Blast Freezing Bag Holder

Abstract

The bag holder for blast freezing includes a bag tray. The bag tray is genderless and can be combined with an identical bag tray to form the bag holder. The bag holder includes a recess, a side wall, and an end wall. The first and second side walls each include alternating sets of extending and recessed portions and a channel that passes through at least a portion of the alternating sets of extending and recessed portions. The alternating extending and recessed portions are offset from one another such that when one set of side walls has one extending portion, the other set of side walls has one recessed portion, and vice versa. The method includes forming the bag trays, placing a bag in one bag tray, and then joining the other bag tray to form the holder around the bag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 163,547, filed March 19, 2021, entitled "BAG HOLDER FOR BLAST FREEZING." [Technical field]

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to a bag holder for holding bags during a blast freezing process, and in particular to a bag holder assembled from a pair of identical, genderless bag trays. [Background technology]

[0003] Chemical and / or biological processes may be performed in the bag or their results may be contained in the bag. The processing material or material resulting from the processing may need to be frozen or otherwise kept at a low temperature. It may be necessary to support the bag through the cooling or freezing process to ensure the bag maintains its integrity or desired shape. Holders may be used to support and shape the bag before, during, and / or after the cooling or freezing process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure is directed to a bag holder for holding bags during a blast freezing process, and in particular to a bag holder assembled from a pair of identical, genderless bag trays.

[0005] The bag holder is configured to support a bag, such as a bioprocess bag, during a blast freezing process. By providing a bag tray that allows identical bag trays to be docked together without the need to use different trays, manufacturing, storage, and use of the bag holder is simplified. The bag holder provides support for the bag and facilitates blast freezing while maintaining the integrity and shape of the bag.

[0006] In one embodiment, a bag holder for supporting a bioprocess bag during freezing includes a bag tray. The bag tray includes a recess partially surrounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall. The end wall includes a recess forming a neck. The first side wall includes a first set of alternating extending and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending and recessed portions. The second side wall includes a second set of alternating extending and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending and recessed portions. The first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the first side wall and the longitudinal direction of the second side wall such that when the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion, the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, and when the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion.

[0007] In one embodiment, the bag tray is a first bag tray and the bag holder further includes a second bag tray, the second bag tray being identical to the first bag tray.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first bag tray is configured to be mated to the second bag tray by coupling a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the first bag tray to a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the second bag tray and mating the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the first bag tray to the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the second bag tray.

[0009] In one embodiment, when the first bag tray is mated to the second bag tray, the first channel of the first bag tray and the second channel of the second bag tray form a first continuous channel configured to receive a first retaining rod, and the second channel of the first bag tray and the first channel of the second bag tray form a second continuous channel configured to receive a second retaining rod.

[0010] In one embodiment, the recess includes a plurality of ribs extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

[0011] In one embodiment, the bag tray includes one or more partitions around at least a portion of the recess.

[0012] In one embodiment, the bag tray includes a second end wall opposite the end wall including the recess. In one embodiment, the bag holder further includes a protrusion on the second end wall on one side of a centerline of the bag holder and a recess on an opposite side of the centerline of the bag holder from the protrusion, the recess sized to be configured to receive the protrusion.

[0013] In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a bag holder for freezing bioprocess bags includes forming a first bag tray. The first bag tray includes a recess partially surrounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall. The end wall includes a recess forming a neck. The first side wall includes a first set of alternating extending and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending and recessed portions. The second side wall includes a second set of alternating extending and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending and recessed portions. The first set of alternating extensions and recesses and the second set of alternating extensions and recesses are offset from one another along the length of the first side wall and along the length of the second side wall such that if the first set of alternating extensions and recesses has one extension, the second set of alternating extensions and recesses has one recess, and if the first set of alternating extensions and recesses has one recess, the second set of alternating extensions and recesses has one extension. The method further includes forming a second bag tray identical to the first bag tray.

[0014] In one embodiment, forming the first bag tray comprises thermoforming a material. In one embodiment, forming the first bag tray comprises injection molding or compression molding. In one embodiment, forming the first bag tray comprises cast molding.

[0015] In one embodiment, a method for freezing a bioprocess bag includes providing a first bag tray. The first bag tray includes a recess partially surrounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall, the end wall including a recess forming a neck. The first side wall includes a first set of alternating extending and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending and recessed portions. The second side wall includes a second set of alternating extending and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending and recessed portions. The first set of alternating extensions and recesses and the second set of alternating extensions and recesses are offset from one another along the length of the first sidewall and along the length of the second sidewall such that if the first set of alternating extensions and recesses has one extension, the second set of alternating extensions and recesses has one recess, and if the first set of alternating extensions and recesses has one recess, the second set of alternating extensions and recesses has one extension. The method further includes placing a bioprocess bag within the recess of the first bag tray such that a neck of the bioprocess bag is disposed within a neck of the first bag tray. The method also includes providing a second bag tray identical to the first bag tray. The method further includes mating the second bag tray to the first bag tray. The method further includes filling the bioprocess bag and freezing the bioprocess bag.

[0016] In one embodiment, freezing the bioprocess bag includes placing the bioprocess bag and bag support in a blast freezer. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a bag tray of a bag holder according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates an assembled bag holder according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3]2 shows the bag tray according to FIG. 1 with the bag placed in the recess. [Figure 4] 4 illustrates the bag tray and bag of FIG. 3 assembled into a bag holder according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates a bag tray according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 illustrates a bag holder according to one embodiment including the bag tray shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present disclosure is directed to a bag holder for holding bags during a blast freezing process, and in particular to a bag holder assembled from a pair of identical, genderless bag trays.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a bag tray of a bag holder according to one embodiment. The bag tray 100 includes a recess 102. The recess 102 is bounded by a rear wall 104, a front wall 106 including a neck 108, a first side wall 110, and a second side wall 112. A bulkhead 118 may be provided on the outside of at least a portion of the rear wall 104, the front wall 106, the neck 108, the first side wall 110, and the second side wall 112. Each of the first side wall 110 and the second side wall 112 includes alternating extensions 114 and recesses 116. A first channel 120 passes through the extension 114 of the first side wall 110. A second channel 122 passes through the extension 114 of the second side wall 112, and optionally through other portions of the second side wall 112. The recess 102 may optionally include ribs 124 .

[0020] The bag tray 100 may be formed of one or more materials suitable for use in a blast freezing process. In one embodiment, the material used for the bag tray 100 is rated for use at temperatures of about -85°C or less. In one embodiment, the bag tray 100 is formed of one or more melt processable polymers. In one embodiment, the bag tray 100 comprises polyethylene (PE). In one embodiment, the bag tray 100 comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE). In one embodiment, the bag tray 100 is a single piece. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the bag tray 100 is manufactured by a process including thermoforming. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the bag tray 100 is manufactured by injection molding. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the bag tray 100 is formed by casting. In one embodiment, the casting may be a two-part casting. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the bag tray 100 is formed by compression molding.

[0021] The recess 102 is shaped and positioned to accommodate a bag to be held for freezing, such as a blast freezing process. Optionally, the recess 102 may include ribs 124 to secure and shape the bag during freezing. The ribs 124 may protrude inwardly of the recess 102. In one embodiment, the ribs 124 extend in a direction from the first sidewall 110 toward the second sidewall 112. In one embodiment, the ribs 124 improve the structural strength of the recess 102.

[0022] The rear wall 104 is a wall that partially defines the recess 102. In one embodiment, the recess 102 includes a portion that slopes upward to meet the rear wall 104. The rear wall 104 may optionally include a rear wall protrusion 126 on a first side of the longitudinal axis L of the bag tray 100 and a rear wall recess 128 on a second side of the longitudinal axis L. The rear wall recess 128 and the rear wall protrusion 126 may be positioned, shaped, and dimensioned such that when the bag tray 100 is assembled to the bag holder, the protrusion 126 of each bag tray 100 can be received in the recess 128 of the other of the bag tray, as shown in FIG. 2 and described below. This allows the bag trays to be held together along the rear wall 104 in addition to the first and second side walls 110 and 112.

[0023] The front wall 106 is another wall that partially defines the recess 102. In one embodiment, the recess 102 includes a portion that slopes upwardly toward the front wall 106. The front wall 106 can include a neck 108. The neck 108 can be a relatively recessed portion of the front wall 106 configured to allow a bag neck and / or a tube coupled to a bag to extend out of the recess 102 when the bag tray 100 is assembled to the bag holder. In one embodiment, the neck 108 is centrally located with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the bag tray 100. In one embodiment, the front wall 106 outside of the neck 108 can have the same height as the height of the rear wall 104.

[0024] The first sidewall 110 is a wall that partially defines the recess 102 and extends from the rear wall 104 to the front wall 106 on a first side of the recess 102. The second sidewall 112 is another wall that partially defines the recess 102 and extends from the rear wall 104 to the front wall 106 on a second side of the recess 102 opposite the first side relative to the longitudinal axis L of the bag tray 100. In one embodiment, the first sidewall 110 and the second sidewall 112 each include at least a portion that has the same height as the height of the rear wall 104 and / or the front wall 106.

[0025] Each of the first and second side walls 110 and 112 has a pair of extensions 114 and recesses 116. The extensions 114 are portions of the first and second side walls 110 and 112 that extend above the height of the rear and front walls 104 and 106. The recesses 116 are portions of the first and second side walls 110 and 112 that are recessed below the height of the rear and front walls 104 and 106. In one embodiment, the extensions 114 and / or recesses 116 may be on the outer portion of the first or second side wall 110 or 112, and the inner portion of the first or second side wall 110 or 112 has the same height as the rear and front walls 104 and 106 at the inner portion toward the recess 102. The extensions 114 and recesses 116 may be alternated in each pair. Each set of extensions 114 and recesses 116 may be sized and positioned such that the extensions 114 of the first side wall 110 correspond to the recesses 116 of the second side wall 112 and the extensions 114 of the second side wall 112 correspond to the recesses 116 of the first side wall 110. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 and described below, the recesses 116 of the bag tray 100 may be configured to receive an extension of a second bag tray identical to the bag tray 100.

[0026] The bulkhead 118 is a protrusion extending outwardly away from the recess 102 from at least a portion of the rear wall 104, the front wall 106, the first sidewall 110, and / or the second sidewall 112. The bulkhead 118 is configured to absorb shock from the bag tray 100 contacting another surface, for example, if the bag holder including the bag tray 100 is dropped or bumped. The bulkhead 118 can have any suitable shape for providing shock protection to the recess 102 and its contents, such as a generally U-shaped cross-section. The bulkhead 118 can be further configured to provide a space to accommodate a tube extending from a bag disposed within the recess 102 when the bag tray 100 is assembled to the bag holder.

[0027] The first channel 120 is a channel formed by one or more openings in the extension 114 of one of the first sidewall 110 or the second sidewall 112. The first channel 120 can be located a distance D above the height of the rear wall 104 or the front wall 106. The first channel 120 can have a cross-sectional shape that receives a retaining rod (not shown).

[0028] The second channel 122 is another channel formed by an opening through the extension 114 of one of the first side wall 110 or the second side wall 112. In one embodiment, the second channel 122 has the same cross-sectional shape as the first channel 120. The second channel 122 can be located a distance D below the height of the rear wall 104 or the front wall 106 such that when the bag tray 100 and an identical bag tray are mated, the first channel 120 of the bag tray 100 and the second channel of the identical bag tray form a continuous channel, and vice versa, as shown in FIG. 4 and described below. The continuous channel formed by the combination of the first channel 120 and the second channel 122 of the identical bag tray holder 100 can accommodate a retaining rod, as shown in FIG. 4 and described below. In embodiments, the identical bag trays 100 may be held together by one or more screws or pins that pass vertically through the bag trays, one or more ties that encircle the bag trays, or any other suitable means for holding the trays together. These other methods of securing the trays together may be in addition to or in place of the first and second channels 120 and 122 and the retaining rods housed therein.

[0029] Figure 2 shows an assembled bag holder according to one embodiment. The bag holder 200 includes the bag tray 100 shown in Figure 1 and described above combined with a second bag holder 100a. In one embodiment, the second bag tray 100a is identical to the first bag holder 100.

[0030] The second bag tray 100a includes a recess 102a. The recess 102a is at least partially defined by a rear wall 104a, a front wall 106a, a first side wall 110a, and a second side wall 112a. The front wall 106a may include a neck 108a. One or more bulkheads 118a may be provided in some or all of the rear wall 104a, the front wall 106a, the first side wall 110a, and the second side wall 112a.

[0031] When the bag tray 100 and the second bag tray 100a are mated, the recess 102a and the recess 102 can combine to form the interior space of the bag holder 200. In one embodiment, a portion of the rear wall 104 and 104a, the front wall 106 and 106a, and the first and second side walls 110, 110a, 112, and 112a of each of the first and second bag trays 100, 100a can contact each other to define the interior space. The recesses 102 and 102a of the first and second bag trays 100 and 100a can be sized according to the fill volume of the bag used with the bag holder 200 such that filling the bag is not constrained by the available volume of the interior space or by the shape of the interior space compared to the geometric shape of the bag. The interior space of the bag holder 200 is configured to be able to accommodate a bag, such as a bag containing a biological or chemical solution. The bag holder 200 can accommodate the bags during processing such as a blast freezing process. In one embodiment, the second bag tray 100a includes a rib 124a that projects inwardly toward the recess 102a.

[0032] The second bag tray 100a includes an extension 116a and a recess 118a. When the second bag tray 100a is docked with the first bag tray 100, the extension 116a of the second bag tray 100a protrudes into a corresponding recess 118 of the first bag tray 100. When the second bag tray 100a is docked with the first bag tray 100, the recess 118a of the second bag tray 100a receives the corresponding protruding portion 116 of the first bag tray 100.

[0033] In one embodiment, the second bag tray 100a further includes a rear wall protrusion 126a and a rear wall recess 128a. When the second bag tray 100a is docked to the first bag tray 100, the rear wall protrusion 126 of the first bag tray 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be received in the rear wall recess 128a of the second bag tray 100a. When the second bag tray 100a is docked to the first bag tray 100, the rear wall recess 128 of the first bag tray 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be received in the rear wall protrusion 126a of the second bag tray 100a.

[0034] Additionally, when the first bag tray 100 is mated to the second bag tray 100a, one or more channels may be formed to receive retaining rods for securing the first bag tray 100 and the second bag tray 100a to one another. The channels and retaining rods can be seen in FIG. 4 and are described in further detail below.

[0035] 3 shows the bag tray according to FIG. 1 with a bag placed in a recess. The bag tray 100 is shown with a bag 300 placed in the recess 102. The bag 300 includes a bag neck 302 that extends into the neck 108 of the bag tray 100. The bag neck 302 is disposed within the neck 108 of the bag tray 100 when the bag 300 is placed in the recess 102 and includes a port 304 that couples to a fluid line 306. The fluid line 306 extends from the neck 108. At least some of the fluid line 306 can be bent such that the fluid line 306 fits within a portion of the bulkhead 118.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the bag tray and bag of FIG. 3 assembled into a bag holder according to one embodiment. A second bag tray 100a is added to the bag tray 100 shown in FIG. 3 to form a bag holder 400. The neck 108a of the second bag tray 100a and the neck 108 of the bag tray 100 are combined to form an opening 402 between the interior and exterior of the space defined by the combined bag trays 100 and 100a. When combined, the first and second bag trays 100, 100a provide a first channel 404 and a second channel 406. Each of the first channel 404 and the second channel 406 includes a portion that penetrates each of the first bag tray 100 and the second bag tray 100a. The first channel 404 can receive a first retaining rod 408. The second channel 406 can receive a second retaining rod 410. In one embodiment, the first and second holding rods 408 and 410 have the same cross-sectional shape. The first and second holding rods 408 and 410 may be any suitable material for holding the bag holder 400 together during the blast freezing process, such as, for example, a steel material, such as stainless steel, as a non-limiting example. By penetrating portions of both the first bag tray 100 and the second bag tray 100a through the first and second channels 404 and 406, the first and second holding rods 408 and 410 can secure the first bag tray 100 and the second bag tray 100a to each other, such that the bag holder 400 is securely secured. The use of the first and second holding rods 408 and 410 allows the bag holder 400 to be easily assembled and disassembled to allow removal of the bags after the freezing process. In one embodiment, when bag holder 400 is secured, opening 402 provided by neck 108 and neck 108a is the only opening between the interior space of bag holder 400 and the outside environment. Retaining rods 408 and 410 may be retained within respective channels 404 and 406 by a friction fit.

[0037] The bag holder according to the embodiment can be used in a blast freezing process by placing a bag, such as bag 300, in the recess of the first bag tray. The bag can be filled through at least one or more fluid lines, such as fluid line 306. The bag 300 can be filled before being placed in the recess 102, after being placed in the recess 102, or after assembling the bag holder by adding a second bag tray. After placing the bag in the recess of the first bag tray, the bag holder can be assembled by docking a second bag tray, such as second bag tray 100a, to the first bag tray. In one embodiment, the first and second bag trays can be engaged with each other, such as, for example, by respective extensions and recesses of corresponding engagement features. In one embodiment, the first and second bag trays can be held together by one or more additional members, such as retaining rods 406 and 408, described above and shown in FIG. 4. The bag is placed within the assembled bag holder and once filled, the bag and bag holder can be used in a freezing process, for example a blast freezing process.

[0038] 5 illustrates a bag tray according to one embodiment. The bag tray 500 includes a recess 502. The recess 502 is bounded by a rear wall 504, a front wall 506 including a neck 508, a first side wall 510, and a second side wall 512. Each of the first side wall 510 and the second side wall 512 includes an alternating extension 514 and a recess 516. A partition 518 may be provided on the exterior of at least a portion of the rear wall 504, the front wall 506, the neck 508, the first side wall 510, and the second side wall 512. A first channel 520 passes through the recess 516 of the first side wall 510. A second channel 522 passes through the extension 514 of the second side wall 512. The recess 502 may optionally include a rib 524.

[0039] The recess 502 is shaped and positioned to accommodate a bag to be held for freezing, such as a blast freezing process. Optionally, the recess 502 can include ribs 524 to secure and shape the bag during freezing. The ribs 524 can protrude inwardly of the recess 502. In one embodiment, the ribs 524 extend in a direction from the first sidewall 510 toward the second sidewall 512. In one embodiment, the ribs are formed in the first sidewall 510 and the second sidewall 512 in addition to being formed in the recess 502. In one embodiment, the ribs 524 improve the structural strength of the recess 502.

[0040] The rear wall 504 is a wall that partially defines the recess 502. In one embodiment, the recess 502 includes a portion that slopes upward to meet the rear wall 504. The rear wall 504 may include a shelf 526 configured to support a hanging rod of a bag disposed within the recess 502 to help secure the position of the bag when the bag tray 500 is assembled to a bag holder, as shown, for example, in FIG. 6 and described below, and a hook 528 configured to prevent horizontal movement of the hanging rod. In one embodiment, protrusions and recesses, such as protrusions 126 and recesses 128 provided on the bag tray 100, may also be included in the rear wall 504.

[0041] The front wall 506 is another wall that partially defines the recess 502. In one embodiment, the recess 502 includes a portion that slopes upward toward the front wall 506. The front wall 506 can include a neck 508. The neck 508 can be a relatively recessed portion of the front wall 506 configured to allow a bag neck and / or a tube coupled to a bag to extend out of the recess 502 when the bag tray 500 is assembled to a bag holder. In one embodiment, the neck 108 is centrally located with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the bag tray 100. In one embodiment, the front wall 106 outside of the neck 108 can have the same height as the height of the rear wall 104.

[0042] The first sidewall 510 is a wall that partially defines the recess 502 and extends on a first side of the recess 502 from the rear wall 504 to the front wall 506. The second sidewall 512 is another wall that partially defines the recess 502 and extends on a second side of the recess 502 from the rear wall 504 to the front wall 506, opposite the first side.

[0043] Each of the first and second side walls 510 and 512 includes alternating extensions 514 and recesses 516. The extensions 514 are portions of the first and second side walls 510 and 512 that extend above the height of the rear and front walls 504 and 506. The recesses 516 are portions of the first and second side walls 510 and 512 that are recessed below the height of the rear and front walls 504 and 506. The extensions 514 and recesses 516 may be alternating in each set. The extensions 514 and recesses 516 in each set may be sized and positioned such that the extensions 514 of the first side wall 510 correspond to the recesses 516 of the second side wall 512 and the extensions 514 of the second side wall 512 correspond to the recesses 516 of the first side wall 510. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 and described below, the recess 516 of the bag tray 500 can be configured to receive an extension of a second bag tray identical to the bag tray 500.

[0044] The partition 518 is a protrusion extending outwardly away from the recess 502 from at least a portion of the rear wall 504, the front wall 506, the first side wall 510, and / or the second side wall 512. The partition 518 is configured to absorb shock from the bag tray 500 contacting another surface, for example, if the bag holder including the bag tray 500 is dropped or bumped. The partition 518 can have any suitable shape for providing shock protection to the recess 502 and its contents. The partition 518 can be further configured to provide a space to accommodate a tube extending from a bag disposed within the recess 502 when the bag is placed therein and the bag tray 500 is assembled to the bag holder.

[0045] The first channel 520 passes through the recess 516 of the first sidewall 510. The second channel 522 passes through the extension 514 of the second sidewall 512. The first channel 520 is a channel formed by one or more openings in the recess 516 of the first sidewall 510. The first channel 120 can have a cross-sectional shape that receives a retaining rod (not shown). The second channel 122 is another channel formed by one or more openings through the extension 514 of the second sidewall 512. In one embodiment, the second channel 522 has the same cross-sectional shape as the first channel 520. The first and second channels 520 and 522 can be arranged such that when the bag tray 100 and an identical bag tray are mated, the first channel 520 of the bag tray 500 and the second channel of the identical bag tray form a continuous channel, and vice versa, as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in Figure 6 and described below, the continuous channel formed by the combination of the first channel 520 and the second channel 522 of the identical bag tray holder 500 can accommodate a retaining rod. In an embodiment, the identical bag trays 500 can be held by one or more screws or pins that pass vertically through the bag tray, one or more ties that encircle the bag tray, or any other suitable means of holding the trays together. These other methods of securing the trays together may be in addition to or in lieu of the first and second channels 520 and 522 and the retaining rods housed therein.

[0046] Figure 6 shows a bag holder according to one embodiment that includes the bag tray shown in Figure 5. A second bag tray 500a is combined with the bag tray 500, referred to as the first bag tray 500, to form a bag holder 600.

[0047] When the bag tray 500 and the second bag tray 500a are mated, the recess 502a and the recess 502 can combine to form the interior space of the bag holder 600. The recesses 502 and 502a of the first and second bag trays 500 and 500a can be sized according to the fill volume of the bag used with the bag holder 600 so that filling the bag is not constrained by the available volume of the interior space or by the shape of the interior space compared to the geometric shape of the bag. The interior space of the bag holder 600 is configured to be able to accommodate a bag, such as a bag containing a biological or chemical solution. The bag holder 600 can accommodate the bag during a process such as a blast freezing process. In one embodiment, the second bag tray 500a includes a rib 524a that protrudes inwardly toward the recess 502a.

[0048] The second bag tray 500a includes an extension 516a and a recess 518a. When the second bag tray 500a is docked to the first bag tray 500, the extension 516a of the second bag tray 500a protrudes into the corresponding recess 518 of the first bag tray 500. When the second bag tray 500a is docked to the first bag tray 500, the recess 518a of the second bag tray 500a receives the corresponding protrusion 516 of the first bag tray 500. The first channel 520 of the bag tray 500 and the second channel 522a of the second bag tray 500a form a continuous channel configured to allow insertion of a holding rod 602. The second channel 522 of the second bag tray can also form a continuous channel with the first channel 520a of the second bag tray 500a, and can accommodate another holding rod 602 in the resulting channel. The retaining rods 602 can secure the first bag tray 500 to the second bag tray 500a to hold the bag holders 600 together during handling and / or a freezing process, such as a blast freezing process. The retaining rods can be any suitable material, such as stainless steel, having the strength and heat resistance to hold the bag holders 600 together before, during, and after the freezing process.

[0049] When the bag holder 600 is assembled, the shelf 526a of the first bag tray 500 and the corresponding shelf 526a of the second bag tray 500a, described above and shown in FIG. 5, may face each other to define a space that can accommodate a hanging rod of a bag disposed within the bag holder 600. The hook 528 of the first bag tray 500 and the corresponding hook 528a of the second bag tray 500, described above and shown in FIG. 5, may combine to prevent movement of the hanging rod outside of the space defined by the shelves 526 and 526a, such that the hanging rod can be used to restrict movement of a bag stored in the bag holder 600 in a direction from the rear walls 504 and 504a toward or away from the front walls 506 and 506a. In one embodiment, when the bag holder 600 is assembled, a bag can be clamped between the hooks 528 and 528a.

[0050] Aspects: It is understood that any of the aspects 1 to 8 can be combined with any of the aspects 9 to 12 or any of the aspects 13 to 14. It is understood that any of the aspects 9 to 12 can be combined with any of the aspects 13 to 14.

[0051] Aspect 1. A bag holder for supporting a bioprocess bag during freezing, comprising: The bag tray is provided. a recess partially bounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall, the end wall including a recess forming a neck; the first sidewall includes a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the second sidewall includes a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; The first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the first side wall and the longitudinal direction of the second side wall such that when the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion, the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, and when the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion. Bag holder.

[0052] Aspect 2. The bag holder of aspect 1, wherein the bag tray is a first bag tray and the bag holder further comprises a second bag tray, the second bag tray being identical to the first bag tray.

[0053] Aspect 3. The bag holder of aspect 2, wherein the first bag tray is configured to be docked to the second bag tray by coupling a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the first bag tray to a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the second bag tray, and coupling the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the first bag tray to the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the second bag tray.

[0054] Aspect 4. The bag holder of aspect 3, wherein when the first bag tray is mated with the second bag tray, the first channel of the first bag tray and the second channel of the second bag tray form a first continuous channel configured to accept a first retaining rod, and the second channel of the first bag tray and the first channel of the second bag tray form a second continuous channel configured to accept a second retaining rod.

[0055] Embodiment 5. The bag holder of any of embodiments 1-4, wherein the recess includes a plurality of ribs extending from the first side wall to the second side wall.

[0056] Embodiment 6. A bag holder according to any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the bag tray further comprises one or more partitions around at least a portion of the recess.

[0057] Embodiment 7. The bag holder of any of embodiments 1-6, wherein the bag tray further comprises a second end wall opposing the end wall including the recess.

[0058] Embodiment 8. The bag holder of embodiment 7, further comprising a protrusion on the second end wall on one side of the centerline of the bag holder and a recess on an opposite side of the centerline of the bag holder from the protrusion, the recess sized to be configured to accommodate the protrusion.

[0059] 9. A method of manufacturing a bag holder for freezing bioprocess bags, comprising: forming a first bag tray, the first bag tray comprising: a recess partially bounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall, the end wall including a recess forming a neck; the first sidewall includes a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the second sidewall includes a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; such that if a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion, then a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, and if a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, then a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion. The first side wall and the second side wall are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction. forming a first bag tray; forming a second bag tray identical to the first bag tray; A method comprising:

[0060] Embodiment 10. The method of embodiment 9, wherein forming the first bag tray includes thermoforming a material.

[0061] Embodiment 11 The method of any of embodiments 9-10, wherein forming the first bag tray comprises injection molding or compression molding.

[0062] Embodiment 12 The method of any of embodiments 9-11, wherein forming the first bag tray comprises cast molding.

[0063] Aspect 13: A method of freezing a bioprocess bag, comprising: providing a first bag tray, the first bag tray comprising: a recess partially bounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall, the end wall including a recess forming a neck; the first sidewall includes a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the second sidewall includes a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; such that if a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion, then a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, and if a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, then a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion. offset from one another along the length of the first side wall and along the length of the second side wall; providing a first bag tray; placing a bioprocess bag within a recess of the first bag tray such that a neck of the bioprocess bag is disposed within a neck of the first bag tray; providing a second bag tray that is identical to the first bag tray; docking a second bag tray with the first bag tray; Filling a bioprocess bag; Freezing the bioprocessing bag and A method comprising:

[0064] Embodiment 14. The method of embodiment 13, wherein freezing the bioprocess bag comprises placing the bioprocess bag and bag support in a blast freezer.

[0065] The embodiments disclosed in this application should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A bag holder for supporting a bioprocess bag during freezing, comprising: A bag tray, the bag tray comprising: a recess partially surrounded by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an end wall, the end wall includes a recess forming a neck; a partition extending outwardly away from the recess; the first sidewall includes a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the second sidewall includes a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; such that if the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion, then the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, and if the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, then the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion. the first side wall and the second side wall are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction; the septum provides a space for receiving a tube extending from the bioprocess bag disposed within the recess; the recess has ribs projecting inwardly therefrom to secure and shape the bioprocess bag during freezing; Bag holder.

2. 2. The bag holder of claim 1, wherein the bag tray is a first bag tray and the bag holder further comprises a second bag tray, the second bag tray being identical to the first bag tray.

3. 3. The bag holder of claim 2, wherein the first bag tray is configured to be mated with the second bag tray by mating the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the first bag tray with the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the second bag tray and mating the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the first bag tray with the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions of the second bag tray.

4. 4. The bag holder of claim 3, wherein when the first bag tray is mated with the second bag tray, the first channel of the first bag tray and the second channel of the second bag tray form a first continuous channel configured to receive a first retaining rod, and the second channel of the first bag tray and the first channel of the second bag tray form a second continuous channel configured to receive a second retaining rod.

5. 1. A method for freezing a bioprocess bag, comprising: providing a first bag tray, the first bag tray comprising: a recess partially bounded by a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall, the end wall including a recess forming a neck; and a partition wall extending outwardly away from the recess; the first sidewall includes a first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a first channel extending through at least a portion of the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the second sidewall includes a second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and a second channel extending through at least a portion of the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions and the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions; such that if the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion, then the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, and if the first set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one recessed portion, then the second set of alternating extending portions and recessed portions has one extending portion. the first side wall and the second side wall are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction; the septum provides a space for receiving a tube extending from the bioprocess bag disposed within the recess; the recess has ribs projecting inwardly therefrom to secure and shape the bioprocess bag during freezing; Providing a first bag tray; placing the bioprocess bag in the recess of the first bag tray such that a neck of the bioprocess bag is disposed within a neck of the first bag tray; providing a second bag tray identical to the first bag tray; docking the second bag tray with the first bag tray; filling the bioprocess bag; Freezing the bioprocessing bag. A method comprising:

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