WO2013118154A1 - Incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like - Google Patents
Incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2013118154A1 WO2013118154A1 PCT/IT2012/000044 IT2012000044W WO2013118154A1 WO 2013118154 A1 WO2013118154 A1 WO 2013118154A1 IT 2012000044 W IT2012000044 W IT 2012000044W WO 2013118154 A1 WO2013118154 A1 WO 2013118154A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cabin
- products
- eggs
- incubator
- organic compounds
- Prior art date
Links
- 235000013601 eggs Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 42
- 150000002894 organic compounds Chemical class 0.000 title claims abstract description 22
- 239000011859 microparticle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000001580 bacterial effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 241000700605 Viruses Species 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- FGUUSXIOTUKUDN-IBGZPJMESA-N C1(=CC=CC=C1)N1C2=C(NC([C@H](C1)NC=1OC(=NN=1)C1=CC=CC=C1)=O)C=CC=C2 Chemical compound C1(=CC=CC=C1)N1C2=C(NC([C@H](C1)NC=1OC(=NN=1)C1=CC=CC=C1)=O)C=CC=C2 FGUUSXIOTUKUDN-IBGZPJMESA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000645 desinfectant Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- GNFTZDOKVXKIBK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 3-(2-methoxyethoxy)benzohydrazide Chemical compound COCCOC1=CC=CC(C(=O)NN)=C1 GNFTZDOKVXKIBK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 108010066114 cabin-2 Proteins 0.000 description 21
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 16
- 210000001161 mammalian embryo Anatomy 0.000 description 7
- 238000011194 good manufacturing practice Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229960005486 vaccine Drugs 0.000 description 4
- 238000011534 incubation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 244000144977 poultry Species 0.000 description 3
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 2
- 208000034809 Product contamination Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007791 dehumidification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000005723 virus inoculator Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000004443 Ricinus communis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000000528 Ricinus communis Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011012 sanitization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M21/00—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses
- C12M21/10—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses adapted for the cultivation of avian eggs or in avian eggs, e.g. for vaccine production
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K41/00—Incubators for poultry
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M41/00—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation
- C12M41/12—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of temperature
- C12M41/14—Incubators; Climatic chambers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like.
- the same incubators used in the poultry sector are used in the pharmaceutical sector for the production of vaccines starting from the amniotic liquid of an egg.
- the process for producing vaccines consists in collecting a suitable predefined quantity of fertilized and partially incubated eggs and inoculating the virus in them.
- the eggs are transferred into an incubator.
- This Standard in fact prescribes, for the production of sterile drugs, four environmental classes (A, B, C, D) which are defined according to the maximum number of microparticles allowed per unit volume.
- This environment acts as a buffer between the classified environment, inside which the virus is inoculated in the eggs, and the incubator, which is a non-classified environment.
- the eggs are stored for approximately 3 days at a temperature generally comprised between 32 °C and 38 °C, with a humidity generally comprised between 65% and 80%.
- the eggs are then transferred into a cold chamber, where they remain for at least three hours at a temperature comprised between 2 °C and 7 °C, so that the growth of the embryo in the eggs is interrupted.
- the eggs are then transferred into a collection room, passing again through a further intermediate environment, which is classified as well.
- amniotic liquid is then collected from the eggs; the vaccine is obtained from said liquid by means of subsequent processes.
- the temperature and the percentage of humidity must remain uniform inside said incubator for the entire duration of the treatment.
- the incubator has a single door and therefore the eggs are inserted and removed through said door.
- the aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, proposing an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that allows the adoption of high hygiene and sanitary standards.
- an object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that makes it possible to reduce space occupation with respect to devices of the known type.
- Another object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that reduces the risk of product contamination.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that allows a unidirectional physical flow of the product within the production cycle.
- Another object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that allows keeping the temperature and the humidity percentage uniform inside it.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that ensures a high production capacity in terms of the number of products contained within said incubator.
- Another object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that makes it possible to reduce production costs.
- an incubator particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, comprising a cabin whose walls delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment, characterized in that said cabin has an entry door and an exit door, respectively for introducing and extracting the products, and an environmental parameter control and management assembly, said assembly regulating and uniforming the temperature and the humidity inside said cabin, and reducing the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an incubator according to the invention
- FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the production process performed by using the incubator according to the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a different sequence of execution of the production process provided by using the incubator according to the invention.
- Figure 4 is a flowchart of a further sequence of execution of the production process provided by using the incubator according to the invention.
- the numeral 1 generally designates an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products P such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, which comprises a cabin 2, the walls 3 of which delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment.
- the cabin 2 has an entry door 4 and an exit door 5, respectively for introducing and extracting the products P, and an environmental parameter control and management assembly 6.
- the presence of the two doors 4 and 5 prevents the insertion and extraction of the products P from being performed through the same door.
- the assembly 6 makes it possible to regulate and homogenize the temperature and the humidity inside the cabin 2 and to reduce the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
- the assembly 6 (and all its components with it), by regulating the internal temperature of the incubator 1 , allows said incubator to work both as an incubator and as a cold chamber, consequently using a single machine to provide two different steps of the vaccine production process.
- the cabin 2 can be heated thanks to the presence of at least one resistor 7 arranged on at least one wall 3 of the cabin 2.
- the cooling of the cabin 2 can be achieved by means of at least one cooling coil 8, also arranged on a wall 3 of the cabin 2.
- the environmental parameter control and management assembly 6 comprises an internal air treatment unit 9 and ventilation means 10.
- the unit 9 produces a suitable air recirculation, which is required for the effective operation of the incubator 1, and also makes it possible to eliminate the phenomenon of condensation by means of a dehumidification process of a known type.
- the ventilation means comprise at least one rotating element 1 1 , which is arranged inside the cabin 2 and is connected to a drive unit 12 arranged outside the cabin 2.
- the rotating element 1 1 can rotate about a shaft which is rotated by the drive unit 12.
- Said shaft is coupled rotatably and accommodated hermetically within a respective through opening of a wall 3 of the cabin 2.
- the rotating element 1 1 is constituted by at least one fan, which is arranged at the ceiling 13 of the cabin 2 and can rotate about its own axis, which is perpendicular to the floor 14, so as to provide a ventilation of the type known in the field as horizontal.
- the incubator 1 comprises an access control device, which is connected to the entry door 4 and to the exit door 5, for the alternating opening of one of said doors at a time.
- the walls 3 can be constituted by a panel of expanded material interposed between two sheets of material preferably selected from stainless steel, other metallic materials, polymers, composites and the like.
- the sheets have a uniform surface and a high resistance to disinfectants and the like, making the internal environment suitable for disinfection and sanitization.
- the unit 9 has a series of filtering elements which are suitable for separating and retaining the particles and microparticles that are suspended in the air, such as for example dust, and thus preventing them from being deposited on the product P.
- This factor together with the smaller number of exposed mechanical parts inside the cabin 2, allows reducing the bacterial load that is present on the surface of the products P.
- This solution therefore, allows turning the cabin 2 of the incubator 1 into a classified environment according to this Standard.
- the method for treating products P of the type of eggs, organic compounds and the like consists of a first step a) of transferring the products P inside an incubator 1 of the type comprising a cabin 2 whose walls 3 delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment.
- the cabin 2 has an entry door 4 and an exit door 5, respectively for introducing and extracting the products P, and an environmental parameter control and management assembly 6.
- the assembly 6 regulates and equalizes the temperature and humidity inside the cabin 2 and reduces the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
- the products P can be transferred into the incubator 1 by using trolleys with castors, whose supporting surfaces (shelves) for the products P can be inclined at 45° with respect to the floor 14 in both directions.
- step a) one proceeds by performing the step b) of preserving, for a first preset time interval, inside the incubator 1 , the products P at a first predefined set of parameters.
- step b) one proceeds by performing the step c) of reducing, by means of the environmental parameter control and management assembly 6, the temperature inside the incubator 1.
- the products P are transferred to the collection room.
- the products P are fertilized and partially incubated eggs, which are subjected, prior to at least one of step a) and step b), to a preheating step f), to a preliminary incubation step g) and to a step h) of inoculating a virus into them.
- the fertilized eggs are preheated in an adapted room and then transferred into an incubator to be subjected to a preliminary incubation in order to allow the growth of the embryo contained inside them.
- a preliminary incubation in order to allow the growth of the embryo contained inside them.
- the embryo is in fact capable of developing correctly the antibodies against the injected virus.
- step h After this virus inoculation step h), one proceeds by performing the step a) of transferring the products P into the incubator 1.
- steps g), f) and h) can be performed after step a) and before step b): the incubator 1 can in fact perform the preheating step f) and the preliminary incubation g) of the eggs, without therefore having to transfer them beforehand into specific dedicated rooms, and thus is more efficient than the technical solutions of the known type.
- the presence of the environmental parameter control and management assembly 6 in fact makes it possible to provide the suitable heat and humidity conditions to the eggs in order to allow and ensure the correct growth of the embryo.
- the first preset time interval is comprised between 2 and 7 days and the first predefined set of parameters is characterized by a temperature comprised between 30 °C and 40 °C, preferably between 32 °C and 37 °C, and a humidity comprised between 50% RH and 85% RH, preferably between 65% RH and 80% RH.
- the second preset time interval is comprised between 5 and 20 hours, preferably 8 hours, and the second predefined parameter set is characterized by a temperature comprised between 3 °C and 7 °C, preferably 5 °C.
- the incubator 1 particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, according to the invention, therefore allows the adoption of high hygiene and sanitary standards.
- This advantage is achieved mainly by the presence of the assembly 6, and in particular of the rotating element 1 1 , which allows regulating and equalizing the temperature and the humidity inside the cabin 2 and reducing the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
- the series of filtering elements allows separating and retaining the particles and microparticles that are suspended in the air, such as for example dust, ensuring an environment that is suitable for the production of products of the pharmaceutical type.
- the assembly 6 by means of a dehumidification process of a known type, facilitates the substantial elimination of the phenomenon of condensation.
- the incubator 1 according to the invention also allows a reduction in space occupation with respect to devices of the known type.
- the assembly 6 in fact makes it possible to make the incubator 1 work not only as an incubator but also as a cold chamber; in this manner it is possible to use a single device instead of two, which would obviously have produced twice the space occupation.
- the presence of the two doors, the entry door 4 and the exit door 5, furthermore allows reducing the risk of product contamination, since it prevents performing the insertion and extraction of the products P through the same door, preventing the processed product from circulating in the same environments in which the unprocessed product circulates.
- the temperature and the humidity must remain uniform inside the cabin 2 throughout the duration of the treatment.
- the presence of the assembly 6, and particularly of the rotating element 1 1 ensures that this condition is met even in the case of cabins that are larger than those of the known type, ensuring in practice a high production capacity in terms of the number of products contained in the incubator 1.
- the incubator 1 particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it allows the adoption of high hygiene and sanitary standards.
- the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
- Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)
Abstract
An incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, which comprises a cabin (2) whose walls (3) delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment. The cabin (2) has an entry door (4) and an exit door (5), respectively for introducing and extracting the products (P), and an environmental parameter control and management assembly (6). The assembly (6) makes it possible to regulate and equalize the temperature and the humidity inside the cabin (2) and to reduce the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
Description
INCUBATOR, PARTICULARLY FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, FOR TREATING PRODUCTS SUCH AS EGGS, ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, AND THE LIKE
The present invention relates to an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like.
Currently, the same incubators used in the poultry sector are used in the pharmaceutical sector for the production of vaccines starting from the amniotic liquid of an egg.
In particular, the process for producing vaccines consists in collecting a suitable predefined quantity of fertilized and partially incubated eggs and inoculating the virus in them.
After this, the eggs are transferred into an incubator.
One of the main limitations of using incubators of the poultry type to perform this process is that they do not meet the standard currently in use in pharmaceutical industries and contained in the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guide.
This Standard in fact prescribes, for the production of sterile drugs, four environmental classes (A, B, C, D) which are defined according to the maximum number of microparticles allowed per unit volume.
On this basis, the environments that comply with the Standard are termed classified environments.
Therefore, to obviate the fact that poultry incubators are not classified environments, the eggs, before being introduced in the incubator, are passed through a classified intermediate environment.
This environment acts as a buffer between the classified environment, inside which the virus is inoculated in the eggs, and the incubator, which is a non-classified environment.
Inside the incubator, the eggs are stored for approximately 3 days at a temperature generally comprised between 32 °C and 38 °C, with a humidity
generally comprised between 65% and 80%.
The eggs are then transferred into a cold chamber, where they remain for at least three hours at a temperature comprised between 2 °C and 7 °C, so that the growth of the embryo in the eggs is interrupted.
The eggs are then transferred into a collection room, passing again through a further intermediate environment, which is classified as well.
The amniotic liquid is then collected from the eggs; the vaccine is obtained from said liquid by means of subsequent processes.
For the embryo to grow correctly, the temperature and the percentage of humidity must remain uniform inside said incubator for the entire duration of the treatment.
This requirement in practice limits the maximum size of incubators and accordingly limits their capacity.
One should also consider that the incubator has a single door and therefore the eggs are inserted and removed through said door.
This entails a workflow that does not conform to the standards in force in pharmaceutical plants, since the eggs, i.e., the processed product, pass through the same path as the eggs being processed, in practice exposing said eggs to a high risk of contamination.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, proposing an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that allows the adoption of high hygiene and sanitary standards.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that makes it possible to reduce space occupation with respect to devices of the known type.
Another object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as
eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that reduces the risk of product contamination.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that allows a unidirectional physical flow of the product within the production cycle.
Another object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that allows keeping the temperature and the humidity percentage uniform inside it.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that ensures a high production capacity in terms of the number of products contained within said incubator.
Another object of the invention is to propose an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, that makes it possible to reduce production costs.
This aim and these objects are achieved by an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, comprising a cabin whose walls delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment, characterized in that said cabin has an entry door and an exit door, respectively for introducing and extracting the products, and an environmental parameter control and management assembly, said assembly regulating and uniforming the temperature and the humidity inside said cabin, and reducing the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive
embodiment of the incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an incubator according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a flowchart of the production process performed by using the incubator according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a flowchart of a different sequence of execution of the production process provided by using the incubator according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a flowchart of a further sequence of execution of the production process provided by using the incubator according to the invention.
With reference to the figures, the numeral 1 generally designates an incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products P such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, which comprises a cabin 2, the walls 3 of which delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment.
According to the invention, the cabin 2 has an entry door 4 and an exit door 5, respectively for introducing and extracting the products P, and an environmental parameter control and management assembly 6.
The presence of the two doors 4 and 5 prevents the insertion and extraction of the products P from being performed through the same door.
This entails a production flow that complies with the standards in force in pharmaceutical plants and a reduction of the risk of contamination of the product P, also due to the fact that there are fewer exposed mechanical parts inside the cabin 2.
The assembly 6 makes it possible to regulate and homogenize the temperature and the humidity inside the cabin 2 and to reduce the bacterial
load and the concentration of microparticles.
The assembly 6 (and all its components with it), by regulating the internal temperature of the incubator 1 , allows said incubator to work both as an incubator and as a cold chamber, consequently using a single machine to provide two different steps of the vaccine production process.
According to a specific constructive solution, the cabin 2 can be heated thanks to the presence of at least one resistor 7 arranged on at least one wall 3 of the cabin 2.
In this scope, the cooling of the cabin 2 can be achieved by means of at least one cooling coil 8, also arranged on a wall 3 of the cabin 2.
Conveniently, the environmental parameter control and management assembly 6 comprises an internal air treatment unit 9 and ventilation means 10.
The unit 9 produces a suitable air recirculation, which is required for the effective operation of the incubator 1, and also makes it possible to eliminate the phenomenon of condensation by means of a dehumidification process of a known type.
Advantageously, the ventilation means comprise at least one rotating element 1 1 , which is arranged inside the cabin 2 and is connected to a drive unit 12 arranged outside the cabin 2.
The rotating element 1 1 can rotate about a shaft which is rotated by the drive unit 12.
Said shaft is coupled rotatably and accommodated hermetically within a respective through opening of a wall 3 of the cabin 2.
These constructive solutions prevent the internal environment from coming into contact with the outside and therefore from being contaminated.
According to a solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the rotating element 1 1 is constituted by at least one fan, which is arranged at the ceiling 13 of the cabin 2 and can rotate about its own axis, which is perpendicular to the floor 14, so as to provide a ventilation of the
type known in the field as horizontal.
More particularly, the incubator 1 according to the invention comprises an access control device, which is connected to the entry door 4 and to the exit door 5, for the alternating opening of one of said doors at a time.
In this manner it is possible to manage the circulation of the products P according to a FIFO (First In First Out) logic, without having to resort to product recognition and traceability systems, which are difficult to manage.
In particular, the walls 3 can be constituted by a panel of expanded material interposed between two sheets of material preferably selected from stainless steel, other metallic materials, polymers, composites and the like.
The sheets have a uniform surface and a high resistance to disinfectants and the like, making the internal environment suitable for disinfection and sanitization.
Moreover, the unit 9 has a series of filtering elements which are suitable for separating and retaining the particles and microparticles that are suspended in the air, such as for example dust, and thus preventing them from being deposited on the product P.
This factor, together with the smaller number of exposed mechanical parts inside the cabin 2, allows reducing the bacterial load that is present on the surface of the products P.
One should in fact consider that according to the provisions of the Standard contained in the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guide, the environments used for the production of sterile drugs are divided into four environmental classes (A, B, C and D), which are defined according to the maximum number of microparticles allowed per unit volume.
This solution, therefore, allows turning the cabin 2 of the incubator 1 into a classified environment according to this Standard.
The method for treating products P of the type of eggs, organic compounds and the like consists of a first step a) of transferring the products
P inside an incubator 1 of the type comprising a cabin 2 whose walls 3 delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment.
The cabin 2 has an entry door 4 and an exit door 5, respectively for introducing and extracting the products P, and an environmental parameter control and management assembly 6.
The assembly 6 regulates and equalizes the temperature and humidity inside the cabin 2 and reduces the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
The products P can be transferred into the incubator 1 by using trolleys with castors, whose supporting surfaces (shelves) for the products P can be inclined at 45° with respect to the floor 14 in both directions.
After this step a), one proceeds by performing the step b) of preserving, for a first preset time interval, inside the incubator 1 , the products P at a first predefined set of parameters.
After this step b), one proceeds by performing the step c) of reducing, by means of the environmental parameter control and management assembly 6, the temperature inside the incubator 1.
At this point one proceeds by performing the step d) of maintaining, for a second preset time interval, inside the cabin 2, the products P at a second predefined set of parameters.
In the subsequent step e), the products P are transferred to the collection room.
Conveniently, the products P are fertilized and partially incubated eggs, which are subjected, prior to at least one of step a) and step b), to a preheating step f), to a preliminary incubation step g) and to a step h) of inoculating a virus into them.
According to the background art, the fertilized eggs are preheated in an adapted room and then transferred into an incubator to be subjected to a preliminary incubation in order to allow the growth of the embryo contained inside them.
Once the embryo has reached a growth of approximately 50% (after a time comprised between 10 and 18 days, depending on the type of egg and virus), it can be subjected to the virus inoculation step.
At this stage of growth, the embryo is in fact capable of developing correctly the antibodies against the injected virus.
After this virus inoculation step h), one proceeds by performing the step a) of transferring the products P into the incubator 1.
According to a different constructive solution, steps g), f) and h) can be performed after step a) and before step b): the incubator 1 can in fact perform the preheating step f) and the preliminary incubation g) of the eggs, without therefore having to transfer them beforehand into specific dedicated rooms, and thus is more efficient than the technical solutions of the known type.
The presence of the environmental parameter control and management assembly 6 in fact makes it possible to provide the suitable heat and humidity conditions to the eggs in order to allow and ensure the correct growth of the embryo.
In this manner it is possible to use a single device instead of three, consequently reducing time, costs and space occupation.
According to a constructive solution that is unquestionably effective, the first preset time interval is comprised between 2 and 7 days and the first predefined set of parameters is characterized by a temperature comprised between 30 °C and 40 °C, preferably between 32 °C and 37 °C, and a humidity comprised between 50% RH and 85% RH, preferably between 65% RH and 80% RH.
According to a solution of particular interest in practice and in application, the second preset time interval is comprised between 5 and 20 hours, preferably 8 hours, and the second predefined parameter set is characterized by a temperature comprised between 3 °C and 7 °C, preferably 5 °C.
The incubator 1 , particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, according to the invention, therefore allows the adoption of high hygiene and sanitary standards.
This advantage is achieved mainly by the presence of the assembly 6, and in particular of the rotating element 1 1 , which allows regulating and equalizing the temperature and the humidity inside the cabin 2 and reducing the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
In particular, the series of filtering elements allows separating and retaining the particles and microparticles that are suspended in the air, such as for example dust, ensuring an environment that is suitable for the production of products of the pharmaceutical type.
The possibility of treating the air by administering additives such as disinfectants, sanitizers and the like to ensure a more effective disinfection and purification of the environment of the cabin 2 is not excluded.
Moreover, the assembly 6, by means of a dehumidification process of a known type, facilitates the substantial elimination of the phenomenon of condensation.
The incubator 1 according to the invention also allows a reduction in space occupation with respect to devices of the known type.
The assembly 6 in fact makes it possible to make the incubator 1 work not only as an incubator but also as a cold chamber; in this manner it is possible to use a single device instead of two, which would obviously have produced twice the space occupation.
In addition to this, the high hygiene and sanitary standards achieved allow an elimination of the three classified intermediate environments, with a further reduction in space occupation.
These advantages allow a simultaneous reduction of the unit production costs for providing a single unit of product and a reduction in fixed costs, particularly of production equipment, since the cold chamber
and the two classified intermediate environments are no longer needed to perform the process.
The presence of the two doors, the entry door 4 and the exit door 5, furthermore allows reducing the risk of product contamination, since it prevents performing the insertion and extraction of the products P through the same door, preventing the processed product from circulating in the same environments in which the unprocessed product circulates.
In this manner, a unidirectional physical flow of the product P within the production cycle is also ensured, allowing the circulation of the products P according to a FIFO (First In First Out) logic, without the need to resort to product recognition and traceability systems which are difficult to manage.
For the embryo to grow correctly, the temperature and the humidity must remain uniform inside the cabin 2 throughout the duration of the treatment.
The presence of the assembly 6, and particularly of the rotating element 1 1 , ensures that this condition is met even in the case of cabins that are larger than those of the known type, ensuring in practice a high production capacity in terms of the number of products contained in the incubator 1.
In practice it has been found that the incubator 1 , particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it allows the adoption of high hygiene and sanitary standards.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with
other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.
In practice,' the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
Claims
1. An incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like, comprising a cabin (2) whose walls (3) delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment, characterized in that said cabin (2) has at least one entry door (4) and at least one exit door (5), respectively for introducing and extracting the products (P), and at least one environmental parameter control and management assembly (6), said assembly (6) regulating and equalizing the temperature and the humidity inside said cabin (2), and reducing the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles.
2. The incubator according to claim 1 , characterized in that said assembly (6) comprises an internal air treatment unit (9) and ventilation means (10), said unit (9) determining a suitable air recirculation.
3. The incubator according to claim 2, characterized in that said ventilation means (10) comprise at least one rotating element (1 1), which is arranged in said cabin (2) and is connected to a drive unit (12) arranged outside said cabin (2), said rotating element (1 1) being able to rotate about a shaft which is turned by said drive unit (12), said shaft being accommodated hermetically within a respective through opening of a wall (3) of said cabin (2).
4. The incubator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rotating element (1 1) is constituted by at least one fan which is arranged at the ceiling (13) of said cabin (2) and can rotate about its own axis at right angles to the floor (14), for a substantially horizontal ventilation.
5. The incubator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an access control device which is connected to said entry door (4) and to said exit door (5) for the alternating opening of only one of said doors at a time.
6. The incubator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said walls (3) are constituted by a panel of expanded material which is interposed between two sheets of material preferably selected from stainless steel, other metallic materials, polymers, composites and the like, said sheets having a uniform surface and a high resistance to disinfectants and the like.
7. The incubator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said unit (9) has a series of filtering elements which are suitable for separating and retaining the particles and the microparticles that are suspended in the air.
8. A method for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds and the like, comprising the steps of:
a) transferring said products (P) into an incubator of the type comprising a cabin (2) whose walls (3) delimit an enclosed space which is isolated from the outside environment, said cabin (2) having an entry door (4) and an exit door (5), respectively for introducing and extracting the products (P), and an environmental parameter control and management assembly (6), said assembly (6) regulating and equalizing the temperature and humidity inside said cabin (2) and reducing the bacterial load and the concentration of microparticles;
b) preserving, for a first preset time interval, inside said cabin (2), said products (P) at a first predefined set of parameters;
c) reducing, by means of said assembly (6), the temperature inside said cabin (2);
d) maintaining, for a second preset time interval, inside said cabin (2), said products (P) at a second predefined set of parameters;
e) transferring said products to the collection room.
9. The method for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds and the like according to claim 8, characterized in that said products (P) are fertilized and partially incubated eggs, said eggs having been subjected, prior to at least one of said steps a) and b), to a preheating step f) and to a step g) of inoculating a virus into them.
10. The method for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds and the like according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said first preset time interval is comprised between 2 and 4 days and said first predefined parameter set is characterized by a temperature comprised between 30 °C and 40 °C and a humidity comprised between 50% RH and 85% RH.
1 1. The method for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds and the like according to claims 8, 9 and 10, characterized in that said second preset time interval is comprised between 5 and 20 hours and said second predefined parameter set is characterized by a temperature comprised between 3 °C and 7 °C.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IT2012/000044 WO2013118154A1 (en) | 2012-02-09 | 2012-02-09 | Incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IT2012/000044 WO2013118154A1 (en) | 2012-02-09 | 2012-02-09 | Incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2013118154A1 true WO2013118154A1 (en) | 2013-08-15 |
Family
ID=45992804
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IT2012/000044 WO2013118154A1 (en) | 2012-02-09 | 2012-02-09 | Incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO2013118154A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104782531A (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2015-07-22 | 柳州市大金农业科技有限公司 | Special equipment for total-artificial factory breeding of meat pigeons |
CN104782530A (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2015-07-22 | 柳州市大金农业科技有限公司 | Special equipment for total-artificial young pigeon feeding method |
CN117660160A (en) * | 2023-12-05 | 2024-03-08 | 山东大学 | Independent layered incubator |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0500470A1 (en) * | 1991-02-21 | 1992-08-26 | Yves Lemonnier | Installation for incubating and hatching eggs |
NL1016622C2 (en) * | 2000-11-16 | 2002-05-17 | Henricus Gerardus Hermanus Pas | Incubator for poultry eggs during pre incubation cycle, has circulation device for directing air over groups of eggs and into space between these groups |
WO2007049078A1 (en) * | 2005-10-27 | 2007-05-03 | Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals Nhs Trust | Laboratory apparatus with incubator |
WO2007105844A1 (en) * | 2006-03-10 | 2007-09-20 | Sewon Cellontech Co., Ltd. | Facility module for production and storage of cell therapy product |
CN102160528A (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2011-08-24 | 上海石井畜牧设备有限公司 | Vaccine post incubation device |
CN202081091U (en) * | 2011-04-12 | 2011-12-21 | 山东滨州博莱威生物技术有限公司 | Incubator used for preparing animal vaccines |
-
2012
- 2012-02-09 WO PCT/IT2012/000044 patent/WO2013118154A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0500470A1 (en) * | 1991-02-21 | 1992-08-26 | Yves Lemonnier | Installation for incubating and hatching eggs |
NL1016622C2 (en) * | 2000-11-16 | 2002-05-17 | Henricus Gerardus Hermanus Pas | Incubator for poultry eggs during pre incubation cycle, has circulation device for directing air over groups of eggs and into space between these groups |
WO2007049078A1 (en) * | 2005-10-27 | 2007-05-03 | Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals Nhs Trust | Laboratory apparatus with incubator |
WO2007105844A1 (en) * | 2006-03-10 | 2007-09-20 | Sewon Cellontech Co., Ltd. | Facility module for production and storage of cell therapy product |
CN102160528A (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2011-08-24 | 上海石井畜牧设备有限公司 | Vaccine post incubation device |
CN202081091U (en) * | 2011-04-12 | 2011-12-21 | 山东滨州博莱威生物技术有限公司 | Incubator used for preparing animal vaccines |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
DATABASE WPI Week 200261, Derwent World Patents Index; AN 2002-572464, XP002684563 * |
DATABASE WPI Week 201164, Derwent World Patents Index; AN 2011-L83044, XP002684562 * |
DATABASE WPI Week 201213, Derwent World Patents Index; AN 2012-A41814, XP002684561 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104782531A (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2015-07-22 | 柳州市大金农业科技有限公司 | Special equipment for total-artificial factory breeding of meat pigeons |
CN104782530A (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2015-07-22 | 柳州市大金农业科技有限公司 | Special equipment for total-artificial young pigeon feeding method |
CN117660160A (en) * | 2023-12-05 | 2024-03-08 | 山东大学 | Independent layered incubator |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2359870B1 (en) | Sterilisation method for air-conditioning chambers | |
US9510559B2 (en) | Cage for breeding small animals | |
EP2778114B1 (en) | Device and method for treating at least one container | |
EP3131388B1 (en) | Method and device suitable for incubating avian eggs | |
WO2013118154A1 (en) | Incubator, particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, for treating products such as eggs, organic compounds, and the like | |
WO2007105846A1 (en) | A method for using cell therapy product facility and franchise market business method based on network using the same | |
EP2650616A1 (en) | Mobile multi-part air conditioning system | |
KR101694895B1 (en) | Method for simultaneous sampling and quantification of bacteria and host-based virus | |
DE102018217058B4 (en) | Cleaning system and method for cleaning items to be cleaned | |
Radha et al. | Studies on the air quality in a dairy processing plant | |
Hakim et al. | Effect of a shielded continuous ultraviolet-C air disinfection device on reduction of air and surface microbial contamination in a pediatric oncology outpatient care unit | |
US7648585B2 (en) | Incubator and method for cleaning the incubator | |
Wan et al. | Determination of bacterial abundance and communities in the nipple drinking system of cascading cage layer houses | |
CN208523687U (en) | A kind of food processing dust free room | |
Duraisankar et al. | Microbial quality of herbal medicine in production unit. | |
Ward et al. | A microbiological assessment of on-farm food safety cleaning methods in broiler barns | |
JP2000274787A (en) | Method for suppressing propagation of microorganisms in air conditioner | |
CN215766155U (en) | Drying device and medicinal material processing equipment | |
CN212671304U (en) | High-safety sterile room | |
Louie et al. | Microbial exposure across life reduces susceptibility of Aedes aegypti to Zika virus by enhancing blood digestion and limiting midgut cell infection | |
Muino et al. | Equipment and Methods for Concurrently Housing Germfree and Gnotobiotic Mice in the Same Room | |
CN208688158U (en) | Prepared slices of Chinese crude drugs drying and sterilizing equipment | |
Sakuma et al. | Standard operating procedures for maintaining cleanliness in a novel compact facility for breeding SPF mice | |
Basic et al. | Gnotobiology | |
AT3118U1 (en) | INCUBATOR WITH CIRCULAR ELEVATOR |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 12715736 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 12715736 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |