Double-Bag Pressurization Assembly for Aseptic Fluid Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dispensing methods for flexible film bags, such as diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps, and gravity flow systems, face issues with contamination, uneven flow control, and maintenance requirements, particularly when handling sensitive or viscous substances.
Innovation Solution
An isolated pressurization system that surrounds the flexible film bag with a double-bag configuration, using a lumen tube sandwiched between the bag walls, and applies pressure to expel contents without direct contact or alteration, ensuring aseptic and controlled flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional pumping methods (diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps) are used to dispense fluid from flexible film bags, then fluid can be expelled from the bag, but the bag walls twist and/or collapse limiting complete dispense of the fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a double-bag configuration where an inner flexible film bag containing the fluid is nested within an outer flexible film bag. This nested structure provides external support to the inner bag walls, preventing collapse and twisting during pumping operations while allowing complete dispense of the fluid contents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes flexible film bags with thin wall construction for both the inner and outer bags. The outer flexible bag acts as a supportive shell that maintains the structural integrity of the inner bag during fluid dispensing, preventing wall collapse while preserving the benefits of thin-walled flexible packaging.
2Ease of manufacture
If thinner flexible film materials are used for bag walls to reduce disposal volume and shipping weight, then cost savings are achieved, but the bag walls twist and collapse under conventional pumping methods
Solution Approach 1:
The double-bag nested configuration allows the use of thinner flexible film materials in the inner bag while the outer bag provides the necessary structural support. This resolves the contradiction by enabling cost-saving thin-walled construction without sacrificing reliability, as the outer bag prevents collapse and twisting during pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer flexible film bag serves as an intermediary structural element that mediates between the thin-walled inner bag and the pumping system. It provides the mechanical strength and stability needed to withstand pumping forces while allowing the inner bag to maintain its thin, cost-effective construction.
3Strength
If reusable support vessels are used without bag liners, then structural strength is sufficient, but sterilizing becomes more problematic and disposal volume is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable flexible film bags (inner and outer) that can be sterilized and discarded after single use. This eliminates the need to sterilize reusable support vessels, making the sterilization process easier and more reliable. The flexible film bags provide sufficient containment strength when properly configured, and their disposable nature avoids the sterilization challenges of reusable rigid containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the flexible film bags to be discarded after depletion rather than requiring cleaning and sterilization of rigid support vessels. Depleted bags can be quickly separated, closed, and replaced with another bag, eliminating maintenance confusion and sterilization problems associated with reusable containment vessels.
4Strength
If the inner bag is positioned within a rigid support container, then the thin flexible film bag becomes stronger, but the system complexity and cleaning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an outer flexible film bag instead of a rigid support container to provide structural support to the inner thin-walled bag. This flexible outer bag maintains the strength and stability of the inner bag during pumping while keeping the overall system simple and flexible, avoiding the complexity and cleaning requirements of rigid support structures.
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
Provides aseptic, controlled, and maintenance-free fluid dispensing with consistent flow rates, reducing the risk of contamination and leakage, suitable for sensitive substances like mammalian cell cultures.
Implementation Method 1
pressurizing means to increase the volume between the first and second bags to dispense the flowable substance from the primary bag
Data Source
AI summary
System components and configuration includes a pressure-rated vessel (20), and a primary bag (7), containing a flowable substance to be dispensed. The vessel (20) having an opening, includes a bag within bag assembly configured as an isolated pressurization system that surrounds the primary bag (7). The pressurization assembly is composed of at least a first sheet flexible film material configured as an enclosable first bag (11), and at least another first sheet configured as an enclosable second bag (12). A portion of (11), is joined to a portion of (12), at an annular seam (25), that includes one or more lumen tube (15) lengths, and may include conductive wires (30), sandwiched between portions of seam (25). Additional system components include bracer element (18), retaining cover (21), crown cap (22), space frame component (14), provisions for sensors (32), heating cooling elements (31), permeation sensors (43), and vibration devices (44). An external pressure source (not shown) supplies a gas or liquid through the lumen tubes(s) (15), to areas between combinations of bag layers that compresses the primary bag (7).