Container with film sparger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643133-B2
Application number	US-201213631448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2012
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall including a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet. A first weld line welds the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a first sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet. A plurality of first perforations are formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the first perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container assembly comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall being comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet, the first and second polymeric sheets each being comprised of a flexible film, the first polymeric sheet having an interior surface that forms a portion of the interior surface of the flexible bag that bounds the chamber and the second polymeric sheet having an exterior surface that forms a portion of the exterior surface of the flexible bag;
a first weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line forming a perimeter of a first sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first sparger pathway comprising a first gas transfer path and a first sparging area that are both bounded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet and both have a perimeter formed by the first weld line, the first gas transfer path being constricted relative to the first sparging area and extending from a first end to an opposing second end, and the first sparging area being formed at the second end of the first gas transfer path and communicating with the first gas transfer path; and
a plurality of first perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the first perforations and into the chamber of the bag,
wherein the flexible bag including the sheets of the bottom end wall thereof are sufficiently flexible so that the flexible bag including the sheets of the bottom end wall thereof can be rolled up without damage.

2. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first gas transfer path is elongated while the first sparging area is substantially circular.

3. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein there are no perforations extending through the portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlie the first gas transfer path.

4. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a first gas line coupled with the first end of the first gas transfer path.

5. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a first gas line welded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet.

6. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a hole formed on the second polymeric sheet, a port secured to the second polymeric sheet and extending through the hole, and a first gas line coupled with the port.

7. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a hole formed on the first polymeric sheet, a port secured to the first polymeric sheet and extending through the hole, and a first gas line coupled with the port.

8. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a second weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the second weld line bounding a second sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet; and
a plurality of second perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the second sparging area.

9. The container assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first perforations have a different size or number than the second perforations.

10. The container assembly as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with the first sparging area and the second sparging area.

11. The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the manifold comprises:
a body with a gas inlet port and a plurality of gas outlet ports, the gas inlet port being in fluid communication with each of the plurality of gas outlet ports;
a first gas line being in fluid communication with the first sparging area and a first one of the gas outlet ports; and
a second gas line being in fluid communication with the second sparging area and a second one of the gas outlet ports.

12. The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the manifold comprises:
a first valve that regulates the flow of gas through the manifold and to the first sparging area; and
a second valve that regulates the flow of gas through the manifold and to the second sparging area.

13. The container assembly as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are electrically operated.

14. The container assembly as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first valve and the second valve each comprise a hose clamp.

15. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a rigid support housing bounding a compartment, the flexible bag being disposed within the compartment of the support housing.

16. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the bag having a top end wall, the bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the first polymeric sheet or the second polymeric sheet being connected directly to or being integrally formed as a single continuous member with at least a portion of the encircling sidewall.

17. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first weld line traverses a path within an interior area of the first and second polymeric sheets, away from a perimeter of the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet.

18. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein both the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet extend to the encircling side wall.

19. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a second weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the second weld line forming a perimeter of a second sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the second sparger pathway comprising a second gas transfer path and a second sparging area that are both bounded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the second gas transfer path being constricted relative to the second sparging area and extending from a first end to an opposing second end, and the second sparging area being formed at the second end of the second gas transfer path and communicating with the second gas transfer path; and
a plurality of second perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the second sparging area so that gas can pass from the second sparging area, through the second perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

20. The container assembly as recited in claim 19 , wherein the first sparger pathway is isolated from the second sparger pathway so that a gas entering the first sparger pathway does not enter the second sparger pathway.

21. The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
the first polymeric sheet having an exterior surface that communicates with the first sparger pathway; and
the second polymeric sheet having an interior surface that communicates with the first sparger pathway.

22. A container assembly comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a bottom end wall being comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet;
a first weld line w

Assignees

• Hyclone Lab Inc
• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Goodwin Michael E
• Jones Nephi D
• West Derik R

Classifications

• C12M23/26

  flexible (flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505) · CPC title

• C12M23/14 Primary

  Bags · CPC title

• C12M23/40

  Manifolds; Distribution pieces (fluid transfer means B01L3/563) · CPC title

• C12M29/06

  Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26) · CPC title

• B01F2003/04326

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic