US20190191693A1 - Container System and Method for Freezing and Thawing a Liquid Product - Google Patents

Container System and Method for Freezing and Thawing a Liquid Product Download PDF

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Publication number
US20190191693A1
US20190191693A1 US16/326,958 US201716326958A US2019191693A1 US 20190191693 A1 US20190191693 A1 US 20190191693A1 US 201716326958 A US201716326958 A US 201716326958A US 2019191693 A1 US2019191693 A1 US 2019191693A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
containers
container
liquid
substance
freeze
Prior art date
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Abandoned
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US16/326,958
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English (en)
Inventor
Jeffrey Charles JOHNSON
Anthony Flammino
Mark Anton PETRICH
Scott McFeaters
John H. ROOSA, JR.
Robert Ian ALPERN
Joseph W. LOCURCIO
Matthew H. FLAMM
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Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC
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Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC
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Publication date
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Priority to US16/326,958 priority Critical patent/US20190191693A1/en
Assigned to MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP. reassignment MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FLAMMINO, ANTHONY, ALPERN, Robert Ian, LOCURCIO, JOSEPH W., FLAMM, MATTHEW H., JOHNSON, Jeffrey Charles, MCFEATERS, Scott, PETRICH, MARK ANTON, ROOSA, JOHN H., JR.
Publication of US20190191693A1 publication Critical patent/US20190191693A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N1/00—Preservation of bodies of humans or animals, or parts thereof
    • A01N1/02—Preservation of living parts
    • A01N1/0236—Mechanical aspects
    • A01N1/0263—Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
    • A01N1/0268—Carriers for immersion in cryogenic fluid, both for slow-freezing and vitrification, e.g. open or closed "straws" for embryos, oocytes or semen
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N1/00—Preservation of bodies of humans or animals, or parts thereof
    • A01N1/02—Preservation of living parts
    • A01N1/0236—Mechanical aspects
    • A01N1/0263—Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N1/00—Preservation of bodies of humans or animals, or parts thereof
    • A01N1/02—Preservation of living parts
    • A01N1/0236—Mechanical aspects
    • A01N1/0263—Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
    • A01N1/0273—Transport containers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
    • B65D81/025—Containers made of sheet-like material and having a shape to accommodate contents
    • B65D81/027—Containers made of sheet-like material and having a shape to accommodate contents double-walled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/003—Transport containers

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a system and method for processing liquid bulk drug substances and other pharmaceutical solutions. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a system, including a set of containers and other processing apparatuses, that is particularly well suited for freezing, transporting, and subsequently thawing such substances.
  • a liquid product in a controlled manner, and to do so while maintaining quality of the liquid product.
  • a drug substance such as a vaccine, biologic, or pharmaceutical product
  • the frozen drug substance may then be shipped to a cold-storage facility, and subsequently shipped to a final-drug production site, where it is thawed and incorporated into a drug product being produced at the drug production site.
  • non-uniform freezing can lead to cryoconcentration, where freezing (e.g., of the water molecules in a given drug-substance solution) at different rates within a given container can lead to different levels of concentration of the drug substance throughout the container.
  • Cryoconcentration can lead to degradation of the active molecule in the drug substance prior to freezing at a given, specific location in the container.
  • thawing is uniform across the entire group of solution-bearing containers being thawed at a given time. This is because uneven and/or non-uniform thawing within a given container or from container to container can lead to molecular aggregation; formation of precipitates; and/or other adverse consequences.
  • Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for freezing and subsequently thawing a liquid product, such as a liquid drug substance or other pharmaceutical solution (for example active ingredient such as chemical compound, vaccine, antibody, protein, peptide, DNA, RNA or derivatives thereof) which significantly encourages uniform freezing (and uniform thawing) of the liquid drug substance throughout the container, while substantially reducing cryoconcentration and container ruptures.
  • a liquid drug substance or other pharmaceutical solution for example active ingredient such as chemical compound, vaccine, antibody, protein, peptide, DNA, RNA or derivatives thereof
  • this is accomplished by controlling the freezing of liquid substance so as to maintain an essentially constant freeze-path length from one container to another, irrespective of the total volume of a given container, so as to provide consistent freezing and thawing performance across a range of container sizes.
  • the invention features a set of containers for storing therein a liquid substance which is to be frozen and thawed, with each of the containers in the set having an essentially parallelepiped configuration with a substance-receiving cavity defined by the walls of the container.
  • Each of the containers in the set has a pair of major walls on opposite sides of the container that define a length and a height of the container, and the major walls of each of the containers are spaced apart by a distance that defines a width of the respective container.
  • the substance-receiving cavities of various containers in the set may have different volumes, all of the containers in the set have the same width, such that a freeze-path length associated with each of the containers in the set is essentially the same.
  • the geometric configuration of containers within the set are designed with an ice bridging number (IBN) in mind.
  • IBN is a dimensionless parameter that is based on comparative rates of heat transfer through the headspace above the liquid in the container and through the walls of the container in which the liquid is in contact, and that is indicative of the relative rates at which water in the solution tends to freeze 1) at the air-liquid interface, and 2) along the walls of the container.
  • IBN is a function of container geometry, heat transfer areas, heat transfer coefficients, and the thermal properties of the liquid in the container before and after freezing.
  • the geometry of the containers in a set will be configured so that the IBN is less than about 0.6, and suitably greater than about 0.1 and less than about 0.6.
  • the set of containers may all have the same internal, nominal volume, with the same width so as to keep the freeze-path length essentially uniform for all containers in the set.
  • the invention features a system for storing, freezing, transporting, and subsequently thawing a liquid substance.
  • the system includes a set of containers as described immediately above, either with different containers in the set having different volumes or all containers in the set having the same volume, along with a container-support platform.
  • the container-support platform includes a plurality of formations that define a plurality of container-receiving spaces, with each of the container-receiving spaces being essentially equal in width to the width of the containers, and with groups of the formations being positioned so as to support a plurality of the containers on the container-support platform, received within respective container-receiving spaces, equally spaced from each other.
  • the invention features a method for storing and freezing a liquid substance.
  • the method includes introducing the liquid substance into a plurality of containers selected from a set of containers as described immediately above; disposing the liquid-containing containers on a container-support platform, with the liquid-containing containers equally spaced from each other; and causing the liquid substance contained within the liquid-containing containers to freeze, with generally uniform progression of the freeze front or freeze fronts within each of containers, by flowing a cooling medium through spaces between adjacent containers.
  • the headspace located above the liquid in each of the containers may be insulated with a shroud while the liquid is being frozen in order to limit heat transfer that occurs through the headspace, thereby suppressing the tendency for ice to form at the upper surface of the liquid and allowing it to form more quickly along the sidewalls of the container.
  • the frozen substance contained within the fluid-containing containers may subsequently be caused to thaw, with generally uniform progression of the thawing within each of containers, by flowing a heating medium through spaces between adjacent containers and, if required, while rocking the containers to mechanically agitate liquid contained therein.
  • the invention provides a method for thawing a frozen liquid substance.
  • a number of containers containing an amount of the frozen liquid substance are placed on a container-support platform, with the containers equally spaced from each other, and the frozen liquid substance contained within the containers is caused to thaw, with generally uniform progression of the thaw front or thaw fronts within each of the containers, by flowing a warming medium through spaces between adjacent containers.
  • Each of the containers has an essentially parallelepiped configuration, with frozen liquid substance contained within a substance-receiving cavity defined by the walls of the container.
  • Each of the containers also has a pair of major walls on opposite sides of the container that define a length and a height of the container, with the major walls of each of the containers being spaced apart by a distance that defines a width of the respective container.
  • the substance-receiving cavity of at least one of the containers has a first volume and the substance-receiving cavity of at least another one of the containers set has a second volume.
  • the set of containers may all have the same internal, nominal volume, with the same width so as to promote uniformity of thawing.
  • the substance may be mechanically agitated while it is thawing.
  • the containers may be rocked in a longitudinal direction so that liquid contained therein moves back and forth, from one end of each container to the opposite end of each container, as the frozen substance melts.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic representations of a set of containers in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing a container according to the invention from two slightly different angles;
  • FIG. 4 is schematic diagram illustrating the energy balance associated with the freezing process within containers according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the progression over time of liquid freezing within a container in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a headspace-insulating shroud for use in accordance with a container according to the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating containers according to the invention being transported on a wheeled pallet
  • FIGS. 8, 9A, 9B, and 10 are perspective views illustrating containers of various sizes supported on a freezing pallet in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a pallet of containers being loaded into a blast-freezer in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate liquid product being frozen in a blast-freezer using containers in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a thaw-enhancing rocker assembly, with FIGS. 13B and 13C being side views thereof illustrating the rocker assembly in operation.
  • each reference numeral identify a given component, element, or algorithm step, and the preceding one or two digits of each reference numeral correspond(s) to the number of the figure in which the element or step is depicted.
  • the element will have different reference numerals in each of the several figures; however, the last two digits will be the same across all related figures being discussed at the same time in order to explain a particular concept or aspect of embodiments of the invention. If multiple figures are being addressed at the same time within this disclosure, just the reference numeral used in the lowest-numbered figure will be used in the text.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 A set of containers 100 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
  • the set of containers 100 may include containers 102 a , 102 b , 102 c , and 102 d , each of which is formed by a set of walls and each of which has a different internal volume (for receiving a liquid product that is to be frozen and subsequently thawed), e.g., 100 liters, 50 liters, 25 liters, and 12.5 liters, respectively.
  • FIG. 1 has four different volumetric sizes, it will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that a set of containers constructed in accordance with the invention may consist of containers with as few as two different volumetric sizes, or the set may consist of containers with five or even more different volumetric sizes. Furthermore, although just one container of each volumetric size is shown in FIG. 1 , it will be appreciated that, in practice, a large plurality (e.g., on the order of tens or even hundreds) of containers of a given volumetric size may be employed in a given processing facility.
  • the containers 102 are fabricated from rigid or semi-rigid plastic, which keeps their manufacturing cost relatively low. This, in turn, facilitates disposal of the containers after a single use, thereby eliminating the cost to clean and inspect containers if they were otherwise to be reused.
  • Materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and blends of HDPE and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) are preferred. (Material selection may depend to some extent on freezing temperatures and storage conditions for the frozen product.)
  • containers made from plastic such as HDPE can be gamma-irradiated to minimize the risk of bioburden contamination.
  • Each of the containers in the set of containers 100 has a length l in the x-direction, as illustrated, and a height h in the y-direction, as illustrated.
  • the length l and height h of each container in the set of containers 100 are the two longest dimensions of each container, and the walls 104 a , 104 b , 104 c , and 104 d (collectively referred to as walls 104 ) and their respectively opposing walls—not visible given the orientation of the containers in FIG. 1 , but spaced from the walls 104 in the ⁇ z direction—constitute the major walls of each of the containers in the set of containers 100 .
  • the major walls are those that have the greatest individual surface areas.
  • Having a freeze-path of essentially the same length across all of the containers 102 a , 102 b , 102 c , and 102 d affords greater control over the freezing process and results in greater uniformity of the frozen product from one container to another and tends to eliminate or significantly reduce cryoconcentration and breakage of the containers, thereby preventing contamination and reducing waste.
  • the volume of the containers in the set of containers 100 may exhibit a series of halving or other fractioning as one progresses from the largest volumetric size to the smallest volumetric size of the individual containers 102 a , 102 b , 102 c , and 102 d in the set of containers 100 .
  • the containers 102 a , 102 b , 102 c , and 102 d have volume capacities of 100 liters, 50 liters, 25 liters, and 12 . 5 liters, respectively.
  • Other integer-fractions i.e., fractions 1/n, where n is an integer
  • fractions 1/n, where n is an integer such as 1 ⁇ 3 or 1 ⁇ 4 could also be used to sequentially reduce the volume of successive sizes of the containers in a set of containers. In all cases, however, the width of the containers 102 a , 102 b , 102 c , and 102 d remains the same, as noted above.
  • a group G as illustrated in FIG. 2 (e.g., via a supporting “cassette” framework, not illustrated), where all of the groups G 1 , G 2 , and G 3 have the same overall or composite length and height as the volumetrically largest container 202 a in the set. Additionally, although all of the containers in each of the groups G 1 , G 2 , and G 3 are the same size, it is possible for a given group G to include different sizes of containers while still maintaining the same overall or composite length and height of the group G.
  • the top two containers 202 d in the left-hand column of containers in group G 3 could be replaced with a single container 202 c , which has twice the height but the same length as the containers 202 d .
  • the top two rows of containers 202 d (i.e., four containers) in group G 3 could be replaced by a single container 202 b .
  • the various containers are shown as perfectly rectangular prisms. In practice, however, this will likely not be the case. Rather, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B , the containers 302 may have various features to facilitate filling, emptying, and handling the containers at various steps in a manufacturing process.
  • the containers 302 may have a series of apertures 306 extending inwardly from the major walls 304 —perhaps even extending all the way through the entire width of the containers.
  • These apertures 306 facilitate lifting and transporting of the containers using a lifting device (not illustrated) having a number of pins that fit into the apertures 306 , either extending all the way through the apertures in the case of containers 302 with apertures 306 that extend all the way through the containers or grasping the containers 302 between opposing pins that function like pincers in the case of containers with apertures that extend only partially into the interiors of the containers 302 .
  • the containers may include recesses 308 , 310 along their upper peripheries to house or accommodate container-filling ports or fittings and container-emptying ports or fittings, respectively.
  • These ports or fittings may be configured as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pub. 2015/0360815, entitled “Phase-Change Accommodating Rigid Fluid Container” and published on Dec. 17, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
  • the ports or fittings may be configured in some other manner as may be desired, e.g., with male or female threads.
  • the ports or fittings are constructed to facilitate securing one or more samples of the fluid that is to be stored in the containers (e.g., a tailgate sample).
  • corner 312 nearest the container-emptying port of each container 302 is suitably chamfered, i.e., angled relative to the planes of the nearest end-wall of the container 302 and the upper wall of the container 302 .
  • This chamfer feature facilitates emptying of the container 302 when liquid product is to be removed from it in terms of physically handling or manipulating the container as well as minimizing residual fluid that is unable to be removed completely from the container.
  • containers constructed according to certain embodiments of the invention may not be perfectly prismatic. Rather, for purposes of the invention, it is sufficient for the containers to be essentially parallelepiped in construction, with the most salient feature being that the major walls of each of the containers in a set are spaced apart by the same distance w, such that the freeze-path length associated with each of the containers in the set is essentially the same.
  • containers according to the invention are designed to reduce or eliminate cryoconcentration and container breakage by causing the liquid product that is adjacent to the major walls and the bottom wall of the containers to freeze first, with the liquid/solid interface progressing inwardly and upwardly (generally like a “U,” with gradually thickening lines) when a cooling medium is flowed past both major walls and the bottom wall of the container simultaneously, or by causing the liquid product that is adjacent to one of the major walls and the bottom wall of the containers to freeze first when a cooling medium is flowed past one of the major walls.
  • freeze-path length in the former case will be approximately one-half the container width, since there will be two freeze fronts that progress inwardly toward each other and meet generally in the middle of the container; the freeze-path length in the latter case will be essentially the width of the container.
  • This designed-to freeze dynamic is intended to avoid ice-bridging, i.e., the formation of a covering sheet of ice at the upper surface of the liquid product.
  • Such ice-bridges tend to trap a “pocket” of liquid product in the middle of the container, which can cause the containers to bulge and break as the trapped liquid expands when freezing and then presses against the walls of the containers.
  • containers constructed in accordance with the invention may suitably be designed with an Ice Bridging Number (IBN) in mind.
  • the Ice Bridging Number is a dimensionless parameter that can be thought of as relating the rate at which water freezes at the air-liquid interface above the product (i.e., at the bottom of the headspace above the liquid) to the rate of water displacement at the container walls, which is directly proportional to the rate of freezing along the container walls. (Leaving a portion of the container unfilled, i.e., with a small amount (e.g., 10% of the total fill capacity) of air above the liquid, limits heat transfer from, and therefore helps avoid initial freezing at, the upper surface of the liquid.) More particularly, we have defined the IBN as
  • FIG. 4 shows the energy balance associated with the freezing process within containers according to the invention.
  • IBN is significantly greater than 1 (e.g., by an order of magnitude)
  • heat-transfer via the headspace above the water will strongly predominate and cause the top layer of water to freeze at a significantly faster rate than water is being displaced along the walls of the container, thereby leading to undesirable ice-bridging and an increased likelihood of container rupture.
  • IBN is significantly less than 1
  • heat-transfer will occur predominantly through the walls of the container, and ice-formation will progress generally inwardly and upwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , with the last point to freeze being located generally centrally at the top of the solution. This is the preferred dynamic or modality for freezing of the liquid drug solution, as it reduces the likelihood that ice bridging, and hence rupture, will occur.
  • the critical value for thin-walled containers (0.15′′ wall thickness) we have been working with is approximately 0.6.
  • the actual critical value for a given system of containers will depend on container wall-thickness, container shape (i.e., length-to-height ratios), and potentially other factors.
  • the shroud or cap 614 may be fabricated from insulating material such as high-density polyethylene or other plastic or foam material, which has low thermal conductivity.
  • the height h c of the cap may be essentially the same as the height of the unfilled headspace that exists in the container when the container is filled to its particular, specified amount, while the length and width of the shroud 614 may suitably be slightly larger than the length and width of a corresponding container with which the shroud 614 is designed to be used (e.g., about 0.25 inch longer in each dimension).
  • a flexible sealing lip 617 can be provided around the periphery of the open, lower side of the shroud 614 to engage the walls of the container, thereby at least partially sealing the airspace between the container and the walls of the shroud 614 so as to form an insulating pocket of air around the top of the container that limits heat transfer via the headspace.
  • shroud or cap 614 may be particularly important as in practice we have found that IBN is strongly a function of the container headspace (i.e., the amount of heat transfer that occurs through the headspace), and use of a shroud significantly enhances control over freezing behavior.
  • a set may include containers designed to hold nominal volumes of 100 , 25 , and 12 . 5 liters of fluid. In practice, these containers will have an actual working volume in the freezing process of 75, 16, and 7 liters, respectively. In accordance with the invention, all such containers suitably may be 127 mm (5 inches) wide (inside dimension), so as to provide an essentially uniform freeze-path length across all such containers.
  • a container designed to hold up to 100 liters of fluid may suitably be 1150 mm long and 700 mm high, with a specified fill level of 570 mm and a headspace height 130 mm.
  • a container designed to hold up to 20 liters of fluid suitably may be 560 mm long and 290 mm high, with a specified fill level of 260 mm and a headspace height of 30 mm.
  • containers fabricated from high density polyethylene may have a wall thickness of 3.8 mm (0.15 inch), whereas containers designed to hold 50 liters of fluid or more, also fabricated from high density polyethylene, have a wall thickness of 6.4 mm (0.25 inch) to increase the strength and prevent bowing of the walls due to the increased static pressure of the fluid within the containers. (Such bowing would impede controlled cooling behavior both directly, by causing the freeze path length to vary over the height of the container, and indirectly, by interrupting or interfering with the flow of the cooling medium past the containers at the location of the bowing.)
  • a wheeled dolly 716 may be provided to facilitate handling (e.g., filling) of containers 702 per the invention—particularly those having larger volumes.
  • the dolly 716 has an inclined support platform 718 , which supports the containers 702 at an angle on the order of 10° relative to horizontal.
  • each of the containers 702 to be filled via the fitting 720 at the upper left-hand corner of the container 702 , while air inside the container that is displaced by rising liquid can exit through a vent valve (not illustrated) located in the upper right-hand corner 722 of the container 702 , which will remain above the surface of the liquid as it rises.
  • the freezing pallet 826 has a support platform 828 , with a number of end-block formations 830 extending from it.
  • Each of the end-block formations has an upright end wall 832 and a pair of sidewalls 834 that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the end wall 832 .
  • the end wall 832 and sidewalls 834 of each end-block formation define a generally U-shaped channel into which a container 802 fits in an upright, standing position.
  • the support platform 828 and the end-block formations 830 suitably are made from metal with high heat-conductivity, e.g., aluminum, to facilitate heat transfer and freezing at the bottoms of the containers.
  • each end-block formation 830 are spaced apart by a distance that is essentially the same as the width w of the containers, or just a slight bit more. Additionally, pairs of end-block formations 830 are positioned across from each other at opposite ends of the support platform 828 , with their end walls 832 spaced apart from each other by a distance that is essentially the same as the length of the containers 802 that are to be supported by the freezing pallet 826 or just a slight bit more.
  • the end-block formations 830 are arranged so that their respective U-shaped channels face each other and define container-receiving “slots” or spaces on the freezing pallet 826 .
  • the end-block formations 930 are positioned so as to hold adjacent containers 902 equally spaced from each other, i.e., so that the space 936 between adjacent containers is uniform. This is to help ensure uniformity of freezing of the liquid within all containers on a given freezing pallet 926 .
  • the inter-container spacing 936 is suitably selected so as not to impede the flow of cooling medium between the containers 902 , given flow rates, density, and heat-absorption capabilities of the cooling medium that is to be used.
  • the end-block formations are spaced apart from each other so as to define a container-receiving slot that is as long as the containers 802 , 902 that are to be frozen, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B .
  • multiple smaller containers can be secured together in an arrangement with an overall size and shape that is essentially the same as one of the larger containers.
  • four smaller containers 1002 ′ each having a length and a height that is one-half the length and height of a larger container 1002 (but the same width w), can be secured together by means of a frame 1038 that surrounds and secures together the four smaller containers 1002 ′.
  • the frame 1038 extends around the periphery of the “cassette” formed by all four of the smaller containers 1002 ′, and side enclosure members 1040 —only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 10 —can be attached to the frame on both sides of the containers to hold them securely in place within the cassette.
  • side enclosure members 1040 only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 10 —can be attached to the frame on both sides of the containers to hold them securely in place within the cassette.
  • smaller containers of liquid can be frozen using the same freezing pallet 1026 that larger containers use, and different sizes of containers can be frozen at the same time using the same pallet 1026 .
  • the pallet and containers may be transferred into a refrigeration chamber, e.g., the freezing chamber 1144 of a blast freezer 1146 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12A-12C .
  • the container-bearing pallet may be lifted via a mobile pallet-lifting device 1148 .
  • the pallet-lifting device is then guided straight toward the freezing chamber 1144 (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the cooling medium through the freezing chamber 1144 ) by means of guide rails 1150 extending from the blast freezer assembly, which guide rails 1150 are engaged by roller-bearing arms 1152 that extend forward from the pallet-lifting device 1148 .
  • the freezing pallet 1126 with the containers 1102 supported on it, is then lowered onto supporting platform 1154 within the freezing chamber 1144 and the pallet-lifting device 1148 is backed away from the blast freezer, thereby leaving the containers 1102 in the freezing chamber 1144 with equal space between them.
  • the freezing chamber is then closed and a cooling medium—e.g., air that typically is cooled to between ⁇ 20° C. and ⁇ 80° C. or liquid nitrogen below ⁇ 80° C. ( ⁇ 20° C. to ⁇ 196° C.) is circulated within the freezing chamber 1244 , as illustrated in FIG. 12 .
  • the cooling medium flows between and along the containers 1102 , causing the liquid contained therein to freeze in a uniform, well controlled manner.
  • the time for complete freezing may be determined empirically and may vary depending on the particular liquid being frozen, the particular cooling medium being used, the temperature of the cooling medium being used, the flow rate of the cooling medium past the containers, and various other factors—they can be removed from the freezing chamber and transferred to cold storage for use later on.
  • the uniform width of the containers which leads to uniform freeze-path length and uniform freezing performance across all containers, will also contribute to uniform thawing performance when the frozen drug product is subsequently to be used.
  • the blast freezer includes heating elements, so that the same apparatus and facilities used to freeze the pharmaceutical material can be used to thaw the frozen pharmaceutical material, by flowing warmed air past the containers.
  • a motorized lifting device 1356 may be provided adjacent the container support platform 1354 , with a lifting arm 1358 extending beneath the support platform 1354 .
  • the lifting device 1356 is positioned such that one end 1354 a of the support platform 1354 is raised, e.g., by about 2 inches, while the other end 1354 b of the support platform 1354 stays put, with the support platform 1354 pivoting about the end 1354 b in a cyclical manner.
  • fluid in the containers (not illustrated), which have their lengths oriented left-to-right as the assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 13B and 13C , is caused to slosh back and forth along the lengths of the container as the frozen product thaws. So rocking the containers significantly reduces the time it takes for the containers of product to thaw and helps ensure uniformity of the product within the containers, as well as from container to container, once it has been thawed.

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EP3478599A1 (en) 2019-05-08
EP3478599B1 (en) 2021-08-18
US12016330B2 (en) 2024-06-25
US20220095610A1 (en) 2022-03-31
KR102044817B1 (ko) 2019-11-14
KR20190025033A (ko) 2019-03-08
WO2018039093A1 (en) 2018-03-01

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