wall of a disposable container, comprising: a functional unit, being one of a sensor, a sensor assembly, a fluid transfer unit, a hose barb, a baffle, a membrane, or an analytical interface; a flange to be connected to the flexible wall of the disposable container; and an insert providing or receiving the functional unit, the flange and the insert being separate parts made from different materials with different material characteristics, wherein the material of the insert is harder than the material of the flange, and wherein the material of the flange is low-density polyethylene. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The disposable port device according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the insert includes at least one of: metal, thermoplastic, thermosetting polymer, or resins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The disposable port device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange is ring-shaped and the insert is disc-shaped, the shape of the flange being adapted to receive the insert. ### Claim 4 A disposable port device for connecting a functional unit to a flexible wall of a disposable container, comprising: a functional unit being optical sensor unit including a partially optically transmissive material; a flange to be connected to the flexible wall of the disposable container; and an insert providing or receiving the functional unit, the flange and the insert being separate parts made from different materials with different material characteristics. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The disposable port device according to claim 4, characterized in that the partially optically transmissive material is sapphire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The disposable port device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional unit provides a single functionality or more than one functionality at a same time or multiple times a same kind of functionality. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A disposable container, comprising the flexible wall and the disposable port device according to claim 1, the port device being integrated into the flexible wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The disposable container according to claim 7, characterized in that the flange of the port device is directly attached to the flexible wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The disposable port device according to claim 4, wherein the partially transmissive material is transmissive in a wavelength range of 190 to 2500 nm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The disposable port device according to claim 5, wherein the optical sensor unit includes a sapphire disc. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The disposable container according to claim 8, wherein the flange of the port device is welded or glued to the flexible wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A disposable container, comprising the flexible wall and the disposable port device according to claim 4, the port device being integrated into the flexible wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The disposable port device according to claim 4, wherein the material of the insert is harder than the material of the flange, and wherein the material of the flange is low-density polyethylene. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The disposable port device according to claim 13, wherein the material of the insert includes at least one of: metal, thermoplastic, thermosetting polymer, or resins.