Device for mechanically stabilizing a connection, in particular a sensor connection, on a flexible bag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12545880-B2
Application number	US-202017606109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2020
Priority date	Apr 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A device for mechanically stabilizing a sensor port on a flexible bag including a rigid, substantially plate-shaped support part, which has a receptacle for a rigid connecting part integrated in the bag, in particular a sensor, and a holding mechanism on the receptacle. The device further includes a fastening element adapted to be attached to the holding mechanism of the support part such that it fixes the support part to the connecting part. The device may include a rigid support part which can be assembled from at least two parts, preferably struts. The parts surround a free area or an opening in which a rigid connecting part integrated in the bag can be placed. In an assembled state of the parts, the free area or the opening has a smaller diameter than the connecting part, so that the parts form a load-receiving mechanism for the connecting part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A device for mechanically stabilizing a port on a flexible bag, comprising
a rigid support part comprised of at least two parts, each of the at least two parts being rigid, the at least two parts, in an assembled state, together defining a free area or an opening therebetween to receive a rigid connecting part integrated in the flexible bag, the free area or the opening, in the assembled state of the at least two parts, having a smaller diameter than the connecting part, so that each of the at least two parts clamp around the connecting part from behind, on a side of the connecting part facing away from the flexible bag, to form a load-receiving mechanism for the connecting part, wherein the at least two parts are struts.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that in the assembled state, the at least two parts form a substantially U-shaped support part.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least two parts are connected by a coupling element, a section of the coupling element projecting from one of the at least two parts and being adapted to be inserted into an opening provided on another one of the at least two parts and matched to the section of the coupling element.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that an underside of the at least two parts has a receptacle matched to a shape of the connecting part.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support part has flattened projections at opposite ends.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support part is a reusable component configured to be assembled and disassembled several times.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support part is on an outer wall of the bag when the connecting part is received in the opening.

8 . A device arrangement, comprising a flexible bag, a rigid connecting part integrated in a wall of the bag, a rigid container in which the bag is received and by which the bag is supported, and the device for mechanically stabilizing a port according to claim 1 , the rigid container having a window opening through which the connecting part integrated in the bag is accessible, the device for mechanically stabilizing a port being clamped between an edge of the window opening and an outer wall of the bag.

9 . The device arrangement according to claim 8 , characterized in that the support part has a shape which is adapted to a contour of an inner wall of the container in an area of the window opening.

10 . The device arrangement according to claim 8 , characterized in that the flexible bag is a disposable bioreactor and the connecting part is a sensor.

11 . The device arrangement according to claim 8 , characterized in that the bag, the connecting part and the stabilizing device are sterilizable disposable components.

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Inventors

• Regen Thomas
• Scholz Jochen
• Dreher Thomas
• Wollschmidt Regina
• Gaertner Sascha
• Schubert Jan-Eike
• Husemann Ute
• Hildebrandt Sabrina
• Frieser Andrea
• Althuber Sharon-Angela
• Purmann Sebastian

Classifications

• C12M23/38

  Caps; Covers; Plugs; Pouring means · CPC title

• C12M23/28

  disposable or single use · CPC title

• C12M23/14 Primary

  Bags · CPC title

• C12M37/04 Primary

  Seals · CPC title