Sealed Filter Unit for Safe Isolator Air Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing isolator devices face challenges in maintaining a high-level aseptic/dustless state and preventing chemical substance leakage, with complex structures and high maintenance costs, particularly during filter replacement and in ensuring safety through leak inspection methods.
Innovation Solution
The isolator device features a bulkhead configuration with unidirectional airflow and strategically positioned air outlets to maintain aseptic conditions and prevent chemical substance leakage, along with a filter unit for air purification that allows for easy replacement and leak testing, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a glass window, glove, and opening/closing door are provided in the isolator device, then visual checking and work operations can be performed, but the airtight shielding performance is compromised and safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The isolator device is divided into two separate chambers: a work chamber for performing operations and a buffer chamber for maintaining pressure differential. This segmentation allows the work chamber to have openings for operation while the buffer chamber maintains the airtight seal and pressure control, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and airtight shielding performance
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer chamber acts as an intermediary between the work chamber and the external environment. It receives air from the work chamber and maintains a negative pressure relative to the external environment, serving as a buffer that preserves the airtight shielding function while allowing the work chamber to have necessary openings for operation
2Reliability
If pressure differential is used to maintain safety, then chemical substances can be prevented from leaking, but the pressure difference cannot be maintained all the time due to outside air pressure fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber is designed to maintain a negative pressure relative to the external environment as a pre-cautionary measure. This negative pressure buffer compensates for potential pressure fluctuations and ensures that even when the work chamber pressure equals external pressure, the buffer chamber continues to prevent chemical substance leakage to the external environment
3Reliability
If complex leak inspection methods are used to ensure safety, then high-level safety can be maintained, but maintenance costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber automatically maintains a negative pressure relative to the external environment through its design, continuously preventing chemical substance leakage without requiring complex active monitoring systems. This self-maintaining pressure differential reduces the need for complex leak inspection equipment and procedures
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 solution effectively maintains high-level safety and aseptic conditions, reduces the risk of chemical substance leakage, and simplifies filter replacement while lowering maintenance costs and ensuring easy safety verification through leak testing.
Implementation Method 1
purifies outside air by a filter and supplies it into the chamber and also purifies the air in the chamber by the filter and discharges it to the outside
Implementation Method 2
air supply means for supplying unidirectional airflow traveling from an upper part to a lower part in the work chamber
Implementation Method 3
the pressure in the chamber is set to a pressure lower than the outside air pressure (hereinafter referred to as a negative pressure) in use, and even in the case of the leakage from the chamber, since the air flows from the outside into the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A filter unit which has a simple structure and can ensure high-level safety in response to risk during operation of an apparatus such as an isolator device is provided. One type of filter unit includes a rectangular cylindrical body having a first wall portion provided with an air inlet portion and a second wall portion formed so as to cross the first wall portion and provided with an air discharge port portion, a filter member provided in the cylindrical body for filtering introduced air, an annular seal member surrounding an outer periphery portion of the air inlet portion, and a detachable lid body closing the air inlet portion in an airtight manner. The filter unit is connected to a work chamber such that the air inlet portion is attached so as to oppose an air outlet of the work chamber and so that the seal member abuts an outer wall portion of the work chamber in an airtight manner.