Transfer Container and Rack for Isolator-Based Centrifugation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard centrifuges are unsuitable for cleaning, biodecontamination, and sealing constraints within controlled atmosphere isolators, leading to expensive and complex installations, and require complete shutdown during maintenance, which disrupts the preparation of innovative therapy drugs that often involve centrifugation stages.
Innovation Solution
A centrifuge installation where the centrifuge is positioned outside the controlled atmosphere insulator, using a carrier and container system that allows for reversible access, enabling manipulation and centrifugation while maintaining containment and allowing for easy replacement during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard centrifuge is used inside the isolator, then containment measures are maintained, but the installation becomes expensive and complex due to custom-made requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: the isolator containing the rack and access device, and the centrifuge operating outside the isolator. The rack with sample tubes is transferred between these modules through a controlled access interface, allowing each module to be optimized independently - the isolator for containment and the centrifuge for standardization
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifuge is extracted from the isolator environment and placed outside the controlled atmosphere. Only the rack containing the sample tubes remains inside the isolator during centrifugation, eliminating the need for custom-made centrifuges while maintaining containment through the rack-based approach
2Reliability
If a custom-made centrifuge is installed inside the isolator, then containment requirements are met, but maintenance requires complete shutdown and biodecontamination of centrifuge walls
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifuge is extracted from the isolator and positioned outside the controlled atmosphere. During maintenance, the rack is simply removed from the isolator through the access device, allowing the centrifuge to be accessed and serviced without shutting down the isolator or performing biodecontamination procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The rack serves as an intermediary carrier that interfaces between the isolator and centrifuge. It allows the sample tubes to be processed outside the isolator while maintaining containment during transfer, enabling independent maintenance of the centrifuge without affecting the isolator's operational status
3Ease of repair
If the centrifuge is positioned outside the isolator, then maintenance is easier and standard centrifuges can be used, but containment measures must be maintained during tube manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The rack acts as an intermediary device that remains inside the isolator during tube manipulation. The access device provides a controlled interface for transferring the rack between the isolator and centrifuge, maintaining containment while enabling easy tube handling through the rack's structured design
Solution Approach 2:
The rack is pre-configured with tube holders and positioning features inside the isolator before transfer. This preliminary arrangement ensures that tubes are properly secured and positioned for centrifugation, simplifying the manipulation process while maintaining containment during the transfer operation
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
This setup simplifies and economizes the preparation of centrifuged products by using standard centrifuges, maintaining containment measures, and allowing continuous production during maintenance with standard replacement centrifuges, thus enhancing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifuge (30) adapted to subject the container (20) to a centrifugal force
Data Source
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AI summary
This installation comprises a rack (10), the body (11) of which incorporates fittings (12) that removably receive and permanently retain one or more tubes (1) containing a substance (2) to be centrifuged, and a container (20) defining an enclosed volume (V20) and equipped with an access device (21) comprising a flange (23) and a door (24). The container is designed to securely house the rack within its volume when its door is closed, the rack's body incorporating support ridges (14) that cooperate by complementary shapes with the container to hold the rack in place. The container is also designed to allow the rack to be inserted into its volume and removed when its door is open, without the support ridges mechanically interfering with reversible fastening means between the flange and the door.The installation also includes an isolator, which defines an enclosed volume within which the container can be moved and outside of which a centrifuge is arranged. The isolator is equipped with an access device comprising a flange and a door. The container access device and the isolator access device are reversibly assembled so that, in the assembled state, the container and isolator volumes are connected via their flanges when their doors are open, and in the disassembled state, the container can be moved between the isolator and the centrifuge while keeping their doors closed.