Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FO?t2. I~EL~VERING SENSITIVE EIQL3~D ~,~~D~
H,,~.G~~'T.~~ Q,~ THE IIV~EN~ON
;, The invention relates to axa apparatus for delivering sensitive Ziquid
media froxn a sealed flexible container ~~.sir~g a pressurized chamber izz
which the
container is held.
_ ~ Ixx kbe medical sector, it is repeafiedly z~ecessa~-y to deliver
sez~sitxve
liquid zxxedza sucla as solutxo~,s, dispersions, suspetzsioz~s axzd the
l,ilCe, for example
protein solutions, or the like. It is known to introduce the ruedia izzto
~.exible
contazners and to suspend these, for e~,azz~.ple, at a specilie height, an
order to supply
the z~riediu~rr~ to a use, foz~ example a filtration devzce, uz~dex a positive
pressure
depexzdxz~g oz~ ttxe height of tb.e suspension. It is also kxZOwxz to
cor~dx~c~t a gaseous
rrkediuxn ixlto the container wz~a the liduid medium, to build up a positive
pressure in
the container anal to drive out the lxcluid ~x~~:diurn. Finally, it is known
to use .
perisfialtic pumps to deliver such sez~sztive liquid media.
Disadvantages have occurred in the delivery of the liquid media. Tf
the container witk~ the medium is suspended a~C a ce~ta~i.n height, then the
delivery
pressure depends on the difference in height between tk~e coz~taaz~ex and a
user of tl~e
medium. If the container ztself is inflated with a gas ix~ order to build x~p
a positive
pressure to deliver the liquid znedx~trn, then it is possible fox leaks in the
container to
occur and for the liquid mediuzxz t4 e~zierge. Even bursting of the container
cannot be
zuled r~ut_ Zf peristaltic pimps are used to deliver the liquid znediurn, then
fzrstly
sensitive constituent parts of the liquid medium are loaded naecharaical.ly by
the
peristaltic pump, Moreover, in particular with a love positive pressure fox
delivering
the liquid xxxediuz~a, it is omen a proble~xt to set a detxrted positive
pressure. Fxu.alXy,
pulsations occur ia~ the zx~.ediuz~x delivered, which is often uz~desired. '
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~LTl~!INIARY t,;33F THE ,INVENTTON
_ rt is therefore ant object ofthe inv~;ntion to provide ate apparatus fi~r
d~r:.:r~riz~g sexzsitave 'liquid media which does not b,ave the above
described
disadvantages.
In order to achieve this object, an apparatus is proposed wh~i,c~t b,as
the ;follovv~x~.g features. A, sensitive liquid mediuzxz is heid ~ a ~ea~xble
contaizaer ysrith
az~ outlet and .from which ~edauzz~ xs forced upon pressure be~z~,g applied to
the
container. Tt is distinguished by pzovxd~,g a pressure eharnber into vvhi.cb
the flExible
conta;tx~e~r died witlx dZe Xiquid medium can be ~~rodrxeed. ~. pressure
source is
conxnected to the pressuare cbawmbex, acts on the pressure c,ha~(bez' with a
positive
pressure and tbtez-efore cozxap~-esses the flexible container. The znediorn is
thereby
driven out of the container. It is particularly advantageous.that ~e pressure
can be
set very accurately and can be easily zz~oz~itored.
BRT~F DESCR1PTTON O~ ~ DR.A°W7NG
'xhe invention is axpl.axx~ed in morE detail in the follo~riz~g text
using the dzawxz~g, rwhicb, zs a perspective view of a pressure chamber
forxxzed as a
pzessuxe cabinet.
~ET~iL.ED DESCRIPTION Op .~,~.'~,tE~ERRED E1V1BODT~EN~~?,~ ~'HE
1N~E
The pressure cabiuaet 1. shown in the single Figure has ata, interior
which serves as a pxesswue chamber 3, into whzch there zs introduced a
flexible
container 5 in which there is a sensitive Iicluid xxzediu~xi '~.
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Thte cox~taiz~er S ;is preferably formed as a sterile disposable bag,
which is tbexefnxe used only once, so the pm'blenas of clearaxxg axed
disitl:fecd.on of the
coz~tazz~ejc which are associated with xe~,Xling are avoided.
The -container S has an outlet 9, from wluich a hose 1 Z exits. The
Iaose discharges the liquid x~aedi:7 from the container 5. OthErwise, the
corxtaituex
is closed off completely .from the outside, so that the ~m,edxum 7 cannot be
contaminated.
The coz~taxxxex S is suspended in the interior of the pressure cabinet
1 in a suitable way. Here, it is illustrated with a eonwentxoz~al. cutout 13,
which is
provided in a double~walled region of the coa~taiz~ez~ 5, so that there no
connection is
pxovi,ded betwee~ot the liquid znediurn 7 and the outside. Two hoofs 1 S,
ur~.ch hold
the coz~taaz~er 5 securely izx the ztzterior of the pressure cabinet l, engabe
in ~e cutout
23.
However, such. a suspension of the container S is necessary only
when the pressure cabinet 1 is operated upright, rxrlxich should be the
norcaal. case.
However, should the cabinet be oriented horizontal, tlxe eonta.xz~ex S would
be held
securely by the side walls 1,7, 19, 21 and 23, so that further hxiug oftkze
container 5
in the pressure chamber 3 would not be xeduired.
The hooks 15 can be fixed to a rear urall 25 ofthe pressure cabizzet
l, ar else &ozxa the znside to tlae upper side wall 17. It is merely critical
that tlae
coz~taiz~er 5 is held in a desired positxoz~ lae~re, so that it dOES not kink
the hose 11 ozx
account ofthe inherent weight of the coxztaartex.
'1"he lower side wall 21 of tlae cabinet has a cutout 27, whick~ leads
from the pressure chamber 3 to the outside and accoodates the hose 3.1.
Preferably, aza elastic pxotectiwe layer, far example a rubber gronet z9,
prevents the
hose l l chaf ng through.
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Fitfed to oxte side wall 23, for example via hinges 33 and 35, oz the
like, is a door 31 which when closed, closes o~~tla.e pzessuxe clza~xxbez~ 3
in a pressure-
tight warmer.
' On its side ~acizxg tlxe pressure chamber 3, the dooz may be
provided with a cireumferential seal 37, whzch ixxteracts wzth the frozrt
sides of the
side ~tvalls 17, 19, 21 a»d 23 to close off the pressux9e chamber 3 in a
pressure-tight
manner.
- Ora the bottom of the door 31., a protective layer 38 z~aay again be
p~rovitded, which holds tlxe bole 11 secuxely in the cutout 27 without chafinb
trough
it.
Oz~ ane side wall, here wall 19, there is a pressuxe conxzection 39,
via whiel; the pressure chamber 3 cue. be eoxsneeted at 40 to a pressure
source 42.
When tb,e door 31 is closed, the presslue so~~zce caix place da.e pzessure
chamber 3 and
tk~exe~ox~e a1~4 fibs ~lexxble container 5 under a positive pzessure. Also
provided on
the side wall 19 are a. pressure indicator 4.T and a safety valve 43.
Finally, the appazatus 1 catz also be pro~~ided with a vibrati~ag uzzit,
Eo ensuxe that the xnedxum 7 present in the container 5 can be Dept
cozxtir~~xously
moving or during predetezminable time periods, in order tv avoid settling c~f
the
substances present in the rraediuna.
'~'he vibzating unit can act directly on the contaznez S a~zd can be
arccommodated in the pressure chazxuber 3. Idowever, fibs pressure cabinet '1
is
preferably placed on a vibrating table .~4 atxd tkzerefore subjected in its
entirety to a
xn.ovetnent -~rbich acts on the medium 7 in the container 5,
In the follawiz~g test, operahion of the apparatus for delivering
sensitive liquid na~edxa will be described in more detail:
In the container 5 there is a sez~sztive zx~edxum., ~or example a
svlutzon, dispersion or suspezzsion, which should not bE subjected to any
rrxechanzcal
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loading as might be provided, fox exaxxlpla, when the rnediuzxz is pnrnped
with a
peristaltic prop.
The cox~ta,~z~~ex 5 itself is at least az~ pazt of flexible material, so t3aat
a positive pressure acting on the contaiu~.ex 5 acts on the liduid xnediuzn 7
inside the
container and drives t.~te ~xa.edium out via the outlet 9 and the hose 11.
The container 5 is ix~~hroduced into the interior of the pressure
cabxz~et l, that is into tx~.e pressure chamber 3, and zs preferably fixed to
the hooks I 5.
The hose .2 ~ is led through the cutout 27, which is diznex~siox~ed such that
tb~e hose 1 I
is not crushed when the door 31 is closed. The hose 11 zu~ay consist of a
flexible
materiaX which closes off the cutout ,27 xx~ a pressure-tight ~xzaaaxa.ez.
however,
pxovisiozz is preferably made here far a protective xayer ~9, which interacts
with the
protective layer 38 vn the door' 31 in such a way that, v~rhez~ 'the door is
closed, the
hose 11 is enclosed completely and the pressure chaxnbez 3 is closed off
pressaaxe-
tight from the outside. In ad.ditioz~, the seal 37 interacts with the side
walls 17, 19, 21
anal 23 heze, so that ~Cbe pressure chaxnbex 3 is closed off completely when
the door
31 is closed-
'Then, a positive pressure is built up in the ix~tezzox of the appazatus,
here in the pressure cabinet l, through tb.e pzessure coz~x~ection 39. A
gasea~us
medium is preferably conducted into the pressure chaxnbex 3, sia~ce such a
medium.
escapes duiekly when the door 31 is opened. However, it would also bE
conceivab.le
to enz~duct a liduid zoedium into the chaxz~ber 3, since the pressure
xnediurxi is isolated
by the coz~taaz~ez 5 fxozx~ the liduid n~.ediuxx~ 7 i~ the int~;rEOr of the
contaixaex.
Nitrogen is pzefexably conducted into the pressure chamber 3 fxozn
the source 42, since would not impair the seztsi.tzwe znediuxn 7 in the
inteziaz of the
container 5, even in the event of azxy leaks in the container.. In addition,
the iz~sxde of
the pressure cabinet x is not contazxzinated by this gas.
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T$e positive pressure acting i7a the pressure chatmber 3 can be set
by a xnonitaring device in tez7ms of level and in terns of the pressure
vax~atxo~x
' provided over time. For this purpose, suitable backing up of the pressure
source can
be provided. ~onitozix~.g of the pressure chamber 3 caza. be arazpleroez~ted
by a
zaaz~uitor~g device which inchxdes the pressure indicator 41 and the safety
valve ~.3.
The valve prevents a hazardous positive pressure in the pressure chamber 3 apd
therefore prevents the door 3r burst; open undesirably. However, it is
particularly
important that the medium 7 is discharged fxozxx the coxttainer S only at a
defined
pressure aa~d that is roil-hazardous for the medium 7 axtd fox its processing.
The safety valve 43 preferably can be set to a desired pressure, xra.
order to employ the apparatus readily for various delivery purposes. Fox
example,
when hlterixxg sensitive xnedza, a filtration pressure of about U.2 bar is
used.
,A.ccordingay, the safety valve 43 zx~l~st then be~ set to this pressure, in
ozder to enable
use of the apparatus for filtering.
In principle, it is therefore possible, by use of are appropriate
monitoring device and with adjustable pressure sources, to maintain a desired
pressure in the pressure chamber 3 or else to xnaintazn. diffezez~t pressure
values at
different times. The apparatus can therefore be exnployed urAiversally, that
is to say
z~ot just fox f hexing xoedia but fox various processing and delivery
puucposes, and
possibly also as a metering device whey, administering medicaments.
in the embodiment illustrated, the pressure chamber 3 is designed
to accommodate a single coxrtaiz~er 5. However, it its possible to subdivide
the
pressure chamber axzd to allocate different pressure values to v~ous regions
of the
pressure chamber which are delirnixed from one another in a pressure-tight
xnanl~ex~,
anal also possible to accorxunodate dif~e~rent containers in these regions.
It is critical that the medium 7 can be delivered a:nd discharged
frozzu the container 5 without contact. pressure acting externally on the
flexible
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W' . . .,
container S delivers the xttedium 7 out of the container S via tlae outlet 9
axxd the hose
11 and supplites znediumi to various untended 'uses.
'l he pressuxe cha~z»ber 3 is not brought ixxto contact with filxe
medium 7, so that the replacement of containers with different media is easily
possible, without need for a complicated disixxfection process. The media from
different containers dci not eozne into contact with either the interior or
the pressure
chau~ber of the pressure cabinet nor with any appliances coxmected to the
pressure
chamber, here filae px-essure connectxaxt 39, tl~e pressure ~dxcator 41 ox the
safet~r
valve 43. ~f the pressure chamber 3 is preferably acted on with nitrogen at a
positive
pressure, it is possible to ensure that the rneditzrn 7 is not impaired, even
if the
con~taxxxer 5 should have a leaky point and the pressure medium sJhould
penetrate into
the interior of the cozttaix~er S.
After all this, it is obvious that the apparatus is constreicted very
sirrzply and therefore can operate virtually without fault. 'this leads to
very safe use
of the apparatus described here, which as of critical zxnportance izr
pazticulsx ixx the
medical sector.
,. lu order to be able to employ the apparatus even at very low
positive pressure values, the presswre cormection 3~ can also be provided with
s.
pressure red~uci~.g valve. This leads to additional safety if the apparatus,
foz e~anaple,
is used zn a fZltration in which a positive prESSUre of only 0.~ bar is
desired.
The re~,uirerrzexrts for the container 5 are in no way special. It is
possible to use usual sterile disposable: bags such as are on the market. No
kind of
adaptation of the coz~'~nex zs therefore requiz'ed duz7.rxg its use ire the
apparatus
described here.
Even izr the case wl;en the medium rrxust to be kept moving
continuously, no special precautions are z~equired here, 'fhe pressu~ce
cabinet X ca:~ be
placed vn conventional vibrati~ag tables, which then act on the medium 7 with
the
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vibrating znowezx~exat. Since the pressuxe cabinet 1, as constructed very
simply and
x~.ggedly, no detz~ux~.ent to xt ase to be expected when a ~.bz~atzng, tabXe
is used.
Aithotzgh the pxesent nn~vention has been described zn xelation to
paxticulax eznbodiz~aezzts thez~eof, many okher v~xnatxons and modifications
and othez
uses will become apparent to tb,ose skilled ix~. the aat. ~t i.s pz'eferx'ed,
therefore, that
the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure b.ez-~zzzy but
only by the
appended claixn,s. .
