Flexible tubing management system for pharmaceutical, bioprocess applications, and food/dairy applications
Inventors
Gagne, Michael C. • Richards, Dean C. • Cates, Steven V. • Bendon, Scott
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11578809-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for managing flexible conduit or tubing used in pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or food/dairy applications includes a segment of flexible conduit or tubing and a plurality of conduit tracks, each conduit track including a conduit channel disposed on a first side thereof and extending along the length of each respective conduit track and dimensioned to receive the segment of flexible conduit or tubing therein, each conduit track further including a connector channel disposed on a second, opposing side and extending along the length of each respective conduit track and containing the one or more connectors that connect adjacent conduit tracks. The conduit tracks can be connected to each other or other process components.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to managing flexible conduit or tubing used in pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or food/dairy applications through a modular flexible tubing or conduit management system. The system uses multiple conduit tracks and a valve integration arrangement to organize how flexible tubing portions are routed and connected during workflow use.
A conduit track includes a conduit channel that receives and retains a segment of flexible tubing on one side of the track. Opposing along the track length is a connector channel containing connectors so that adjacent conduit tracks and/or process components are interconnected using connector insertion and coupling.
The valve integration includes a valve body with a mounting channel and connector coupling structure. The valve is arranged to couple the conduit tracks to the valve body or valve assembly, and connectors are inserted laterally into the track connector channels and coupled to the valve body or valve assembly to link the tracks through the valve assembly.
The arrangement supports configurable end-to-end conduit track layouts and faster exchange of disposable flexible tubing while maintaining an organized layout. The system integrates with process components such as pumps, sensors, filters, chromatography/elution column, reactor, and reservoir on scaffolds or carts.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Across these, the claims cover inventive features for coupling flexible tubing portions to conduit tracks, inserting connector ends into connector channels, and coupling those tracks to a valve body or valve assembly, including multi-valve and multi-track transverse/parallel arrangements.
Coupling conduit track portions to a valve body using a single connector
A valve body or valve assembly is coupled to a conduit such that a first portion of the conduit extends from a first side and a second portion extends from a second side; the first and second portions are positioned into conduit channels of first and second conduit tracks; a first end and a second end of a connector are inserted into connector channels of the first and second conduit tracks; and the connector is coupled to the valve body or valve assembly to couple the first conduit track and the second conduit track.
Coupling multiple conduit tracks to valves in a valve assembly with connector channel insertion
A first conduit track is coupled to one of a plurality of valves in a valve assembly; a second conduit track is coupled to a second one of the plurality of valves; a third conduit track is coupled to a third valve and is positioned transverse to the first and second conduit tracks; a connector is inserted into connector channels of the first and second conduit tracks; and the connector is coupled to the valve assembly to couple the first conduit track and the second conduit track.
In sum, the independent claims define managing flexible conduit by placing conduit portions into conduit channels of conduit tracks, inserting connector ends into connector channels, and coupling connectors to a valve body or valve assembly to connect conduit tracks through the valve assembly. The second independent claim further emphasizes a plurality of valves with multiple conduit tracks and transverse track relationships.
Stated Advantages
Reduced organizational and visual complexity.
Configurable end-to-end conduit track arrangements.
Faster exchange of disposable flexible tubing while maintaining organized layouts.
Maintains organized integration with process components on scaffolds or carts.
Documented Applications
Pharmaceutical applications using flexible conduit or tubing managed by conduit tracks and valve integration.
Bioprocess applications using flexible conduit or tubing managed by conduit tracks and valve integration.
Food/dairy applications using flexible conduit or tubing managed by conduit tracks and valve integration.
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