Disposable Bag System for Tangential Flow Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biological liquid treatment installations for biopharmaceuticals, such as those producing monoclonal antibodies or vaccines, require complex and labor-intensive operations due to the need for cleaning and assembly of multiple components, especially in tangential flow filtration systems, which complicates the process and increases the risk of contamination.
Innovation Solution
A disposable bag system with a network of conduits formed between flexible films, allowing for direct liquid flow between connectors, minimizing dead volume, and enabling simple, economical, and convenient tangential flow filtration by reducing the need for complex assembly and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional installations with stainless steel pipes and multiple components are used, then the treatment process can be performed with high reliability, but the operations become complex and labor-intensive requiring cleaning and assembly of multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (pipes, connectors, valves, filter housing) into a single integrated disposable bag system. The bag contains all necessary conduits, connectors, and filtration elements pre-assembled, eliminating the need for complex assembly and cleaning of multiple separate components while maintaining the same treatment functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable single-use bag system that is discarded after one treatment cycle. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning and sterilization operations required for reusable stainless steel installations, significantly reducing operational complexity and labor intensity while maintaining reliability through manufacturer pre-sterilization
2Ease of operation
If single-use components are used to avoid cleaning operations, then the ease of operation improves, but the implementation requires complex operations of selection, assembly and verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates all necessary components (conduits, connectors, valves, filter elements) into a single pre-assembled disposable bag unit. This eliminates the need for complex selection, assembly, and verification operations that would otherwise be required when using multiple separate single-use components, while still avoiding cleaning operations through single-use design
3Productivity
If multiple pipes and circuit components are used, then the treatment process can be completed, but the number of components increases leading to more complex operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple pipes, connectors, valves, and filter housing into a single integrated bag system with pre-formed conduits. This maintains the complete treatment functionality while reducing the number of discrete components from dozens to a single replaceable unit, significantly simplifying operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible bag structure made of thin film material to contain and route all necessary conduits and components. This flexible shell approach replaces rigid stainless steel piping systems, allowing for more compact integration of components and simpler connection procedures while maintaining the same treatment capabilities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bag system simplifies the biological liquid treatment process by minimizing liquid volume within the circuit, reducing the complexity of operations, and ensuring efficient flow without the need for additional pumps, thereby enhancing safety and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a flow pump connector emerging on a first side of the bag and a tangential filter connector emerging on a second side of the bag which is an opposite side to the first side; a first conduit extending longitudinally between a flow pump connector
Implementation Method 2
a tangential filter connector emerging on a second side of the bag which is an opposite side to the first side; By virtue of the invention, it is possible to directly supply the tangential filter by the first conduit
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention concerns a bag comprising a first conduit (13C) which extends longitudinally between a flow pump connector (1 1 C) emerging on a first side (68) and a tangential filter connector (1 1 M) emerging on a second side (69); a second conduit (13B) which extends longitudinally from a first side of said conduit (13C) between a supply container connector (1 1 B) emerging on said first side (68), and another tangential flow connector (1 1 N) emerging on said second side (69); a third conduit (13H) which extends from a second side of said conduit (13C), starting at a collecting container connector (1 1 J), until it enters said first conduit (13C); and a fourth conduit (13A) which extends from the first side of said conduit (13C), starting at a transfer pump connector (1 1A), until it enters said second conduit (13B).