Mixing Apparatus Venting Filter for Gas Removal and Sterile Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reconstituting bioprocess solutions from dry ingredients are time-consuming, expensive, and prone to errors and contamination, with air displacement and slow filtration flow due to unvented gas in mixing devices.
Innovation Solution
An automated system using a filter unit with a hydrophilic filter, defoaming device, and hydrophobic vent filter to sterilize and vent gas effectively, ensuring efficient preparation of liquid solutions from dry ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas is not vented during reconstitution, then the mixing device maintains a closed system, but air displaces the solution and slows or stops filtration flow
Solution Approach 1:
The venting system is segmented into two distinct filters: a hydrophobic vent filter for gas venting and a hydrophilic filter for liquid filtration. This segmentation allows each filter to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction by enabling efficient gas removal without compromising liquid filtration flow rate
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic vent filter acts as an intermediary component that selectively allows gas to pass through while preventing liquid leakage. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by providing a controlled pathway for gas escape without disrupting the closed system or affecting the hydrophilic filter's liquid filtration performance
2Loss of time
If manual reconstitution methods are used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but preparation time and labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The automated mixing apparatus performs preliminary actions including automated powder delivery, liquid addition, mixing, and filtration in a predetermined sequence. This preliminary automation resolves the contradiction by eliminating manual intervention steps, significantly reducing preparation time and labor while managing complexity through integrated automated control
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions (venting, filtration, mixing, and solution preparation) are merged into a single integrated automated apparatus. This merging resolves the contradiction by consolidating multiple manual operations into one automated system, reducing overall preparation time and labor requirements while managing complexity through functional integration
3Reliability
If air is present in the mixing device, then gas venting is required, but air may not pass through filtration membranes causing flow to slow or stop
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the filtration system have different qualities: the hydrophobic vent filter region allows gas passage while the hydrophilic filter region maintains liquid-only filtration. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing targeted functionality in each region, allowing reliable liquid filtration while effectively managing air displacement through the hydrophobic vent pathway
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 system reduces preparation time, labor, and risk of contamination while ensuring consistent and reliable production of bioprocess solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrophilic filter is configured to receive a fluid including a liquid and gas. The hydrophilic filter is further configured to sterilize the liquid.
Implementation Method 2
The hydrophobic vent filter further includes a vent and a membrane configured to separate an interior of the filter unit from an exterior of the filter unit, the gas being vented from the filter unit by flowing across the membrane and out of the vent.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter unit for a mixing apparatus includes a hydrophilic filter and a hydrophobic vent filter. The hydrophilic filter is configured to receive a fluid including a liquid and gas. The hydrophilic filter is further configured to sterilize the liquid. The hydrophobic vent filter is configured to receive the gas from the hydrophilic filter. The hydrophobic vent filter further includes a vent and a membrane configured to separate an interior of the filter unit from an exterior of the filter unit, the gas being vented from the filter unit by flowing across the membrane and out of the vent. In some embodiments, the filter unit further includes a defoaming device configured to receive gas, foam comprised the liquid containing trapped gas, and some of the liquid from the hydrophilic filter and is further configured to release at least some of the gas from the foam.