Conical Flush-Outlet Device for Aseptic Dry Product Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dry powders, such as dissolvable microcarriers, often hang up in containers due to their properties, leading to incomplete transfer and loss of usable product, which is problematic for processes requiring aseptic conditions and high yield.
Innovation Solution
A product delivery device with a conical section and a flush outlet port is used to minimize resistance and facilitate complete transfer of dry products, including dissolvable microcarriers, by applying pressure through a dip tube and maintaining aseptic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dry powders are transferred from a sealed container, then contamination from the environment is prevented, but product hang-up occurs on rough or flat surfaces leading to loss of usable product
Solution Approach 1:
The container features a conical section with a curved surface that guides the dry powder product toward the outlet port. The curved geometry prevents product hang-up by eliminating sharp corners and flat surfaces where powder can adhere, ensuring complete transfer while maintaining the sealed container design for aseptic integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet port is positioned at the narrow end of the conical section where the surface area is minimized. This geometric parameter change concentrates the product flow into a focused stream that exits cleanly without adhering to the container walls, reducing product loss while preserving the closed system.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional two-dimensional surfaces are used for cell growth, then the system is simple, but surface area per unit volume is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional cell growth surfaces to three-dimensional microcarrier particles. The conical container design facilitates the transfer of these 3D microcarriers, which provide vastly increased surface area per unit volume for cell growth while maintaining system simplicity through the straightforward conical geometry and sealed transfer mechanism.
3Reliability
If a sealed container is used to transport dry powders, then contamination is prevented, but complete product transfer is difficult due to product hang-up
Solution Approach 1:
The conical section with its curved surface geometry eliminates product hang-up by providing a smooth, continuous slope that guides all powder toward the outlet port. This curved design ensures 100% product transfer efficiency while the container remains sealed to prevent contamination throughout the transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet port is strategically positioned at the narrow end of the conical section to extract the product stream at the point of minimum surface area. This extraction location ensures that product is removed before it can adhere to the container walls, achieving complete transfer while maintaining the sealed container system for contamination prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and systems for product transfer, such as a dissolvable microcarriers, are described. In one example, the product delivery device may include an inlet port; a conical section that may include a wide end and a narrow end; an outlet port flush with the narrow end of the conical section and extending away from the conical section; and a securement feature configured to connect the wide end of the conical section to a container. In another example, a system for aseptic dry product delivery may include a container at least partially filled with the aseptic dry product; a product delivery device; a pressure source connected to an inlet port; and a receiving vessel where the aseptic dry product is collected.