KR20220079888A - Containers and methods for transport and removal of sterile material from isolators, and combinations of isolators and docked containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention transports and removes sterile material within the cleaning chamber 12 of the isolator 14, the container side portion 18 of the Rapid Transfer Port (RTP) system, the opening 26 and the material container 30 ), wherein the container side portion (18) of the RTP system has a container lid (20) closing the opening (26) and the container on the complementary isolator side portion (16) of the RTP system. With means for docking (46), the material container (30) is movable along the linear guide (34). According to the present invention, at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body 62 is mounted on the material container 30 for at least partially moving the material container into the cleaning chamber without intervention from the isolator 14 , the container arranged near the peripheral wall 22 of 10 , and movable parallel to the linear guide 34 by means of at least one magnet 64 or ferromagnetic material, the at least one magnet 64 or ferromagnetic material being disposed in the container 10 . ) travels linearly along the outer peripheral wall 22 and acts contactlessly against the body 62 through the peripheral wall 22 by magnetic attraction.

Description

Containers and methods for transporting and removing sterile material from isolators, and combinations of isolators and docked containers

The invention relates to a container according to the preamble of claim 1 , an isolator according to the preamble of claim 12 and a combination of such a container docked to the isolator and a container according to the preamble of claim 14 . it's about how

The pharmaceutical industry and laboratories frequently require isolators to seal clean rooms, and the term 'isolator' is intended to include RABS systems within the scope of this patent application.

In order to supply the sterile material to the inside of the isolator, a so-called RTP (Rapid Transfer Port) system is commonly used, through which the material contained in the sterile interior of the container is fed into the isolator.

The sterile material may be, for example, a rubber or plastic stopper for a vial or infusion bottles, which is cleaned and sterilized on the outside of the isolator and, after introduction into the isolator, the vial. Or fed into the machine inside the clean room for closing the infusion bottle. Cleaning and sterilization of such substances can be carried out, for example, in a treatment device as described in EP 2 823 828 A1, filed in the name of the applicant.

However, the sterile material may be a replacement or format parts to be installed in, for example, machines, for example, for format change in a clean room.

In the former case, the cleaned and sterilized material may be transferred directly from the processing container used in the processing device to the isolator. In the latter case, to sterilize the material inside the container, the container with the pre-cleaned material is moved through an autoclave during transport to the isolator. The container has an opening through which material is introduced into and removed from the container.

The RTP system is used for contactless delivery of sterile material from the sterile interior of a container to the sterile clean room of an isolator in a non-sterile environment. The RTP system consists of a container-side part attached to the opening of the container, commonly referred to as the beta part, and a complement attached to the isolator, commonly referred to as the alpha part. It has a complementary isolator-side part. Prior to delivery of the substance, the container with the container-side portion is docked or mechanically coupled to the isolator-side portion.

The container-side part is arranged in front of the opening of the container and has an annular flange with an inserted seal, and a container lid which hermetically closes the opening during transport and a docking for docking on the isolator-side part. have the means The isolator side part has a port opening surrounded by an annular flange with an insert seal, a port door that hermetically seals the port opening and can only be opened when the container is docked, and a container docking means. and docking means ensuring, on the one hand, mechanical locking of the two annular flanges and, on the other hand, mechanical locking of the container lid with the port door when the container is docked. If the container is rotatable about a central axis of the port opening when docked, this may be accomplished, for example, by rotating the container.

When the closure lid is locked to the port door, the opposing non-sterile surfaces of the closure lid and the port door are pressed against each other to form a seal, or hermetically sealed between the port door and the closure lid. To unlock the opening and port opening for transport of the sterile material from the container to the clean room, the port door and the container lid are moved together into an open position inside the isolator in a locked state. For RTP systems where port door actuation is on the cleanroom side, this is accomplished by the operator using a glove port to grab the handle of the port door inside the cleanroom and move it to the open position, which is typically the port located on the side of the opening. In RTP systems with port door actuation from the outside, an operator outside the clean room activates a mechanism on the wall of the isolator that moves from the port door to the open position. After the material is removed from the container, the port door and the container lid together return to the closed position, thereby first closing the opening and the port opening, then unlocking the two annular flanges, the closing lid and the port door; Finally undock and move the container away from the isolator by unlocking and separating the two parts of the RTP system.

DE 102016001027 A1 and WO 2017/129362 A1 of the applicant already disclose containers, combinations and methods of the type mentioned in the introduction. Therein, a material receptacle consists of a perforated basket which is movable in relation to the container and contains a pourable material. During transport the basket is in a transport position inside a closed container. To remove the material, the basket can be moved to a removal position along a linear guide, from which it is partially led through an opening into the clean room. This operation is performed by the operator holding the handle of the basket from the clean room with the glove port and pulling the basket out of the container.

A container with a pull-out material receptacle for individual objects such as spare parts, with a drawer mounted on a rail for placing the objects, is available at http://www. Available at castus.pro/en/gamma-equipment/drawer-and-rail-system/. Again, the operator has to grab the drawer from the clean room and pull it out of the container to remove the items.

However, since the port door extends relatively far into the cleanroom due to the container lid locking with the port door, an operator can use the glove port across the open port door to grab the substance container and pull it into the cleanroom or place it into the container. It's difficult to move all the way back into me. This means that for RTP systems where the port door is operated from the cleanroom side, two glove ports on opposite sides adjacent to the RTP would be required, one of which would be locked with the container lid. One is for opening or closing the port door, and the other is for retrieving or returning the material container after the material has been removed. In turn, this causes an increase in the space required by these RTP systems. Additionally, glove ports in RTP systems should be avoided whenever possible.

Manual movement of the material container through the glove port reduces the degree of automation and increases the time required for material removal.

Based on this, it is an object of the present invention at the introduction in such a way that the number of glove ports in the RTP system can be kept as small as possible, and a higher degree of automation and lower time consumption for material removal can be achieved. It is an improvement of containers, combinations and methods of the type described.

To this end, the features in the characterizing part of claims 1 , 12 and 14 are proposed according to the invention.

Accordingly, at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body is mounted on the material container and is arranged near a peripheral wall of the container and the at least one magnet or ferromagnet ) can move or move parallel to the linear guide by means of a magnet or ferromagnetic body, which moves linearly along the peripheral wall outside the container, contactlessly through the peripheral wall by magnetic attraction force. works with the body.

When a ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body and a magnet and/or ferromagnetic body oppose each other on either side of the peripheral wall in such a way that they attract each other, an equilibrium is established, wherein the magnetic field lines between the body and the magnet It is oriented perpendicular to the surrounding wall. When equilibrium is disturbed, for example by moving a magnet away from its body linearly along a peripheral wall, the lines of force bend. This causes equilibrium to be restored by causing a driving force to act on the body in the same direction. This driving force causes the body to move synchronously with the magnet when the magnetic attraction provides a magnetic coupling that is large enough and stable enough to overcome the frictional force opposing its movement. This is achieved by maximizing the possible magnetic attraction and minimizing the possible distance.

The combination of properties according to the invention allows the material container to be moved from the transport position to the removal position and back to the transport position by an operator located outside the isolator without any intervention in the cleanroom. This means that for an RTP system with cleanroom side operation of the port door, only a single glove port is required. Additionally, by using a stepper motor or a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder as needed to move the at least one magnet or ferromagnetic body along the outside of the container, the degree of automation can be increased, requiring the removal of the material. time may be reduced.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a container having two opposed ends, the container cross-section between the ends being generally constant, as is often the case for conveying sterile material to an RTP system, wherein the material container is positioned in the transport position When present, the opening is located at one end and the magnetic body is located near the other end. In this way, by moving its magnetic body near the opening along a linear guide, the material container in its removal position can be moved particularly away from the container and into the clean room.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral wall of the container is made of a non-magnetic material so that the transmission of magnetic attraction through the wall is not disturbed and the body can be moved according to the magnetic force. In principle, the perimeter wall may consist of plastic or metal. Preferably, it is constructed of non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel, since it can be sterilized very well.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, when the at least one magnet and/or the at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body is provided with a rare earth magnet, preferably a neodymium (NdFeB) magnet, the maximum attractive force and A maximum driving force is thus achieved, since neodymium magnets have a very large magnetic attraction and, on the other hand, are available at a relatively low cost. It is advantageous to use SH, UH or EH labeled neodymium magnets, as containers with material containers are typically sterilized in an autoclave, typically at temperatures in excess of 120°C.

In principle, instead of using permanent magnets, the magnet(s) can be formed by an electromagnet, whereby a very large magnetic attraction can be achieved.

In order to achieve a large attractive force, advantageously, the at least one magnet and/or the at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body directs the lines of force at the side of the magnet or body facing the peripheral wall to the side adjacent to the peripheral wall. It may have one or more pot magnets or yoke magnets with a redirecting ferromagnetic pot or yoke.

Since steam is typically supplied to the interior of the container during sterilization of the material, a further preferred embodiment of the present invention has a shell or coating made of a non-rusting material. At least one body is provided. Preferably, the body is encased in a thin shell of a stainless-steel sheet, which is easier to achieve than with a ferromagnetic body, since the arc is drawn by magnetic force lines during arc welding. because it is not biased. On the other hand, the magnetic body may be chromium or nickel plated, for example to prevent oxidation and thus contamination of the material in the container.

On the other hand, according to a further advantageous embodiment it is preferred to minimize the frictional forces impeding the movement of the material container by moving the material container on rollers along a linear guide, the ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body of which is driven by the material container. By being supported it is not itself supported against the linear guide or the peripheral wall of the container.

In order to avoid friction-induced material wear and thus possible contamination of the sterile material in the container, the at least one body advantageously always has some distance from the peripheral wall, while moving along the linear guide, Accordingly, an air gap exists between the inside of the body and the opposing surface of the body. This air gap preferably has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm and at most 3 mm, so that the distance between the magnet and the body is kept as small as possible and a stable magnetic coupling is ensured during movement.

In order to avoid scratches on the outer side of the perimeter wall during use, there should be a small gap between the outer side of the perimeter wall and at least one magnet on the outside of the container. Alternatively, however, the magnet may have, for example, a thin friction-reducing layer made of PTFE on its side facing the peripheral wall.

In order to minimize the size and weight of the at least one body without a corresponding decrease in magnetic attraction, the body has a surface adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the peripheral wall, preferably on its side facing the peripheral wall. It may have a shape, and in the case of a generally cylindrical container, may have a surface shape with a circular arc-shaped cross-section with a corresponding radius of curvature. If the body comprises a plurality of permanent magnets, they are preferably arranged along a circular arc on the side of the body adjacent the peripheral wall.

In principle, a single large rare-earth permanent magnet, preferably neodymium, can be used as magnet on the outside of the container, which, for example in the first case mentioned, consists of a single large body made of iron or ferrous material, a single of a large permanent magnet, conveniently opposed by a single ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnet body inside the container, such as a rare earth or ferrite magnet.

However, a single ferromagnetic body or a plurality of permanent magnet bodies inside the container, conveniently opposite a corresponding number of disk- or plate-shaped permanent magnets, a plurality on the outside of the container By arranging disk- or plate-shaped permanent magnets side by side in the cylindrical direction or vertically in the direction of movement, the weight of the magnet and/or body is reduced without affecting magnetic coupling. I found out that I can In this case, the arrangement and magnetization of the opposing permanent magnets is such that the north poles facing the peripheral wall on the inside of the container oppose the south poles facing the peripheral wall on the outside of the container. is selected as As used herein, disk-shaped or plate-shaped permanent magnets refer to a magnet whose thickness is less than half the diameter of the magnet in a plane parallel to the peripheral wall or less than half the lateral dimension of the magnet.

In particular, if the material container has a flat support surface for receiving individual objects, preferably at least one body is arranged below the material support, so that more space is available for the material above the support surface. In this case, the at least one magnet or ferromagnetic body can move under the container. However, the body may be arranged above the material support and the magnet or ferromagnetic body may be displaced onto the container.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the combination of an isolator and a docked container comprises a table or trolley for supporting the container and with linear guides for magnets. In principle, the outer side of the peripheral wall can act as a linear guide.

Preferably, at least one magnet is displaceable along a linear guide of the table or trolley, in order to ensure a constant distance between the body and the magnet along the movement path of the substance container and the magnet, conveniently, the movement of the magnet Limited by stops in transport and removal positions.

If the walls of the isolator are opaque, it is not easy for the operator to determine whether the at least one body inside the container is entrained during the linear movement of the at least one magnet, without looking at the cleaning chamber through the window. In order to be able to make such a determination from the outside, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attractive force between the body and the magnet is made very large, so that when the body inside the container faces the magnet, the magnet is attached to the outside of the container . If there is no ferromagnetic or permanent magnetic material on the front or back side of the body in the direction of movement, the magnet moves away from the peripheral wall. This movement is visible to the operator and indicates that magnetic coupling is no longer present. Therefore, the attachment of the magnet to the peripheral wall is also advantageous, since it always ensures a constant distance between the magnet and the body during linear movement.

Hereinafter, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to several exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

1a to 1d show perspective views of a container and a storage table according to the invention, in which FIGS. 1a and 1b show a container with a container lid and FIGS. 1c and 1d show a container without a container lid.
2A and 2B are enlarged perspective views of a container and storage table similar to those of FIGS. 1C and 1D;
3a and 3b are enlarged side views of the container and storage table according to FIGS. 1c and 1d;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a container and storage table along line IV-IV of FIG. 3A ;
Fig. 5a is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a container on a storage table and a portion of the isolator after docking the container-side portion of the RTP system on the isolator-side portion, wherein the container's material container is in a transport position;
5B is a corresponding longitudinal cross-sectional view after opening of the container and port door of the RTP system, with the material container in the removal position;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail VI in Fig. 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail VI in Fig. 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail VI in Fig. 4 according to the third exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail VI in Fig. 4 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail VI in Fig. 4 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of detail VI in Fig. 4 according to the sixth exemplary embodiment.

The container 10 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 is used for transporting and sterilizing substances, which in this case are, for example, for filling and closing injection bottles or vials. individual objects, such as replacement or format parts for machines or devices in clean room 12 of isolator 14, such as machines or syringe filling machines (not shown). Sterilization of material previously introduced into the container 10 is effected in the container 10 , for example by supplying superheated steam into the container 10 in an autoclave. Container 10 with sterile material is transported to isolator 14 for docking the container on isolator 14 and introducing the material into cleanroom 12 .

To prevent any contamination of the sterile material within the container 10 during transport to and docking on the isolator 14, the isolator 14 and container 10 are equipped with a Rapid Transfer Port (RTP) system. . Here, the isolator 14 has an isolator-side portion 16 of the RTP system, referred to as the alpha portion, while the container 10 has a complementary container-side portion 18 of the RTP system, referred to as the beta portion. do. A suitable RTP system is provided, for example, by the company Getinge-LaCalhene.

As best shown in FIG. 1 , the container 10 has a generally cylindrical peripheral wall 22 , closed at one end by a first flat end wall 21 , and at the other end with material An opening 26 is provided which can be introduced into and removed from the container 10 . The opening 26 is closed by the container lid 20 when the container is being transported. At least, the peripheral wall 22 is constructed of, for example, an austenitic stainless steel, such as a non-magnetic V2A steel. The cross-section of the opening 26 substantially corresponds to the inner cross-section of the peripheral wall 22 . The container 10 has four legs 28 , of which one pair is arranged near the end wall 24 , and one pair is arranged near the opening 26 .

On the end wall 24, the container 10 has a media connection (not shown) with a filter through which superheated steam is fed into the interior of the closed container 10 to sterilize the material. can be

For the transport and removal of substances, the container 10 has a substance container 30 in which substances can be placed. In the transport position ( FIGS. 2A and 5A ), the substance container 30 is entirely inside the container 10 . When the container lid 20 is opened, the material container 30 passes through the opening 26 through the opening 26 along a linear guide 34 parallel to the longitudinal central axis 32 of the container 10 . can be moved to a removal position partially protruding from the

The material container 30 shown in the figure consists essentially of a flat plate 36 arranged slightly below the longitudinal central axis 32 , the two opposite edges 38 of which are connected to the peripheral wall. It is bent downward along (22). Four pairs of rotatable rollers 40 are attached to each of the two edges 38 . The rollers 40 of each roller pair adjoin the narrow side of the two guide rails 42 of the linear guide 34 , in each case one narrow from above and one from below. Roll on the side. The parallel guide rails 42 are secured to the ends of the legs 28 which project inwardly beyond the peripheral wall 22 by one of their broad sides.

5A and 5B, the beta portion 18 of the RTP system includes an annular flange 46 surrounding the opening 26 and screwed to an end flange 44 of the peripheral wall 22 and , an annular seal 48 inserted into the annular flange 46 , and, upon closure, a complementary conical inner peripheral surface of the annular seal 48 to hermetically seal the opening 26 during material transport and sterilization. and a container lid (20) having a conical outer peripheral surface that is hermetically pressed against.

5A and 5B, the alpha portion 16 of the RTP system is rigidly connected to the delimiting wall 52 of the isolator 14 and surrounds the port opening with a circular contour (not shown). has a mounting flange 50 , an annular flange 54 rotatable relative to the mounting flange 50 , and an annular seal (not shown) inserted into the annular flange 54 . The alpha portion 16 further includes a port door 56 rotatably mounted to the mounting flange 50 and having a circular contour.

The alpha part 16 and the beta part 18 interlock the two annular flanges 54 , 46 of the alpha part 16 and the beta part 18 on the one hand when the container 10 is docked. with complementary locking devices (not shown) that, on the other hand, ensure mutual locking of the container lid 20 and the port door 56 . Accordingly, on the one hand the container 10 is fixed to the isolator 14 , on the other hand the two annular flanges 54 , 46 on the one hand and the port door 56 and the container lid 20 on the other hand The opposing non-sterile surfaces of the are in contact with each other and are hermetically pressed against each other.

After sterilization of the material, for docking the container 10 on the isolator 14 and for supplying the material to the isolator 14, the container 10 is first transported to the isolator 14 (Fig. 1a), There it is placed on the outside of the isolator 14 by means of four legs 28 on the table 58 ( FIG. 1B ). The height of the table 58 on which the legs 60 may have wheels (not shown) matches the height of the isolator side alpha portion 16 of the RTP system. During docking, the locking devices of the alpha and beta portions 16 , 18 are fastened to each other and the container 10 is secured to the isolator 14 by rotating the annular flange 54 .

Instead of the annular flange 54 , when the container rotates about the central axis of the port opening for docking, the material container 30 prevents material from sliding relative to the material container when the container 10 rotates. Clips or other fastening means are provided for this purpose.

After docking the container 10 ( FIG. 5A ), the container lid 20 and the port door 56 are opened together to expose the port opening. To this end, an isolator 14 is provided near the port opening by a single glove port (not shown) protruding into the cleaning chamber 12, and the operator inserts a hand into the single glove port to lock the port door 56. Actuate the release lever 61 and unlock it. Then, the port door 56 and the container lid 20 are rotated together to one side about a vertical pivot axis, as shown in FIG. 5B, so that the clean room 12 is laterally next to the port opening. ) are arranged in

In the docked state, the material container 30 can be moved into the container 10 without the operator having to use a glove to put their hand into the cleaning chamber 12 to pull the material container 30 out of the container 10 through the port opening. A ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body 62 is attached to a material container 30 so as to be able to be moved partially out of and into the cleaning chamber 12 , the material container 30 being attached to the container 10 . With the aid of a magnet moving linearly along the outer and underlying peripheral wall 22 , it moves contactlessly through the peripheral wall 22 parallel to the linear guide 34 by magnetic attraction, and thus, the body The material container 30 fixedly connected to 62 moves from the transport position to the removal position, and then moves back to the transport position after the substance has been removed.

4 and 5A and 5B , the body 62 projects downwardly beyond the plate 46 of the substance container 30 , the body being fixedly connected to the plate 46 . The body 62 has an enlarged lower portion 66 that extends downward immediately adjacent the peripheral wall 22 . The underside of the body 62 adjacent to the peripheral wall 22 is curved according to the curvature of the peripheral wall 22, and has a constant gap width of 0.5 mm to 1 mm, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 . It is spaced from the peripheral wall 22 by an excitation thin void.

When the substance container 30 is in the transport position ( FIG. 5A ), the body 62 is close to the end wall 24 . When the substance container 30 is in the removal position ( FIG. 5B ), the body 30 is close to the opening 26 but still in the container 10 .

As best seen in FIG. 4 , the magnet 64 is displaceable along two round bars 72 that act as a linear guide parallel to the horizontal upper side of the table 58 , in a carriage 70 . is part of The ends of the round bars 72 are held by two supports 74 protruding beyond the upper side of the table, the height of which is adjusted to the height of the legs 28 of the container 10 . In this manner, the magnet 64 can be displaced from below the perimeter wall 22 along the round bars 720 , with the upper side of the magnet adjacent the perimeter wall 22 curved along the curvature of the perimeter wall 22 . After the container 10 is placed on the upper side of the table and the vertical longitudinal central plane of the container 10 is oriented in the center between the round bars 72 parallel to them, the thickness of 0.5 mm to 1 mm It is spaced from the peripheral wall 22 by a thin void 76 having a constant gap width. A handle 78 led to one side is used to displace the carriage 79 along the two round bars 72 .

6-10, the body 62 is a single ferromagnetic body 62 made of soft iron, enclosed in an encasement 80 made of thin non-magnetic stainless steel.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 , magnet 64 is a single cube-shaped neodymium (NdFeB) magnet 82 , embedded within or inserted into a carriage 70 made of plastic or metal.

The second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 shows that a single cylindrical ferrite magnet 84 is embedded within or inserted into the carriage 70 , in the plane of FIG. 7 to bring the magnet 84 closer to the peripheral wall 22 . It differs from the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 in that the surface of the magnet facing the peripheral wall 22 has a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the peripheral wall 22 in the FIG.

In the third exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , a plurality of disk-shaped neodymium (NdFeB) magnets 86 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and longitudinally in the direction of movement of the carriage 70 on the carrier 70 . embedded in or inserted therein, with their end faces oriented as parallel to the opposite part of the peripheral wall 22 as possible. The neodymium magnets 86 are oriented such that the north and south poles opposite the peripheral wall 22 alternate with each other along the peripheral wall 22 and in the direction of movement.

9, a plurality of bar-shaped (NdFeB) magnets 88 having a ferromagnetic steel yoke 90 with a U-shaped cross-section are arranged in a carriage ( 70) is embedded in or inserted therein. The yoke 90 acts to deflect the lines of force on the side of the magnets 88 facing the perimeter wall 22 toward the side adjacent the perimeter wall 22, thereby causing the magnets 88 and the body. The attractive force between (62) increases.

In the fifth exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10 , the magnet 64 is an electromagnet 92 having an iron core 94 inserted in a bore 96 of the carriage 70 . The iron core 94 has a curved end face with a radius of curvature adjusted to the radius of curvature of the peripheral wall 22 .

11, the permanent magnetic and ferromagnetic body 62 is inserted into or embedded in the body 62 side by side in the circumferential direction and longitudinally in the moving direction, and is made of steel. A plurality of cylindrical neodymium (NdFeB) magnets 100 with a ferromagnetic pot 98 are provided. Corresponding neodymium magnets 102 are inserted into or embedded in the carriage, and they have a ferromagnetic port 104 made of steel. The magnets 100 , 102 are arranged such that the north poles of the magnets 102 in the carriage 70 face the south poles of the magnets 100 in the body 62 , or vice versa. is oriented

Instead of pot magnets 100 , 102 in the body 62 and carriage 70 , permanent magnets of cylindrical, disk-shaped or other shapes may be provided therein. Instead of a single body 62 , a plurality of individual bodies (not shown) may be secured to the substance container 30 , each of which acts with one or more external magnets (not shown). .

In principle, a permanent magnetic body fixedly attached to a substance container 30 and having one or more magnets is moved by a ferromagnetic body arranged outside the container 10 , such as a ferromagnetic carriage 70 , in FIGS. As in the exemplary embodiment of 8, a reverse orientation may be achieved.

After opening the port door 56 and the container lid 20 , the operator moves the carriage 70 using the handle 78 in the direction of the demarcation wall 52 of the isolator 14 . In doing so, the magnetic attraction acting non-contact between the magnet 64 and the body 62 through the peripheral wall 22 causes the body 62 to engage the magnet 64 in the direction of the isolator 14 by magnetic coupling. to be carried out by As a result, the substance container 30 moves along the rails 42 in the direction of the isolator 14 , which overcomes the rolling frictional force on the rails 42 if the attractive force is large enough. In doing so, the substance container 30 moves through the port opening to its removal position, where it projects a short distance into the cleaning chamber, as shown in FIG. 5B . Movement of the material container 30 out of this position is prevented by the carriage 70 against the support 74 adjacent the isolator 14 .

Once the material is removed, the operator moves the carriage away from the isolator 14 until the carriage stops attached to a support 74 remote from the isolator 14, and the material container 30 is once again in the transport position. 70) is moved.

Claims (14)

Transport and removal of sterile material in cleaning chamber 12 of isolator 14, and container side portion 18, opening 26 and material container 30 of a Rapid Transfer Port (RTP) system. As a container (10) with
The container side portion 18 of the RTP system comprises a container lid 20 closing the opening 26 and means 46 for docking the container 10 on the complementary isolator side portion 16 of the RTP system. provided,
The material container 30 is movable in association with the container 10 and is positioned in a transport position within the fully closed container 10 and is linear when the container 10 is docked and the container lid 20 is opened. movable into the removal position along the guide (34) and projecting at least partially through the opening into the cleaning chamber (12);
At least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body 62 is mounted on the material container 30 to move the material container 30 to the removal position and return it to the transport position without intervention in the isolator 14 , the container (10) arranged near the peripheral wall (22), movable parallel to the linear guide (34) by at least one magnet (64) or a ferromagnetic body,
At least one magnet (64) or ferromagnetic material moves linearly along a peripheral wall (22) outside of the container (10), contactless with respect to the body (62) through the peripheral wall (22) by magnetic attraction. working
Container (10).
The method of claim 1,
The container 10 has two opposing ends and a generally constant container cross-section between the ends,
When the material container 30 is in the transport position, an opening 26 is arranged at one end and a body 62 is arranged near the other end.
Container (10).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Peripheral wall 22 is made of non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel.
Container (10).
According to one of the preceding claims,
The at least one body 62 and/or the at least one magnet 64 are spaced apart from the perimeter wall 22 , such that the perimeter wall 22 and the opposite of the body 62 and/or the magnet 64 . There are voids 68 and 76 between the surfaces of
Container (10).
According to one of the preceding claims,
The peripheral wall 22 is cylindrical, and the at least one body 62 and/or the at least one magnet 64 is opposite the peripheral wall 22 and has a surface having a circular arc-shaped cross-section.
Container (10).
According to one of the preceding claims,
At least one body 62 is provided with an encasement 80 or a coating made of a non-rusting material.
Container (10).
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
At least one body 62 is made of iron or steel
Container (10).
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The at least one body 62 and/or the at least one magnet 64 may be configured in part or in whole from a permanent magnetic rare earth material or a ferrite material.
Container (10).
9. The method of claim 8,
The permanent magnetic rare earth material of the body 62 comprises at least one neodymium (NdFeB) magnet labeled SH, UH or EH.
Container (10).
According to one of the preceding claims,
The at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body 62 and/or the at least one magnet 64 directs lines of magnetic force on the side of the body 62 or magnet 64 with the peripheral wall 22 against the peripheral wall ( 22) having at least one port magnet (100,102) or permanent magnet (88) having a ferromagnetic port (98,104) or yoke (90) for redirection to the side
Container (10).
According to one of the preceding claims,
At least one body 62 is arranged below the substance container 30 .
Container (10).
A combination formed by an isolator (14) with a cleaning chamber (12) according to one of the preceding claims, an isolator-side part (18) of a Rapid Transfer Port (RTP) system and a container (10) docked therein,
At least one magnet (64) or ferromagnetic body is used to entrain the body (62) parallel to the linear guide, move the material container (30) to the removal position, and return it to the transport position, without intervention in the isolator (14). It is movable linearly along the peripheral wall 22 of the container 10 external to the container 10 , during the linear movement to the at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body through the peripheral wall 22 by magnetic attraction. acting in a non-contact manner
Combination.
13. The method of claim 12,
having a table 58 or trolley supporting the container 10 and having at least one magnet 64 or a linear guide 72 for a ferromagnetic body;
Combination.
A container side portion 18 of a Rapid Transfer Port (RTP) system having an opening 26 and a container lid 20 for closing the opening 26 , and a material container 30 movable relative to the container 10 . A method for transporting sterile material in said container (10) comprising:
The isolator (14) has a complementary isolator side portion (16) of the RTP system for docking to the container (10);
The material container 30 in the transport position is located within a closed container 10 and is removed for removal of the sterile material along a linear guide 34 when the container 10 is docked and the container lid 20 is opened. move to location,
In its removal position the material container protrudes at least partially through the opening 26 into the clean room 12;
After the container 10 is docked and the container lid 20 is opened, at least one ferromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic body 62 mounted on the material container 30 near the peripheral wall 22 of the container 10 . ) and at least one magnet 64 moving out of the container 10 linearly along the peripheral wall 22 and acting contactlessly against the body 62 via the peripheral wall 22 by magnetic attraction ) or by a ferromagnetic material, without intervention at the isolator 14 , the material container 30 moves along a linear guide 34 to the removal position and back to the transport position.
Way.

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