COP Flange Material for Sterilizable Sealed Transfer Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flanges for sealed transfer containers, particularly those used in the pharmaceutical industry, face challenges in achieving sufficient mechanical resistance while allowing for a simple bag construction and compatibility with various sterilization methods, such as autoclaving and gamma irradiation, due to materials like polyethylene having low Young's modulus and poor temperature resistance.
Innovation Solution
The use of cyclic olefin polymer in the flange material, combined with high-density polyethylene or polypropylene, enhances mechanical strength and temperature resistance, enabling direct welding to flexible containers and compatibility with different sterilization methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a container is divided into multiple separate containers to isolate substances, then cross-contamination is prevented, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the first container inside the second container, with the first container's outer surface positioned within the interior space of the second container. This nested configuration allows multiple containers to occupy the same spatial envelope, preventing cross-contamination while avoiding the need for multiple separate container locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement of separate containers to a vertical/dimensional arrangement where containers are nested one inside another. The first container is positioned in the interior space of the second container along the longitudinal axis, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the spatial conflict between isolation and compactness.
2Productivity
If a manifold with multiple openings is used to connect containers, then fluid transfer capability is improved, but the risk of cross-contamination and cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the manifold component entirely from the system. Instead of using a manifold with multiple openings to connect containers, the design establishes direct fluid communication between nested containers through their shared boundary, eliminating the intermediate manifold that would require cleaning and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fluid connection function into the container wall structure itself. The second container's wall forms both the barrier and the fluid pathway, with the first container's outer surface positioned within the second container's interior space, allowing direct fluid transfer without a separate manifold component.
3Ease of operation
If containers are made accessible for frequent handling, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination risk from external environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested configuration allows the inner container to be accessed through the outer container's opening, enabling frequent handling of the inner container without requiring removal of the outer container. This maintains the protective barrier while improving operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the container system into nested modules that can be independently accessed. The inner container can be removed and handled separately through the outer container's opening, allowing frequent access to the inner container's contents without exposing the outer container to environmental contamination.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed is a flange (20) for a sealed transfer container, the flange comprising a body provided with a first end comprising sealed connecting means intended to cooperate with a sealed transfer device, and a second end intended to be sealingly connected to a container, said body being made of a material comprising between 0.01% by mass of cyclic olefin polymer and 100% by mass of cyclic olefin polymer.