Sensor positioning system for a bioprocess engineering installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12478970-B2
Application number	US-202017442866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2020
Priority date	Mar 25, 2019
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A sensor positioning system for a bioprocess engineering unit, wherein a container is provided for receiving a biological medium which, when installed, extends in the axial direction from an upper container end to a lower container end, wherein a holder is provided for holding the container when installed, wherein a sensor is provided for fixing to the container. A positioning aid device for positioning the sensor to be fixed is provided on the container, the positioning aid device has a positioning aid that can be applied directly to or near the container on the holder, which can be brought into different vertical positions and/or circumferential positions relative to at least one reference point provided on the container and/or holder, and the positioning aid device has a technical storage medium or analog print medium with an allocation list.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A sensor positioning system for a bioprocess engineering unit comprising:
a container for receiving a biological medium which, when installed, extends in the axial direction from an upper container end to a lower container end, a holder configured for holding the container when installed, a sensor configured for fixing to the container, and a positioning aid device for positioning the sensor to be fixed, wherein the positioning aid device is provided on the container in a predetermined position, wherein the positioning aid device has a positioning aid that is applied directly to the container or near the container on the holder, which is configured to be brought into different vertical positions and/or circumferential positions relative to at least one reference point provided on the container and/or holder, wherein the positioning aid device has a technical storage medium or analog print medium with an allocation list in which a plurality of bioprocess engineering applications are respectively allocated a predetermined vertical position and/or circumferential position of the positioning aid, and wherein the positioning aid is provided with at least one marking with which the sensor can be aligned.

2 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage medium or print medium comprises an electronic, magnetic, optical or photographic storage medium or a print medium in the form of paper or foil.

3 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the allocation list, at least one provided on the container and/or holder is respectively allocated to the plurality of bioprocess engineering applications, wherein one predetermined vertical position and/or circumferential position of the positioning aid is respectively allocated to the respective reference point.

4 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid on the container or holder in its entirety can be immovably disposed in the axial direction in different positions relative to the respective reference point, or wherein the positioning aid is configured to be immovably applied to the container or holder, wherein prior to applying the positioning aid, a part of the positioning aid which is mobile relative to any of the container, the holder, and the rest of the positioning aid can be disposed along the rest of the positioning aid in different positions, which when the positioning aid has been applied respectively correspond to a specific position relative to the respective reference point, or wherein the positioning aid is immovably applied to the container or holder, wherein a part of the positioning aid which is mobile relative to any of the container and the holder can be disposed in the axial direction in different positions relative to the respective reference point.

5 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid on the container or holder in its entirety is configured to be immovably disposed in the circumferential direction in different positions relative to the respective reference point, or wherein the positioning aid is configured to be immovably applied to the container or holder, wherein prior to applying the positioning aid, a part of the positioning aid which is mobile relative to any of the container, the holder, and the rest of the positioning aid is configured to be disposed transversely to the rest of the positioning aid in different positions which, when the positioning aid has been applied, respectively correspond to a specific position relative to the respective reference point, or wherein the positioning aid is immovably applied to the container or holder, wherein a part of the positioning aid which is mobile relative to the container and/or holder is configured to be disposed in the circumferential direction in different positions relative to the respective reference point.

6 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid is connectable to the container and/or to the holder in a material-bonding, interlocking and/or force-fitting manner.

7 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid is a template which is configured to be placed on the container, or wherein the positioning aid is a marking support which is configured to be placed on the container or near the container on the holder and has a plurality of markings.

8 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid is separate from the holder and/or a door of the holder or is integrated into the holder and/or a door of the holder, and/or wherein the storage medium or print medium is separate from the container and/or holder or is applied to the container and/or holder.

9 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the container is a bioprocess bag or a dimensionally stable vessel, and/or wherein the container has an integrated stirring apparatus.

10 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one or more reference points are formed on the container by the upper or the lower container ends, by a bag seam, by a mechanical stop on the container, by a mechanical stop on a stirring shaft of the stirring apparatus and/or by a connection piece on the container, and/or wherein one or more reference points on the holder are formed by an edge and/or by a mechanical stop on the holder.

11 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured as an inductive sensor, as a capacitive sensor, as an optical sensor, as an ultrasound sensor, as a microwave sensor, as a radar sensor or as a sensor for measuring the electrical conductivity or thermal conductivity, and/or wherein the sensor is configured as a fill level sensor.

12 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid has or itself forms the at least one marking.

13 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a marking support which is configured as a rod or strip is configured to be fastened to the container and/or the holder or configured to be placed on the container and/or holder.

14 . The sensor positioning system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one moveable slide is disposed on the marking support between the markings, or wherein a plurality of markings applied directly on the container and/or holder are provided as the positioning aid.

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Inventors

• Bode Matthias
• Grimm Christian
• Adams Thorsten
• Rupprecht Jens

Classifications

• G01F23/0007

  for discrete indicating and measuring (G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• C12M41/44

  of volume or liquid level · CPC title

• C12M27/02

  Stirrer or mobile mixing elements · CPC title

• C12M23/46

  Means for fastening · CPC title

• C12M23/28

  disposable or single use · CPC title