System and methods for use in dispensing biopharmaceutical materials

A system for dispensing biopharmaceutical materials, the system comprising:

• a reservoir for holding biopharmaceutical materials;
• a distribution manifold coupled to the reservoir;
• a plurality of receiving containers;
• said manifold connected to the plurality of receiving containers to allow fluid communication between said reservoir and said plurality of receiving containers;
• said manifold comprising a plurality of container conduits connected to said plurality of receiving containers such that said manifold is self-supporting and located above said plurality of receiving containers, and a plurality of distribution conduits connected to each other to form a continuous shape such that interiors of said plurality of distribution conduits are in fluid communication with each other and are at about a same height relative to each other, said plurality of distribution conduits are supported by the plurality of container conduits;
• a sampling container directly connected to a distribution conduit of the plurality of distribution conduits of said manifold to allow a flow of the biopharmaceutical materials from said reservoir to be received in said sampling container;
• and
• said plurality of receiving containers and said manifold sealed relative to an ambient environment outside said manifold and said plurality of containers to inhibit contamination of the biopharmaceutical materials when the biopharmaceutical materials are inside at least one of said plurality of receiving containers and said manifold.

A method for dispensing biopharmaceutical materials comprising:

• flowing the biopharmaceutical materials from a reservoir storing the biopharmaceutical materials to a distribution manifold coupled to a plurality of receiving containers;
• supporting a plurality of distribution conduits of the manifold by a plurality of container conduits of the manifold connected to the plurality of receiving containers such that the plurality of distribution conduits is located above the plurality of container conduits and the plurality of receiving containers to allow a flow of the biopharmaceutical materials from the plurality of distribution conduits by gravity into the plurality of receiving containers;
• the plurality of distribution conduits connected to each other to form a continuous shape such that interiors of the plurality of distribution conduits are in fluid communication with each other and are at about a same height relative to each other;
• and
• sealing the plurality of receiving containers and the manifold relative to an ambient environment outside the manifold and the plurality of receiving containers to inhibit contamination of the biopharmaceutical materials received in at least one of the plurality of receiving containers and the manifold.