Bioreactor Drain Fitting With Rotating Valve to Eliminate Dead Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioprocessing systems with single-use flexible bags suffer from dead leg spaces in drain fittings, where fluid and cells can settle, leading to nutrient deprivation and toxic compound release, hindering cell growth and production.
Innovation Solution
The development of apparatuses with rotatable, sealing, and piercing mechanisms integrated into the drain fittings to prevent or minimize dead leg spaces by aligning or misaligning apertures, using flanges, sleeves, plungers, and piercing members to control fluid flow, ensuring no accumulation occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-invasive pinch valve is used to close the drain line, then fluid flow is prevented, but dead leg spaces remain where fluid and cells can still accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the dead leg space by positioning the valve at the lowest point of the drain line, removing the isolated volume where fluid and cells could accumulate. The valve body design ensures no pockets or cavities remain, completely taking out the harmful dead leg space from the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design incorporates self-draining features where gravity and proper orientation cause any residual fluid to naturally drain to the valve body, which then empties completely when closed. The system serves itself by using gravitational force to prevent accumulation without requiring additional active components.
2Reliability
If a clamp is used to close the drain line, then fluid flow is stopped, but cells can still settle in the space above the clamp creating dead leg
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the dead leg space above the clamp by positioning the valve at the lowest point and designing the valve body to have no pockets or cavities. This extracts the harmful accumulation space from the system, preventing cell settlement and sedimentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the closure device above the drain line (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by positioning the valve at the lowest point of the drain line. This inversion ensures that gravity pulls all fluid toward the valve, eliminating dead leg spaces that would exist with traditional above-line closure devices.
3Ease of operation
If traditional drain fittings are used, then fluid transfer is enabled, but isolated volumes create dead leg spaces harmful to cell culture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes dead leg spaces from the drain fitting design by using a valve body with no pockets, cavities, or isolated volumes. The streamlined design ensures complete fluid transfer while eliminating harmful accumulation zones that traditional fittings create.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the drain fitting by designing a valve body with specific angles and contours that prevent fluid stagnation. The parameter optimization ensures all fluid paths lead to the valve, eliminating dead leg spaces while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for minimizing dead leg spaces in a container or tubing includes a first member having a flange for attaching the first member to a wall of the container or tubing, the flange having at least one aperture, and a second member rotatably coupled to the first member, the second member having an upper end having at least one aperture, and an open distal end. The second member is rotatable relative to the first member between a closed position where the at least one aperture of the second member is misaligned with the at least one aperture in the flange to prevent the passage of fluid, and an open position where the at least one aperture of the second member is aligned with the at least one aperture in the flange to allow for the passage of fluid.