Fluid transfer system for isolators
Inventors
Morrissey, Martin • King, Conor • Borozenets, Philip
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12194454-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for use with an isolator, including a crown for releasably joining with a beta port of the isolator, wherein the crown includes at least one anchoring support; a spring hook on at least one end of the at least one anchoring support; a needle block including at least one through hole for having a needle positioned therein, wherein the at least one needle is joined with tubing; a yoke; and a biasing element releasably joined with the yoke and the at least one anchoring support; wherein the needle block is releasably joined to the crown.
Core Innovation
An isolator fluid transfer system is disclosed that enables robotic manipulation of a liquid transfer needle set. The system includes a crown that releasably joins with a beta port of the isolator and includes at least one anchoring support with a spring hook. A needle block includes at least one through hole for having at least one needle positioned therein, where the at least one needle is joined with tubing.
The system further includes a yoke and a biasing element releasably joined with the yoke and the anchoring support. The disclosure provides that the needle block is releasably joined to the crown, and that the yoke holds the tubing via tubing-holding slots. The biasing element provides tension so the tubing retracts when the robot returns the needle block to a bag.
The disclosure explains that a rigid needle block provides a grab feature for robots and that the tubing tensioning prevents tubing from obstructing beta-port door closure in gloveport-less isolators. The disclosure also outlines aseptic robotic methods for transferring a single-use flow path between a bag and an isolator for bioprocessing, including returning needles and tubing to the bag and closing the door.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims, one apparatus claim and two aseptic method claims. Across these independent claims, there are inventive features covering a crown-based releasable junction to an isolator beta port with a rigid needle block, a yoke-and-biasing-element arrangement that tensions and retracts tubing under robotic manipulation, and robot-performed aseptic flow-path transfer to or from an isolator with dispensing into containers and subsequent return of the needle block and tubing, while enabling door operation.
Crown releasably joining to a beta port with anchoring support and spring hook
A crown for releasably joining with a beta port of the isolator, wherein the crown includes at least one anchoring support; and a spring hook on the at least one anchoring support; wherein the needle block is releasably joined to the crown.
Rigid needle block with through holes holding needles joined with tubing
A needle block including at least one through hole for having at least one needle positioned therein, wherein the at least one needle is joined with tubing.
Yoke with biasing element to tension tubing during robotic handling
A yoke; and a biasing element releasably joined with the yoke and the at least one anchoring support.
Robot-controlled aseptic flow-path transfer between a bag and an isolator using a needle block and biasing element
An aseptic method for transferring a flow path to or from an isolator, comprising placing a bag on a beta port of an isolator; placing a needle connected with tubing in a needle block comprising at least one through hole; releasably attaching the needle block to a crown; attaching the crown with the beta port; attaching a yoke to the crown via a biasing element, wherein the tubing is releasably joined with the yoke; gripping the needle block with a robot, wherein the robot pulls the needle block out of the bag, putting the biasing element under a tensile force; performing a bioprocessing operation; and returning the needle block and tubing to the bag, wherein the robot uses a pushing force to deliver the needle block and tubing to the bag.
Robot-controlled aseptic door operation with dispensing into containers and return into a beta bag
An aseptic method for transferring a flowpath to or from an isolator using a robot, comprising transferring containers to an isolator; attaching a beta bag to the isolator; opening a door of the isolator using the robot; grasping a needle block with the robot, which has needles and tubing placed into the needle block and is connected with a biasing element, forming the flowpath; positioning the needle block so that the needles are capable of filling the containers; dispensing a fluid through the flowpath into the needle block containers; grasping the needle block with the robot and returning to the beta bag, wherein the biasing element ensures return of the needles and the tubing into the beta bag; and closing the door with the robot.
Overall claim coverage centers on a crown-and-needle-block apparatus for an isolator beta port and a yoke-and-biasing-element arrangement that places the biasing element under tensile force during robotic pulling and ensures return of needles and tubing into a beta bag, while the robot performs aseptic transfer and dispensing and operates the isolator door.
Stated Advantages
Enables robotic manipulation of a liquid transfer needle set in an isolator using a grab feature provided by a rigid needle block.
Tensioning prevents tubing from obstructing beta-port door closure in gloveport-less isolators.
Supports aseptic robotic transfer of a single-use flow path between a bag and an isolator, including returning needles and tubing to the bag and closing the door.
Documented Applications
Bioprocessing using aseptic robotic transfer of a single-use flow path between a bag and an isolator, including returning needles/tubing to the bag and closing the door.
Fill-and-finish operation using the aseptic method for transferring a flow path to or from an isolator.
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