Disposable container and mixing system comprising the container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10076753-B2
Application number	US-201313916261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2013
Priority date	Jun 12, 2013
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a disposable container ( 100 ) comprising a side wall ( 2, 32 ), top ( 4 ) and bottom ( 6 ), wherein the side wall ( 2; 32 ) and the bottom ( 6 ) comprise a flexible material, wherein the side wall ( 2; 32 ), top ( 4 ) and bottom ( 6 ) are joined together to define the container ( 100 ) with an interior compartment ( 10 ) for keeping a fluid inside the container ( 100 ). The bottom ( 6 ) of the container ( 100 ) comprises at least one portion of rigid or semi-rigid material comprising a folding means ( 124; 224; 324; 324 ′) that enables folding of the bottom ( 6 ). Thus an easy way of folding the bottom of the container is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable container ( 100 ) for use in a bioreactor mixing system having an outer vessel for receiving the disposable container therein, the disposable container comprising:
a side wall ( 2 , 32 ) comprising a flexible material defining a side wall surface;
a top ( 4 ) comprising a flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid material defining a top surface;
a bottom ( 6 ) opposite the top ( 4 ) and comprising a flexible material defining a bottom surface that extends over the entire cross-section of the container; and
a folding means associated with the bottom surface; and
wherein the sidewall surface is joined to the top surface by a first seal extending along the entire periphery of the top surface, and wherein the sidewall surface is joined to the bottom surface by a second seal extending along the entire periphery of the bottom surface to define the container ( 100 ) with an interior compartment ( 10 ) for keeping a fluid inside the container ( 100 ) in a sterile manner;
wherein the folding means includes at least two rods of rigid or semi-rigid material forming a cross-shaped structure which enables the bottom ( 6 ) to be in a folded configuration or an unfolded configuration, wherein in the unfolded configuration, the at least two rods provide support for the bottom ( 6 );
wherein the disposable container further includes a support structure of rigid or semi-rigid material for supporting a mixing device placed in the interior compartment, wherein the support structure is connected to at least one of the rods at a crossing point of the at least two rods;
wherein the support structure is connected to the at least two rods on top of the at least two rods at a crossing point of the at least two rods; and
at least one of the rods is foldable upon itself such that a total height of the at least one rod, when folded upon itself, is greater than a height of the support structure.

2. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein the rods ( 12 ; 120 ; 220 ; 322 ) are arranged perpendicular to each other.

3. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein the folding means ( 124 ; 224 ; 324 ; 324 ′) is foldable only in one direction.

4. The disposable container of claim 3 , wherein the folding means ( 124 ; 224 ; 324 ; 324 ′) is at least one hinge.

5. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a plastic laminate.

6. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein the side wall ( 2 ), top ( 4 ) and bottom ( 6 ) are joined together by means of a heat seal and/or an adhesive seal.

7. A mixing system comprising a vessel housing the disposable container ( 100 ) of claim 1 .

8. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom ( 6 ) comprises port connectors ( 18 ).

9. The disposable container of claim 1 , which is adapted to hold a fluid in the interior compartment ( 10 ) in a sterile manner.

10. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein:
the rods are each connected to the support structure via a hinge.

11. The disposable container of claim 1 , wherein:
the support structure is elliptical in shape.

Assignees

• Ge Healthcare Bio Sciences Corp

Inventors

• Yi Shujian

Classifications

• B01F15/00668

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F13/0872

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01L2300/123

  Flexible; Elastomeric · CPC title

• B01F15/0085

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01L2200/087

  Ergonomic aspects · CPC title