Continuous Virus Inactivation Device with Rigidly Fastened Head Part

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing device for continuous virus inactivation in biopharmaceutical processes is complex and cumbersome due to its numerous components, leading to high assembly and handling challenges, as well as significant space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A modular device with a head part for generating a reactive liquid stream and a residence time arrangement that provides a minimum residence time, where the head part and residence time arrangement are rigidly fastened, allowing for efficient virus inactivation with reduced structural complexity and space requirements, incorporating multiple fluid inlets and mixers for optimal mixing and neutralization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the known device for continuous virus inactivation uses multiple individual components to achieve virus inactivation, then the virus inactivation function is achieved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus inactivation effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual components (mixing chamber, residence time chamber, neutralization chamber) into a single integrated housing structure. This merging maintains all necessary virus inactivation functions while reducing the number of separate components, simplifying assembly and reducing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, contains the mixing chamber for combining liquid streams, provides the residence time arrangement for virus inactivation, and includes the neutralization chamber. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the known device for continuous virus inactivation uses multiple individual components, then the virus inactivation process is complete, but the assembly and handling become cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus inactivation completenessVSAvoidassembly and handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple functional chambers into a single integrated housing, the device becomes easier to assemble and handle. The integrated structure eliminates the need to connect multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity and improving ease of operation while maintaining complete virus inactivation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the known method uses a large number of components, then the virus inactivation process is thorough, but the required space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus inactivation thoroughnessVSAvoidspace occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing the mixing chamber, residence time chamber, and neutralization chamber within a single integrated housing structure. This nested arrangement maintains all necessary spaces for thorough virus inactivation while reducing the overall footprint and space occupation of the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 simplifies the virus inactivation process, reduces space requirements, and enhances flexibility, enabling efficient virus inactivation while maintaining the integrity of biopharmaceutical products, allowing for scalable and adaptable configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a first liquid stream containing a target protein is combined in a precisely predefined volume ratio with a second, virus-inactivating liquid stream... to form a third, reactive liquid stream which is conducted through a mixer for mixing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 2

a residence time arrangement fluidically connected to the head part for provision of a minimum residence time of the third, reactive liquid stream within the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResidence time:

Data Source

PatentUS20240182840A1Device for continuous virus inactivation

Publication Date: 2024.06.06 SARTORIUS STEDIM BIOTECH GMBH

AI summary

Embodiments include a device for continuous virus inactivation during a protein production process comprising a first and a second fluid inlet, a first mixer, and a fluid outlet. A first liquid stream containing a target protein is introducible into the device through the first fluid inlet and is combinable in a predefined volume ratio with a second, virus-inactivating liquid stream introducible into the device through the second fluid inlet to form a third, reactive liquid stream which is conducted through the first mixer for mixing in order to generate predefined, virus-inactivating conditions. The device further comprises a head part and, downstream of the first mixer and upstream of the fluid outlet, a residence time arrangement fluidically connected to the head part for provision of a minimum residence time of the third stream, wherein the head part and the residence time arrangement are rigidly fastened to each other.