KR19980701369A - METHOD FOR FORMING A FILTER PACKAGE AND FILTER PACKAGE - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of forming a filter package includes disposing a filter and a liquid in a container having a filter submerged in the liquid and disinfecting the filter and the liquid while the filter and the liquid are in the container. After disinfection, the container may be sealed to surround the sterilized liquid and the filter. The vessel can be vented during disinfection to allow vapor of liquid to exit the vessel and to prevent the pressure in the vessel from rising. The container may be rigid or flexible.

Description

Filter package formation method and filter package

Filters are typically stored and transported wet in a suitable liquid in the package. There are several reasons for packaging filters like this. Some filters are not immediately wetted by the liquid to be filtered, so it is common to prewetting with another liquid having a lower surface tension to allow the filter to filter. As a service to the customer, some filter manufacturers prewet the filter at the factory where the filter is manufactured. To prevent this pre-wetted filter from drying out during storage or transportation, the filter is packaged in a sealed bag containing a suitable liquid that can remain wet until used.

Other types of filters, such as ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis membranes, are not prewet at the manufacturer but are nevertheless shipped to the customer in wet conditions to maintain their permeability. These filters are typically stored and shipped in a package containing a humectant, such as glycerin, to keep the filter wet.

Another reason for packaging the filter in the wet state is that it is easier to ensure the filter is clean than it is packaged in the dry state. Thus, filters that do not need to be pre-wetted or need to be constantly wet to maintain their filtration properties can also be packaged wet due to cleanliness issues.

To give the filter package containing the wet filter a suitable shelf life, hydrogen peroxide or other fungicides are typically added to the liquid in the package to prevent bacteria from growing from the time of manufacture until the purchaser opens the package.

Although the amount of fungicides is relatively small (typically about 3% for hydrogen peroxide), in some applications, especially in semiconductor manufacturing, fungicides are undesirably contaminants. Thus, there is a need for a filter package that includes a filter that is wetted with a long shelf life and almost no contaminants.

The present invention relates to a filter package comprising a filter immersed in a liquid and a method of forming such a filter package. In particular the invention relates to a filter package in which the contents of the filter package are disinfected and preferably sterilized.

1 is a schematic front view of a filter package according to the invention before disinfection.

2 is a schematic front view of the filter package of FIG. 1 after being sealed.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the venting device of the embodiment of FIG.

4 is a schematic front view of the filter package in which the venting device is formed by a semipermeable membrane.

5 is a schematic plan view of an assembly including a plurality of filter packages connected to a general bending filter.

6 and 7 are side views showing other types of venting filters applicable to the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view of a filter assembly that may be formed in a filter package according to the present invention;

9 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the use of a flexible tube to connect the filter assembly to the venting filter.

10 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a method of venting a filter housing on both upstream and downstream sides of a filter element.

11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a filter assembly having a filter membrane installed directly at a fluid port of the filter assembly;

12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet of the filter assembly of FIG. 11 as seen during disinfection.

1 and 2 diagrammatically show a method of forming a filter package according to the invention. The filter 10 and the non-contaminated liquid 30 are disposed in a container such as the bag 20 such that the filter 10 is submerged in the non-contaminated liquid 30. After closing the bag 20 to prevent liquid or microorganisms from entering, the filter 10 and the non-contaminated liquid 30 are sterilized and preferably sterilized while in the bag 20. Next, shown in FIG. As such, the bag 20 is preferably sealed to obtain a complete filter package.

Prior to entering the bag 20, the filter 10 can be pre-wetted and easily wetted by the fluid used and thus ready for use by the customer. Alternatively, depending on the nature of the filter 10, its end use and the needs of the purchaser, the filter 10 may alternatively be packaged without being pre-wetted. However, if the high cleaning of the filter 10 is important and the filter 10 is dry, and the filter 10 cannot be easily wetted by the non-contaminated liquid 30, the non-contaminated liquid 30 can easily remove the minute holes of the filter 10. It is desirable to pre-wet the filter 10 to allow penetration.

The filter 10 may be prewetted using known methods suitable for the type of filter 10. For example, standard prewetting procedures recommended by the filter 10 manufacturer are suitable. A conventional method of prewetting treatment is to immerse the entire filter 10 in a container containing a prewetting liquid with low surface tension, such as isopropyl alcohol or methyl alcohol, and allow the prewetting liquid to penetrate into the filter medium. In order to remove possible particle contaminants from the prewetting liquid, the prewetting liquid is preferably filtered first before being used. If the pre-wetting liquid is contaminant in the fluid system in which the filter 10 is used, it is preferable to flush the pre-wetting liquid from the filter 10 using a suitable non-contaminated liquid 30 such as deionized water. Rinsing filter 10 with non-contaminated liquid 30 can be done using conventional procedures. After pre-wetting and, if necessary, the filter 10 is washed off, the filter 10 is placed in the bag 20 before it is dried.

The bag 20 or other container in which the filter 10 is packaged therein is not limited to a particular type and may be rigid or flexible. The container may have any size and shape that can completely surround the filter 10 and the non-contaminated liquid 30 in which the filter 10 is to be submerged. If the filter 10 is strong enough to withstand vulnerable forces during storage and transport, a flexible and thin bag 20 is particularly suitable as a container, which allows the bag 20 to be inexpensively manufactured and to be sealed and handled. This is because it is easy.

The bag 20 can be made of any material that can not penetrate the non-contaminated liquid 30 and microorganisms, does not release or decompose contaminants into the non-contaminated liquid 30, and can withstand the conditions that may occur during sterilization. . In addition, the bag 20 preferably does not permeate the vapor and other gases of the non-contaminated liquid 30 and any liquid that may come into contact with the bag 20 during storage or transportation. High temperature thermoplastic fluoropolymers are particularly suitable for use as the bag 20 material because they are strong, light, easily sealed and can withstand sterilization temperatures. When the non-contaminated liquid 30 is water, examples of suitable materials for the bag 20 include perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE). Non-polymeric materials such as metal foil may also be used as the bag 20 material, and may be used in combination of one or more materials, such as a laminate of aluminum foil and mylar film.

If the sterilization is performed using, for example, heating or irradiation, ozone or ultrasonic waves, the bag 20 does not need to transmit light. However, if the bag 20 is made of a transparent or translucent material, the sealing operation is easier because the worker who seals the bag 20 can visually see the level of the filter 10 and the non-contaminated liquid 30. Lose.

The type and purity of the non-contaminated liquid 30 disposed in the bag 20 is selected according to the characteristics of the filter 10 and the characteristics of the fluid system to which the filter 10 is applied. Preferred non-contaminated liquid 30 is ultra-purity deionized water having an initial specific resistance of at least 18 kPa-cm, more preferably at least 18.1 kPa-cm. The initial resistivity of deionized water is a resistivity before use and refers to the resistivity when placed in the bag 20. Because of the materials present inside the bag 20 which come into contact with the deionized water during assembly of the air, filter 10 or filter 10 package, the specific resistance of the deionized water is after the deionized water is placed in the bag 20. The initial resistivity is somewhat reduced. However, the degree of contamination in the deionized water contained in the bag 20 during disinfection is preferably in the range of several billions at most. Therefore, during sterilization, the bag 20 preferably comprises only air or other gas that may be present on the surface of the filter 10 and the non-contaminated liquid 30 and the non-contaminated liquid 30. No bactericide is present in the bag 20. When the non-contaminated liquid 30 is introduced into the bag 20, the filter 10 and the bag 20 are in the non-contaminated liquid 30 so that the gases present in the air are not dissolved in the liquid 30. It can be placed in a gas atmosphere with low solubility. For example, when the non-contaminated liquid 30 is deionized water, the liquid 30 is introduced into the bag 20 in a nitrogen atmosphere so that CO ₂ existing in the air is not dissolved in the liquid 30. In general, however, gases present in the normal clean atmosphere are not contaminants to the filter 10. Therefore, it is hardly necessary to prevent these gases from contacting the non-contaminated liquid 30.

The filter 10 can be any type and shape as long as it can be sterilized. For example, the filter 10 may have a pleated or pleated filter media, such as a perforated core, an outer cage, one or more end caps, and an O-ring for connecting the filter 10 to the fluid system. It may also comprise a typical device such as sealing members. The filter 10 may be in the form of a cartridge for installation in a housing. Or, if the housing does not interfere with prewetting and disinfection, the filter 10 may be preinstalled in the housing. For example, the filter 10 may be installed in a housing having a through opening through which the pre-wetting liquid and the non-contaminated liquid 30 may be brought into full contact with the filter 10.

If the filter 10 is used within a short time, for example, on the very day of packaging, it is sufficient to disinfect highly than to sterilize the contents of the bag 20. However, in order to keep the shelf life of the filter 10 package as long as possible, it is preferable to sterilize the entire contents of the bag 20 including the filter 10 and the non-contaminated liquid 30.

Known disinfection methods that do not contaminate the bag 20 or damage the filter 10 or the bag 20 may be used, for example, disinfection methods using irradiation, ultraviolet rays, ozone, heat, ultrasonic waves, and the like. Since it is simple, reliable and inexpensive, it is preferable to sterilize the non-contaminated liquid 30 by heating it to a sterilization temperature. The heating can be done in a number of ways, for example by placing the bag 20 in a high-pressure cooker, microwave oven, pressure cooker, or a vessel containing breaking water or other liquid at a sterilization temperature. During disinfection, the filter 10 is preferably immersed in the non-contaminated liquid 30 in the bag 20 before and after disinfection in order to prevent the fine pores of the filter 10 from drying out. More preferably, the filter 10 is almost immersed (at least 50% of the volume of the filter 10), and most preferably, the filter 10 is immersed in the non-contaminated liquid 30. If the filter 10 receives negative buoyancy in the non-contaminated liquid 30, the filter 10 may be simply and completely locked by filling the bag 20 with a sufficient amount of the non-contaminated liquid 30. can do. If the filter 10 rises in the non-contaminated liquid 30, the bag is placed on the outside of the bag 20 using a clamp installed above the top of the filter 10 and below the surface of the non-contaminated liquid 30. (20) to prevent the filter 10 from floating on the surface of the non-contaminated liquid 30, so that the filter 10 is completely submerged in the non-contaminated liquid 30 than the surface of the non-contaminated liquid 30 It is preferable to support the filter 10 from the bottom. During disinfection, care should be taken to avoid contact with any member at temperatures that may cause thermal deformation of the bag 20 or filter 10. In addition, care must be taken not to break until the inside of the bag 20 is dry. Disinfection conditions such as heating temperature and heating time follow standard conditions. Examples of suitable and customary sterilization conditions in an autoclave are heating for about one hour at approximately 120 ° C. heating temperature and 15 psi gauge pressure. Disinfection in a clean room is desirable to reduce the risk of contamination.

If the filter 10 is of a type having a cap having a closed end and a cap having an open end, the filter 10 is placed and opened in the bag 20 so that the cap having the open end is higher than the cap having the closed end. It is preferable to allow air to escape from the center of the filter 10 through the cap having the stage and to allow the air to be replaced by the non-contaminated liquid 30.

In some cases, heating the filter 10 during sterilization will filter the extracts from the filter 10 toward the non-contaminated liquid 30. To reduce this filtering amount, filter 10 is pre-heated in hot deionized water (approximately 160-200 ° F., where 165 ° F. is approximately 74 ° C.) before placing filter 10 into bag 20. By soaking, the extracts can be filtered before being disinfected.

The top of the bag 20 is preferably closed during and after disinfection to prevent contaminants from entering. Closure of the top can be performed in a suitable manner that does not cause contamination, such as heat sealing. However, although the bag 20 is preferably closed, the bag 20 is preferably not fully sealed during disinfection, but at the same time prevents dust, microorganisms and other contaminants from entering the vapor of the non-contaminated liquid 30 And air is closed so that it can escape from the bag (20). When sterilized by heating, the pressure in the bag 20 will be increased by increasing the vapor pressure of the non-contaminated liquid 30, the boiling of the non-contaminated liquid 30 and / or the gases dissolved into the non-contaminated liquid 30. will be. Once the bag 20 is sealed during disinfection, it is desirable to take the following steps so that the pressure accumulated in the bag 20 does not rupture or damage the bag 20. That is, it is preferable to go through the step of pressurizing air into the interior of the autoclave in order to sufficiently thicken the wall of the bag 20 to withstand internal pressure without damage, or to reduce the degree of swelling of the bag 20 during heating. However, increasing the wall thickness of the bag 20 raises the cost and makes it more difficult to handle the bag 20, while injecting air into the autoclave reduces the efficiency of heating in the autoclave. . Therefore, a preferred method of preventing damage to the bag 20 due to an increase in internal pressure is to release the vapors and other gases of the non-contaminated liquid 30 generated during heating, which may cause deformation or rupture of the bag 20. The venting device 40 can be provided in the bag 20.

The venting device 40 is installed on the bag 20 at any position capable of discharging the vapor or other gases of the non-contaminated liquid 30 from the bag 20. While disinfecting by heating, it is desirable to place the bag 20 such that the venting device 40 is positioned on top of the bag 20 where air and other gases can accumulate. Venting device 40 is installed in a form that can discharge the vapor and other gases of the non-contaminated liquid 30 from the bag 20 during sterilization. 3 shows an example of the venting device 40 in detail. The venting device 40 includes a venting hole 41 formed in a wall of the bag 20 and a hollow venting tube 42 passing through the venting hole 41 and allowing the inside and the outside of the bag 20 to pass through. Venting tube 42 may be omitted, but provides a convenient way to connect the venting hole 41 with an external device. The venting tube 42 is positioned in the bag 20 and fixed to the bag 20 with a nut that is screwed to an external thread formed at an inner end of the venting tube 42. The nut 43 is integrally formed at the outer end of the vent tube 42 to the outside of the bag 20. In order to seal around the venting hole 41, a sealing member such as an elastomeric o-ring 45 is placed at the edge of the venting hole 41 and around the venting tube 42, the wall of the bag 20 and the nuts 43. It is installed between one of the 44). The o-ring 45 is pressurized to seal contact with the bag by tightening the nuts 43, 44. O-ring 45 may be installed on either the inside or outside of the bag 20, but is preferably installed outside the bag 20 due to contamination problems.

The venting tube 42 and the nuts 43, 44 may be made of a corrosion resistant material that can withstand the temperatures generated during disinfection. Suitable materials for the o-ring 45 include polymers such as FEP, PFA, PVDF and ECTFE and metals such as stainless steel.

Various other methods may be applied to hermetically install the venting tube 42 on the bag 20, such as by using a barrier wall facility. Furthermore, the venting tube 42 can be permanently connected to the bag 20 in the same way as welding. However, it is often advantageous to install the venting tube 42 detachably from the bag 20 so that it can be reused in another bag 20.

Another possible type of venting device 40 is a sheet of semipermeable membrane that permeates water vapor but not water and microorganisms, such as a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane that forms a portion of the bag 20. 4 shows an embodiment in which a venting device composed of a semi-permeable membrane 47 of PTFE forms part of the wall of the bag 20, and the remaining part of the bag 20 is formed of PFA. The semi-permeable membrane 47 is located on the top of the bag 20, and is almost at the same position as the venting device 40 of FIG. This bag 20 having a semi-permeable membrane is also sterilized in the same manner as the bag 20 shown in FIG. 1.

Alternatively, the entire bag 20 may be made of a semi-permeable membrane, such as a PFTE membrane, which permeates water vapor and does not permeate water or microorganisms, in which case no separate venting device is required. However, a bag 20 made of a material that permeates water vapor is less desirable because water vapor permeates the bag 20 and condenses outside the bag 20 during storage, making the bag 20 difficult to handle. In addition, as time passes, all the non-contaminated liquid 30 may evaporate from the bag 20 and leave the filter 10 completely dry.

Since the venting device 40 is installed, little pressure is applied to the wall of the bag 20 during disinfection, so that the thickness of the bag 20 can be quite thin. For example, a bag 20 made of PFA with a wall thickness of 0.002-0.030 inch, such as 0.005 inch, is well tolerated in autoclave at a gauge pressure of 15 psi. Reducing the wall thickness of the bag 20 is advantageous because it reduces the cost of material costs and makes it easier to seal the bag 20.

In order to prevent microorganisms and other contaminants from entering the bag 20 through the venting hole 41 during and after sterilization, a venting filter 46 which does not pass bacteria or other microorganisms is introduced into the venting tube 42. Sealedly connected, therefore, all air entering the vent tube 42 from the outside of the bag 20 should pass through the vent filter 46. Here, the venting filter is a filter of any type that allows the vapor of the non-contaminated liquid to pass through, and does not need to be a filter exclusively used for venting. The venting filter 46 preferably passes air. An example of a suitable venting filter 46 is a sterilizing grade filter 10 for air filtration. Bactericidal grade filters or filter media are typically defined as filters having a removal rating of 0.2 μm. Depending on the circumstances in which the bag 20 due to disinfection is installed, a venting filter may be unnecessary, or a filter having a different removal grade, such as a non-sterile filter, may be applied. When the non-contaminated liquid 30 in the bag 20 is water, the venting filter 46 is smaller than approximately 50 dynes / cm since the flow of the gas through the venting filter 46 is disturbed when the venting filter 46 is wet. It is desirable to be hydrophobic with a critical wet surface tension so that it does not get wet during disinfection. In addition, when the non-contaminated liquid 30 is water, the hydrophobic venting filter 46 prevents the non-contaminated liquid 30 from leaking out of the bag 20, and the non-contaminated liquid similarly when the bag 20 is turned upside down. It is easy to store the bag 20 by preventing 30 from leaking out of the bag 20. However, if the venting filter 46 is prevented from getting wet during disinfection, a hydrophilic venting filter can be applied. The venting filter 46 may have any shape and may not be wrinkled or wrinkled. An example of a suitable venting filter is the DFA4001FRP filter assembly available from Paul Corporation. The filter has a PTFE double layer filter media, an inner core and an end cap made of polypropylene and has a critical wet surface tension of less than 30 dynes / cm. These filters do not permeate water when they are not wet, but permeate liquids with surface tensions less than 30 dynes / cm. The venting filter 46 may be installed using a sealing device to prevent microorganisms from bypassing the venting filter 46. The venting filter 46 may be permanently connected or detachably connected to the bag 20. However, it is preferable to install it separably since the venting filter 46 can be reused. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the venting filter 46 and the venting tube 42 may be connected by threaded coupling.

The non-contaminated liquid 30 is introduced into the bag 20 in a desired manner. For example, the non-contaminated liquid 30 may be introduced through the opening end before the opening end of the bag 20 is closed. Alternatively, after the bag 20 is closed, the venting filter 46 may be introduced through the venting tube 42 of the venting device 40 before the venting filter 46 is installed in the venting tube 42.

After the contents of the bag 20 are disinfected, the bag 20 is preferably sealed. Since the hydrophobic venting filter can prevent water and microorganisms from entering the bag 20 and leaking from the bag 20, it is not essential to seal the bag 20. However, sealing the bag 20 allows the venting device 40 to be detached from the bag 20 and facilitates handling of the bag 20. It is desirable to cool the bag 20 to a temperature convenient to handle before sealing. During cooling, the venting filter 46 prevents microorganisms and other contaminants from entering the bag 20 and keeps the contents of the bag 20 sterilized. Sealing may be applied to any known method. If the bag 20 is made of a polymeric material, heat sealing is particularly preferred. Moreover, it can also be based on ultrasonic sealing and vibration welding. In order to exclude all air from within the bag 20, the bag 20 may be sealed at any desired location including below the surface of the non-contaminated liquid 30. After sealing, the bag 20 preferably does not contain air above the surface of the non-contaminated liquid 30. However, since the air in the bag 20 is sterilized and the relative humidity is 100%, the air may be removed from the filter 10. Since it will not be contaminated or dried, it is not harmful even if some air remains in the bag 20 after sealing. After the bag 20 is sealed, the top of the bag 20 including the venting device 40 can be separated from the bottom of the bag 20 and can be recovered for reuse. If the venting device 40 does not need to be reused, the venting device 40 may be left attached to the bag 20, but in this case, the venting device 40 may not be vented. This is because the water vapor passing through the venting device 40 may condense on the outer surface of the bag 20 while storing the bag 20 and make the water around the bag 20 permeable. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the venting device 40 is not operated by sealing around the venting hole 41 in a manner such as heat sealing to isolate the venting hole 41 from the inside of the bag 20. can do.

It is desirable to simultaneously disinfect the plurality of filters 10 contained in each bag 20 or other containers. Instead of having a plurality of bags 20 each having their own venting filter 46, venting tubes 42 having a plurality of bags 20 are provided with a manifold 51 and a hose 52 as shown in FIG. ) May be connected to one venting filter 50. The venting filter 50 is chosen to be large enough to filter the air for all bags 20. In order to collectively disinfect the filters 10 at once, an entire assembly including a plurality of bags 20 and a venting filter 50 may be disposed in the autoclave.

Alternatively, a plurality of filters 10 may be arranged in one bag 20 as shown in FIG. 1 to disinfect the plurality of filters 10 simultaneously.

6 and 7 show further examples of the venting filter 46 vented while the bag 20 is disinfected. The venting filter 60 of FIG. 6 consists of a commercially available filter holder and a filter medium 64 located inside the filter holder. The filter holder generally has a cylindrical housing including a base 61 and a cover 62, wherein a filter medium 64 may be located between the base 61 and the cover 62. The base 61 and the cover 62 are sealed to each other by a nut 63 surrounding the cover 62 and screwed to an external thread formed in the base 61. Either or both of base 61 and cover 62 may include perforated support plates for supporting filter media 64. The filter holder can usually be purchased without the filter medium 64, and the filter medium 64 can be installed by the user. When the filter holder is assembled, the first and second fluid ports 61a and 62a, which communicate with the front and rear surfaces of the filter medium 64 facing each other, extend from the base 61 and the cover 62, respectively. In FIG. 6, the base 61 is partially cut off to show the first fluid port 61a. These filter holders and other types of filter holders, which allow the filter media to be installed and can be replaced by the user, are available from several sources. For example, the Illinois Coll-Parmer Instrument Company of Niles). The filter medium 64 supported by the filter holder may be one having desired properties. Examples of filter media 64 suitable for use in the present invention include a hydrophobic bactericidal grade membrane filter media of PTFE.

The bag 20 of this embodiment has a hollow venting tube 42 having a central hole 65a extending along its longitudinal direction. A hollow cone flange 66 having an outer diameter larger than that of the venting tube 65 is formed at the inner end of the venting tube 65. The venting tube 65 extends through a hole drilled in the wall of the bag 20, and the flange 66 is disposed inside the bag 20. Sealing members such as O-rings 67, washers 68 and nuts 69 are mounted to the venting tube 65 on the outside of the bag 20. The nut 69 is screwed to an external thread formed in the venting tube 65. When the nut 69 is tightened, the washer 68 is forced toward the flange 66, resulting in the bag 20 being pressed between the o-ring 67 and the flange 66. Thus, the o-ring 67 is pressurized in sealing contact with the bag 20 to seal the periphery of the hole drilled in the bag 20. The o-ring 67 may be separated from the washer 68 or may be attached to the washer 68 with an adhesive, for example. The vent tube 65 is fluidly connected to either of the first and second fluid ports 61a, 62a of the filter holder in a suitable manner. For example, the central hole 65a of the venting tube 65a may have an internal thread coupled with an external thread formed in the fluid port. Alternatively, the vent tube 65 and one of the fluid ports of the vent filter 60 may be connected by a hollow connection member such as a pipe or a flexible tube.

Venting filters having filter holders that can be assembled or disassembled by a user have a number of useful properties. Filter holders can be purchased in a variety of sizes, thus allowing the user to select a filter holder capable of supporting a filter medium having a surface area suitable for application. Since the filter medium can be easily installed in the filter holder by the user, the filter medium can be discarded and replaced when needed, and the filter holder can be reused, thereby making the filter holder economical to use. In addition, the user can freely choose the filter medium to be used with the filter holder.

The venting filter 70 shown in FIG. 7 is composed of a filter unit that is commercially available and can be used for single use, and is also called a syringe filter because it is adapted to be mounted in a medical syringe. The venting filter comprises a filter medium (not shown) sealed inside a plastic housing having first and second fluid ports 71, 72 communicating with the front and rear facing surfaces of the filter medium. Syringe filters can be purchased with a variety of filter media. An example of a suitable filter medium for a syringe filter used to vent the filter 10 package according to the present invention is a hydrophobic bactericidal grade membrane filter medium. Syringe filters will typically include a perforated support plate on one or both sides of the filter media in its housing. Venting filter 70 may be connected to bag 20 in a suitable manner such as venting tube 65 as shown in FIG. Syringe filters are available with a variety of fittings. The structure of the venting tube 65 and the type of venting filter 70 may be selected to enable direct connection with each other. In FIG. 7, the first fluid port 71 of the venting filter 70 has an external thread that can be screwed into an internal thread formed at an outer end of the venting tube 65. Alternatively, the venting filter 70 may be indirectly connected to the venting tube 65 by a flexible hose or a connecting pipe.

When the disinfection is completed, the venting filters 60 and 70 may be left attached to the bag 20 or may be separated by the method shown in FIG. 2 after the bag 20 is sealed.

If the venting device is composed of a semipermeable membrane as in the embodiment of Fig. 4 and the membrane 47 does not permeate microorganisms, the venting filter is unnecessary.

When disinfection is performed by heating the filter in a chamber, such as an autoclave or oven, the venting device can be vented on either the inside or outside of the chamber. It is generally simpler if the venting is done inside the chamber, ie with the venting device placed inside the chamber with the filter. In this case the venting device is preferably made of a material that can withstand the conditions in the chamber during disinfection.

As already explained, the container of the filter package according to the invention can be a rigid container. Disinfection of the filter in a rigid container, such as a filter housing, may be done in the same way as the method of disinfecting a filter in a flexible container, such as a flexible bag. A rigid container is a container that maintains a nearly constant shape and size without being supported, whereas a flexible container, such as a flexible bag, is a container that is easily deformed and that can collapse by its own weight if not supported internally or externally. . The rigid container of the filter package according to the invention can be made of the desired material such as metal or polymer. Filters to be sterilized in a rigid container can be pre-wetted before being sterilized and pretreated in hot deionized water to filter the extract. The prewet treatment and the pretreatment can be done at any time before or after the filter is installed in the vessel. However, if the container is a filter housing, it is usually easier to prewet and pretreatment after the filter is installed in the housing forming the filter assembly. Pre-wetting and pretreatment can be accomplished by dipping the filter assembly in a suitable liquid or passing the liquid through the filter housing. If pretreatment and pretreatment of the filters are carried out, after these operations, the filter housing or other rigid container containing the filter is filled with non-contaminated liquid, such as ultrapure deionized water for dipping the filter. The rigid container and filter are then sterilized by any of the above methods used for disinfecting the filter in a flexible bag, for example, by heat sterilization in an autoclave, as already described.

When the filter in a rigid container, such as a filter housing, is heat sterilized, the container may be sealed or vented. Therefore, if the wall of the container is strong enough to withstand the internal pressure generated in the container while the non-contaminated liquid is heated, the container can be completely sealed by closing all fluid ports and other openings in the container during heating. If the walls of the container are relatively thin enough to be damaged by internal pressure during heating, the container may be vented by a suitable venting device. Venting can be performed through a suitable portion of the vessel. If the container is a filter housing, then a plurality of fluid ports, such as almost fluid inlets, fluid outlets, or air holes, will be provided, and the housing may be through one or more of one or more of these fluid ports, or in particular for use in venting It may be vented through the opening. Fluid ports or other openings not used for venting may be closed during heating by conventional closure devices (pipe plugs, pipe caps, tube covers, etc.) that are suitable for the construction of individual fluid ports. As with one of the venting filters used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, the venting filter is used for venting to prevent contaminants from entering the vessel through the fluid port when it is heated or when the vessel is cooled after completion of heating. It can be connected to the fluid port. As in the above embodiments, the venting filter preferably has a sterile grade filter medium, and the filter medium may be hydrophobic if desired so that non-contaminated liquid does not leak out of the container through the fluid port to which the venting filter is connected.

Fill the vessel with as much non-contaminated liquid as possible to exclude all air liberated from the vessel during heating. It is helpful to shake the container or draw the non-contaminated liquid from various parts of the container in order to discharge the free air to the outside of the container during the introduction of the non-contaminated liquid. As an alternative, the non-contaminated liquid can be introduced through the fluid port at the other end of the vessel while sucking the fluid port at one end of the vessel. The filter is preferably submerged (at least 50% of its volume) and most preferably submerged in non-contaminated liquid at the start of disinfection.

When a filter in a rigid container being vented, such as a vented filter housing, is disinfected, the level of non-contaminated liquid in the container is usually reduced due to evaporation of the non-contaminated liquid. When the vessel is cooled following heating, air can enter the vessel through the venting filter and form an air pocket on top of the vessel over the surface of the non-contaminated liquid. However, if the container is flexible white, the air is free of microorganisms after passing through the venting filter and the relative humidity is 100% so it will not contaminate or dry the filter. It is not harmful. After cooling is complete, it is preferable that sufficient non-contaminated liquid remains in the container so that the filter is at least 50% submerged. More preferably the filter is at least 90% submerged and even more preferably the filter is almost 100% submerged.

The venting filter can be shipped to the customer with the filter package connected to the container after disinfection is complete. Alternatively, the venting filter may be replaced with a closing device for sealing the container, in which case the venting filter may be reused. If the venting filter is removed, the separation operation is preferably performed to prevent contaminants from entering the container. If the venting filter is left with the hydrophobic filter medium connected to the container, it is possible but not necessary to close the fluid port downstream of the venting filter since the hydrophobic filter medium can prevent non-contaminated liquid from leaking from the container.

8 shows an embodiment of a filter package according to the invention wherein the rigid container for containing the filter during disinfection is a filter housing. The illustrated filter package includes a disposable filter assembly available from Paul Corporation under the trademark DFA. The assembly includes a housing 90 having first and second fluid ports 91 and 92 and manually operated exhausts 93 and 94 that can be used to vent gas or liquid from the housing 90. The filter 80 located within the housing 90 includes a pleated filter element 81 surrounding the hollow perforated core 82, a closed end cap 83 and a filter element 81 sealed at one end of the filter element 81. And an open end cap 84 sealed at the other end of the c) and the second fluid port 92. It may also include a perforated cage (not shown) surrounding the filter element. The illustrated filter 80 is mainly for fluids flowing radially. Therefore, the first fluid port 91 normally functions as an inlet and the second fluid port 92 normally functions as an outlet, but the functions of the two fluid ports may be changed. The filter 80 and the housing 90 may be made of a material that can withstand conditions such as temperature that may be encountered during disinfection. For example, the filter element 81 of the illustrated filter 80 has a PTFE filter medium, and the core 82, end caps 83 and 84 and the housing 90 are made of polypropylene. This filter assembly can be sterilized by heating in an autoclave.

While sterilized by heating in the cast iron and subsequently cooled, the housing 90 is hydrophobic to release vapors generated by heating to the exterior of the housing 90 while preventing microorganisms and other contaminants from entering the housing 90. It is preferably connected to a sterile grade venting filter. The venting filter may be connected to one or more fluid ports of the housing 90. In the case of the illustrated filter assembly, the housing 90 is preferably vented through at least a fluid port that is connected to the open end cap 84, while the open end cap 84 is higher than the closed end cap 83 during disinfection. Vapors and other gases of the non-contaminated liquid 30 generated inside the core 82 of the filter 80 are not trapped inside the core 82 and are disposed above the filter 80 through the open end cap 84. It is desirable to be able to flow in and out. Unvented fluid ports may be sealed with a stopper, cap or other suitable closure device during disinfection.

The venting filter 70 of this embodiment may be a commercially available syringe filter as shown in FIG. 7 or another type of venting filter such as the type shown in FIG. 3 or 7. The illustrated venting filter 70 has two fluid ports 71, 72, one of which 71 can be directly screwed to an external thread formed in the second fluid port 92 of the housing 90. Internal threads are formed. Instead of being directly connected to the fluid port of the housing 90, the venting filter 70 may be connected to the fluid port by a connecting member such as a flexible polymer tube 96 or a threaded adapter, as shown in FIG. . When the tube 96 is applied, the venting filter 70 may have a hose barb connector for connecting to the tube, and the fluid port 92 of the housing 90 to which the venting filter 70 is to be connected is connected to the hose barb connector. Can be formed or screwed into the fluid port 92 and fitted with a commercially available adapter having a hose barb connector at its outer end. When disinfection and cooling of the filter assembly is completed, the tube 96 is a convenient means of connecting the filter housing of the filter assembly with the venting filter, and the fluid port 92 and the venting filter 70 to melt and close the tube 96. The filter housing 90 can be sealed by heating the tube 96 between (the dashed-dotted portion in FIG. 9). The tube 96 may be cut off leaving the short length of the tube 96 attached to the housing 90 on the outside of the melted portion. The venting filter 70 may be separated and reused at the outer end of the tube 96. The tube 96 can be used with a syringe filter as well as any other type of venting filter already described. During disinfection, the tube may contain air and may be partially or completely filled with non-contaminated liquid. Thus, when the non-contaminated liquid in the housing 90 is boiled, the liquid in the tube 96 may flow toward the housing 90 to replace the boiled liquid.

If only one of the fluid ports of the filter housing 90 is vented during sterilization by heating, a pressure difference can be formed across the filter element 81 between the side communicating with the inlet 91 and the side communicating with the outlet 92. Can be. If this pressure difference is large enough to move the steam generated by heating through the filter element 81, the steam passing through the filter element 81 may result in wetting the parts of the filter element 81. It is desirable to vent the housing 90 simultaneously on both the upstream and downstream sides of the filter element 81 so that steam does not travel through the filter element 81. That is, it is desirable to vent the area communicating with the inlet and the area communicating with the outlet through two or more fluid ports simultaneously. For example, both inlet 91 and outlet 92 may be vented at the same time, or one or both of outlet 92 and air vents 93 and 94 may be vented simultaneously. 10 shows an embodiment in which the filter assembly is vented from both upstream and downstream sides of the filter element 81. The filter assembly of FIG. 10, with only the outlet end shown, is identical to the disposable filter assembly of FIG. 8. During disinfection, the outlet 92 and the outlet side air outlet 94 are, for example, in the form of a sterile grade syringe filter, for example, the tube 96 for the outlet side air exhaust 94 and the tube 96 for the outlet 92. It is connected to the venting filter 70 by a tee fitting 96 and a flexible polymer tube 96 that couples it. The outlet 92 is equipped with a hose barb adapter 97 as in the embodiment of FIG. 9. The cap on the air vent 94 may be removed to allow the tube 96 to be connected to the air vent 94. If desired, the air outlet 94 is also equipped with a hose barb adapter similar to that installed at outlet 92. Disinfection is carried out under the same conditions as in the previously described embodiments. Once disinfection and cooling is complete, the tube 96 for both the outlet 92 and the outlet side air vent 94 is closed with, for example, a dashed line to melt and close the tube 96 and seal the housing 90. Therefore, the tube 96 can be heated and cut | disconnected. One or more venting filters may be connected to the plurality of fluid ports of the housing in another desired manner. For example, the plurality of venting filters may be directly connected to the housing 90 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 8.

While disinfecting, the orientation of the filter housing 90 is not critical, but the housing 90 is easily vaporized through the fluid ports 92 and 94 by vapor rising to the top of the housing 90 as shown in FIG. It is desirable to orient to be vented. The venting filters illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 may apply a method similar to the method illustrated in FIG. 5, that is, a method of simultaneously venting a plurality of filter packages through one venting filter 46.

According to another form according to the invention, the venting filter for use during disinfection of the filter comprises a filter medium mounted directly on the fluid port of the filter housing or other container. 11 shows a part of an embodiment of a filter package according to the invention to which this venting filter is applied. The illustrated filter package can be applied to a variety of different types of filter assemblies, but can be formed from a commercially available filter assembly, for example a filter assembly available from Paul Corporation under the name LDFF. The filter assembly comprises a cylindrical rigid polymer housing 100, one end of the housing 100 having an outlet 101 and an outlet side air vent 110, each of which is hollow with the interior of the filter housing 100. Has The other end of the housing 100, which is not shown, is provided with an inlet and an inlet side exhaust outlet in a structure similar to that of the outlet 101 and the outlet side air exhaust port 110. A cylindrical filter (not shown) is disposed inside the housing 100 along a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet 101. Like the filter 80 shown in FIG. 8, the filter of the illustrated filter assembly has a closed end cap at one end and an open end cap for sealing the outlet 101 at the other end. The air vents communicate with the interior of the housing 100 surrounding the filter. Each fluid port, such as an inlet, an outlet 101, and an air vent, may be sealed by a cap shaped stopper and a nut that is formed separately from the stopper to secure the stopper to the fluid port. For example, the outlet side air exhaust port 110 is provided with a closing plug 111 having a lower open end that fits perfectly to the outer end of the air exhaust port 110. The nut 112 slides to the top of the stopper 111 and is coupled to an external thread formed on the air exhaust 110 for holding the stopper 111 in place. The outlet 101 may be sealed by a similar closure plug (not shown) and a nut 106 to hold the closure plug in place.

One or more of the fluid ports of the housing 100 may be vented during disinfection. For the same reason as for the embodiment of FIG. 8, at least the outlet 101 is preferably vented to prevent vapor from accumulating in the hollow center of the filter during disinfection. The venting filter for the outlet 101 of this embodiment has a sheet of filter media 102 mounted directly over the outer open end of the outlet 101. Filter medium 102 is not limited to a particular type, but a sterilization grade filter medium capable of preventing bacteria or other contaminants from entering housing 100 and discharging vapor from housing 100 during disinfection. desirable. If desired, when the housing 100 is tilted, the filter medium 102 may be hydrophobic to prevent non-contaminated liquid filled in the housing 100 from leaking from the housing 100. The membrane filter medium is particularly suitable as the filter medium 102 because the membrane is sufficiently thin and flexible so that the membrane can easily follow the shape of the outlet 101 without being torn. Examples of suitable membrane filter media include sterile grade PTFE membranes. Examples of other suitable membrane materials are polyvinylidene fluoride and hydrophobic nylon. The thickness of the filter medium 102 is not limited and may be determined according to the desired strength. Typically, the thickness is in the region of 0.0254-0.127 mm. Depending on the physical strength of the filter medium 102, the filter medium (102) permeates the vapor of the non-contaminated liquid 30 and prevents the filter medium 102 from blowing out while disinfecting the support member 103, which is harder than the filter medium. It is preferably arranged adjacent to the outer side of 102. Of course, a similar support member 103 may also be disposed adjacent to the inner side of the filter medium 102 to prevent the filter medium 102 from deforming inward. In the present invention, the support member 103 is composed of a single sheet of porous fluoropolymer nonwoven fabric for permeating vapor of non-contaminated liquid. Examples of other possible support members include thin, perforated plates, porous woven fabrics and porous meshes. In general, the support member 103 does not need to perform any function other than physically supporting the filter medium 102. That is, the support member 103 does not have to function to remove particles from the fluid passing through the support member 103 during sterilization, and is preferably sufficiently porous so that the pressure does not drop significantly.

The filter medium 102 and the support member 103 may be of any size convenient to use, but each has a surface area that is at least as large as the cross-sectional area of the hole of the outlet 101 so as to completely cover the hole of the outlet 101. desirable. The filter medium 102 and the support member 103 may be cut into any shape from the thin plate.

The filter medium 102 and the support member 103 are installed in any desired manner, ie by bonding or to fit around the outlet 101, to prevent microorganisms and other contaminants from bypassing the filter medium 102. And may be attached to the outlet 101 by a mechanical connector (ring, hose clamp, etc.) holding the filter medium 102. Since bonding can damage filter media 102 or housing 100 and cause contamination, mechanical connection is generally preferred over bonding. In the illustrated embodiment, after the housing 100 is filled with a non-contaminated liquid to wet the filter contained in the housing 100, the filter medium 102 and the support member 103 are placed above the outlet 101. And then in place by a cap-shaped stopper having an open end which is held by a nut 106 which slides over the outer end of the outlet 101 and slides over the stopper 104 and engages with an external thread formed in the outlet 101. Is fixed to. 12 shows the appearance of the outlet 101 during sterilization. The filter medium 102 is sufficiently thin and flexible to cover the threads of the outlet 101 and the filter medium 102 does not damage the portion of the filter medium 102 where the nut 106 covers the outer end of the outlet 101 hole. 102 may be screwed on. The stopper 104 having an open end may be initially manufactured with its end open, or a closed end of a closed stopper such as a stopper 111 for the outlet side air exhaust 110 may be cut off or closed. It can be obtained by drilling the outer end of the. One or more axial slits 105 that allow the stopper 104 to expand radially to facilitate the stopper 104 having an open end to slide over the filter media 102 and the support member 103. It may be formed on the outer wall of the 104.

Any of the other fluid ports of the housing 100 may also be provided with a venting filter 46 of the same type as applied to the outlet 101, or any other venting filter.

The illustrated filter assembly can be sterilized under the same conditions as described in the above embodiments. When the filter assembly is sterilized by heating in the autoclave, the outlet 101 is positioned higher than the rest of the housing 100 so that steam generated during heating rises towards the outlet 101 and is easily vented from the housing 100. It is desirable to be able to. Upon completion of disinfection and cooling of the filter assembly, when the filter medium 102 is hydrophobic, the filter housing 100 is opened since the hydrophobic filter medium 102 can prevent water from leaking from the housing 100. The stopper 104 having the stage may be transported to the customer while leaving the outlet 101. However, in order to prevent inadvertent puncture of the filter medium 102 during handling of the filter assembly, a stopper 104 having an open end may be provided with a closing stopper 111 for the closing stopper or the outlet side air vent 110. Likewise, the filter medium 102 may be replaced with another member that can protect the filter medium 102. The stopper 104 having an open end can be easily replaced by unscrewing the nut 106 from the outlet 101 and peeling off without removing the filter medium 102 and then installing a closing plug on the filter medium 102. Can be. At this time, the support member 103 may be left in place on the filter medium 102 and may be removed so that the closure plug is easily slipped over the outlet 101. The closure plug may be loosely installed over the outlet 101 or may be tightened to the outlet 101 with a nut 106 to seal the housing 100. When the customer wishes to use the filter package, the nut 106 and the closure cap are removed and the support member 103 (if installed yet) and the filter medium 102 are stripped from the outlet 101. Since no bonding agent is used to attach the filter medium 102 to the outlet 101, the filter medium 102 can be easily separated from the outlet 101 without leaving any residue.

In a similar manner, the filter medium may be installed directly at the outer end of the venting tubes 42, 65 used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 in which the container of the filter package has a flexible bag 20. For example, the membrane filter medium and the support member may be installed in the outer unit of the venting tube and may be fixed in place by a stopper and a nut having an open end as used in the embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12. Similarly, the filter medium may be mounted directly to either of the fluid ports of the filter assembly shown in FIG.

The venting filter having a filter medium installed directly on the fluid port of the container has the advantage that the user can easily assemble it with inexpensive hardware and therefore the device cost is very low.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filter package including a filter and a non-contaminated liquid having almost no contaminants, which can be stored for a long time without using a disinfectant.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming such a filter package.

The filter package according to the present invention comprises a filter surrounded by the container and the container and a non-contaminated liquid water disposed in the container to wet the filter. The non-contaminated liquid preferably contains almost no substance which can be regarded as a contaminant to the filter, such as, for example, fungicides. For example, the degree of contamination in the non-contaminated liquid is preferably several billions at most. In preferred embodiments, the non-contaminated liquid comprises deionized water having an initial resistivity of at least 18 kPa-cm.

The container can have any desired desired strength. In one form of the invention, the container consists of a thin flexible bag. The bag may have a discharge mechanism for discharging the vapor evaporated from the bag during heating. In another form of the invention, the container consists of a rigid container, such as a filter housing.

The filter in the container may simply be wetted by water. That is, the filter surface may be in contact with water. Or may be wetted with water. In other words, the water in the container can be almost penetrated into the holes of the filter.

The method of forming the filter package according to the invention comprises placing the filter and the liquid in a container having the filter submerged in the liquid. The liquid and filter are then sterilized and preferably sterilized while in the container. If desired, the container can be sealed after disinfection.

The contents of the filter package of the present invention are at least disinfected. That is, all or almost all microorganisms producing spores are killed and preferably the contents of the filter package are completely sterilized. In this specification, sterilization is included within the scope of the term disinfection. Thus, the filter package sterilized according to the present invention may be either completely sterilized or not sterilized completely.

Disinfection can be performed in a manner that does not degrade or damage the filter or the container. In preferred embodiments, disinfection is performed by heating the filter and the liquid in the container. When disinfection is performed by heating, the vessel can be evacuated (hereinafter referred to as venting) during disinfection to ensure that the vapor of the liquid is released out of the vessel and to prevent pressure buildup that can damage the vessel. .

The filter package according to the invention is not limited to having a particular type of filter. For example, the filter may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic, and may be a filter for filtration of a gas, liquid, suspension or mixture having one or more phases and the device for performing the filtration is not critical. Some examples of various types of filters that can be applied to the present invention include particle filters, coalescers, ultrafiltration membranes, and reverse osmosis membranes that are used in the semiconductor industry in particular.

If desired, the filter may be pre-wetted prior to being immersed in the liquid in the container so that the filter is completely wetted with the immersed liquid.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following examples.

Example 1

A rectangular PFA film of 6 inches by 18 inches and a thickness of 0.005 inches is folded in half and heat-sealed with two edges to obtain an elongated bag with a size of 3 inches by 18 inches and one end open. The venting hole is drilled near the opening end of the bag using a hole punch, and a venting tube as shown in FIG. 3 is hermetically connected to the venting hole of the bag.

Pleated filter (AB1F0013EH1 filter, available from Paul Corporation under the trademark Super-Cheminert, with a single layer of PTFE filter media) is pre-wetted by soaking in isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes at room temperature (approximately 25 ° C). And isopropyl alcohol is removed by flushing the filter with deionized water for at least 5 minutes. The filter is then filtered for 60 minutes and sent to a hot deionized water tank with a temperature of approximately 71 ° C. The filter is placed in the bag through the opening end, which is sealed by a heat sealer.

Ultra-pure deionized water (initial specific resistance 18 µ-cm) is introduced into the white eye through the venting tube so that the filter is completely submerged. As a venting filter, a hydrophobic sterilizing grade PFA filter (Pall Model DFA4001FRP) is hermetically connected to the venting tube.

The bag is then placed in an autoclave and heated for 1 hour under standard sterilization conditions with a gauge pressure of 15 psi and a temperature of approximately 120 ° C. to sterilize the contents of the bag. After one hour, the bag 20 is removed from the autoclave and cooled in air to safely handle the hot bag. The bag is sealed below the water surface using a heat sealer to obtain a complete filter package. When sealed, the top of the bag containing the venting tube and venting filter is separated from the bottom of the bag containing the filter. The venting tube, associated hardware and venting filter are separated from the top of the bag for reuse and the top of the bag is discarded.

Example 2

This embodiment shows sterilization of the filter assembly to obtain a sterile filter package as shown in FIG. 8. The filter assembly has a filter 80 and a rigid polymer housing 90, a disposable filter assembly available from Paul Corporation under the trademark DFA.

Filter 80 is pre-wetted by passing isopropyl alcohol through housing 90 at room temperature (approximately 25 ° C.), where isopropyl alcohol is introduced through inlet 91 and discharged through outlet 92. . Isopropyl alcohol is then removed by washing the filter housing 90 for 5 minutes with deionized water. Deionized water is then drained from the housing 90.

The outlet side air exhaust 94 is closed and the outlet 92 is closed with a threaded cap 95. The inlet side air exhaust port 93 is opened and the housing 90 is upright so that air can be exhausted through the inlet air exhaust port 93. The ultrapure deionized water (initial specific resistance 18 kPa-cm) is inlet 91 Through) into the housing (90). When the ultra-pure deionized water reaches the inlet 91, the inlet side air exhaust 93 is closed and the inlet 91 is closed with the cap 95. And with the housing 90 upside down, the outlet side air exhaust 94 and outlet 92 are opened, and if necessary, additionally removes the ultrapure to completely fill the housing 90 and exhaust all the air from the housing 90. Ionized water enters the housing 90 through the outlet 92. In this state, the filter 80 is completely immersed in ultrapure deionized water in the housing 90. A venting filter 60 as shown in FIG. 6 with a filter holder and hydrophobic bactericidal grade membrane filter media 64 with the stopper for the outlet side air vent 94 removed is removed in the manner shown in FIG. 10. By the 96 and the tee fitting 98, it is attached to both the outlet 92 and the outlet side air exhaust 94. The top end of the tube 96 is attached to the fluid port 61a of the venting filter 60.

To sterilize the entire filter assembly, the filter assembly and venting filter 60 are then placed in an autoclave and heated at a gauge pressure of 15 psi, at a temperature of approximately 120 ° C. for 1 hour. During sterilization, the housing 90 stands almost straight with the outlet 92 disposed higher than the inlet 91. At the end of sterilization, the filter assembly and venting filter 60 are removed from the autoclave and cooled in air to a temperature that can be safely handled. The tube 96 is then cut by heating at the location between the tee fitting 98 and the filter assembly to seal the filter assembly and obtain a complete filter package. The tube 96 can be removed from the filter assembly by the customer when the customer wants to use the filter assembly. Venting filter 60 may be reused with the same or different filter media 64.

Claims (39)

Placing a filter in the flexible bag; At least partially filling the bag with a first liquid; And And disinfecting the first liquid and the filter in the bag including the filter submerged in the first liquid. The method of claim 1, Sealing the bag after the disinfection step to surround the first liquid and the filter. The method of claim 2, Sealing the bag comprises discharging almost all gas present on the surface of the first liquid from the bag. The method of claim 1, And pre-wetting the filter with a second liquid having a lower surface tension than the first liquid prior to placing the filter in the bag. The method of claim 1, And wherein the first liquid is deionized water having a resistivity of at least 18 ㏁­cm when introduced into the bag. The method of claim 1, Venting vapor from the bag during the disinfection step. The method of claim 6, The venting step includes venting steam through a filter medium to remove microorganisms communicating with the inside of the bag. The method of claim 7, wherein And the filter medium is a hydrophobic filter medium. The method of claim 1, The disinfection step is a filter package forming method, characterized in that by heat sterilization. The method of claim 1, Disposing the filter in water at a temperature of at least 160 ° F. prior to the disinfection step to filter the extracts from the filter. The method of claim 1, And at least 50% of the volume of the filter submerged in the first liquid during the disinfection step. The method of claim 1, Filter package forming method comprising completely immersing the filter in the first liquid during the disinfection step. At least partially filling a liquid with the container for dipping the filter in the container; Installing a venting filter on the fluid port of the container; And Heating the vessel, the filter and the liquid to sterilize the filter while venting vapor from the vessel through the venting filter. The method of claim 13, The container is a filter package forming method, characterized in that consisting of a housing containing the filter. The method of claim 13, The venting filter has a filter package forming method comprising a filter medium for removing microorganisms. The method of claim 13, And installing the venting filter over the fluid port comprises mounting a filter medium over the fluid port. The method of claim 16, The filter medium forming method of claim 1, wherein the filter medium is a membrane filter medium. The method of claim 16, And supporting the filter medium with a support member facing the outer surface of the filter medium while venting. The method of claim 18, The support member is a filter package forming method, characterized in that the porous plate. The method of claim 13, Filter package forming method comprising the step of sealing the container after the disinfection step. The method of claim 20, And sealing the container to the outside of the venting filter. The method of claim 13, Venting said vessel simultaneously on an upstream side and a downstream side of said filter. Dipping the filter in a liquid contained in the container; And Disinfecting the liquid and the filter in the vessel while venting vapor from the first region of the vessel on the upstream side of the filter and the second region of the vessel on the downstream side of the filter. . Flexible bags that do not permeate microorganisms and water; A filter placed in the bag; And And a package of ultrapure water at least partially filling said bag and moistening said filter. The method of claim 24, And the water substantially fills the bag. The method of claim 24, Said water and said filter are sterilized and said bag is sealed. The method of claim 24, And a venting device over said bag for venting water vapor from said bag. The method of claim 27, The venting device comprises a venting hole formed in the bag. The method of claim 28, The venting device is a filter package, characterized in that it comprises a filter medium to remove the microorganisms communicating with the venting hole. The method of claim 24, At least 50% of the filter volume is immersed in the water. The method of claim 24, Filter package, characterized in that almost 100% of the filter volume is immersed in the water. Vessel; A filter submerged in water in the vessel; And A filter package including a filter medium to remove microorganisms and having a venting filter installed on the fluid port of the container. 33. The method of claim 32, The filter package, characterized in that the water is ultra-pure water. 33. The method of claim 32, And the filter medium is placed on the fluid port. The method of claim 34, wherein The filter medium is a filter package, characterized in that the membrane filter medium. The method of claim 34, wherein And a support member facing the outer surface of the filter medium to support the filter medium. The method of claim 36, The support member is a filter package, characterized in that the porous plate. 33. The method of claim 32, The filter package, characterized in that the container is sealed to the outside of the venting filter. Dipping the filter in the liquid in the container; Sterilizing the liquid and the filter in the vessel while venting vapor from the vessel.