Device and method for producing a solution

Abstract

A device (1) for producing a solution of at least one liquid first medium and at least one second medium has a first container (2) for the first medium and a second container (3) for the second medium. Each container (2, 3) is connected to a supply line of a static mixer (9) via a pump (4, 5) that can be regulated by a controller (6). A sensor (10) is connected to the controller (6) downstream of the static mixer (9) in the flow direction. A branching valve (17) is downstream of the static mixer (9) in the flow direction and is controlled by the controller (6). A sterile filter (11) is downstream of the static mixer (9) and has an RFID tag (15) that stores process-relevant data to at least be read by the controller (6). A method also is provided for producing a solution using the device.

Claims

1. A device (1″) for producing a solution of at least one liquid first medium and at least one second medium, comprising: a first container (2″) for the liquid first medium; a second container (3″) for the second medium; a first pump (4) for directing the liquid first medium from the first container (2″); a second pump (5) for directing the second medium from the second container (3″); a prepackaged disposable sterile mixing system (7, 7′) that comprises: a static mixer (9) having a supply line (12) that receives the liquid first medium from the first pump (4) and the second medium from the second pump (5), the static mixer (9) being configured to mix the liquid first medium and the second medium to produce a mixed solution; a sensor device (10) arranged downstream of the static mixer (9) in a flow direction and configured to sense characteristics of the mixed solution flowing from the static mixer (9); a sterile filter (11) arranged downstream of the static mixer (9) in the flow direction; an RFID tag (15) associated with the sterile filter (11) and storing process-relevant data; and sterile connectors (16) configured as attachments for connection of the prepackaged disposable sterile mixing system (7, 7′) to the containers (2″, 3″) or to the pumps (4, 5) that are associated to the containers (2′″, 3″); and the device (1″) further comprising: a branching valve (17) arranged downstream of the static mixer (9) in the flow direction and configured to direct the mixed solution in either of first and second directions; and a process controller (6) communicating with the RFID tag (15), the sensor device (10), the first pump (4), the second pump (5), and the branching valve (15), the process controller (6) controlling operation of the first pump (4), the second pump (5), and the branching valve (15) based on the process-relevant data stored on the RFID tag (15).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a third container (19″) for a third medium is connected to the supply line of the static mixer (9) via a third pump (4, 5) that can be regulated by the process controller (6).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sterile filter (11) further is arranged downstream of the sensor device (10) in the flow direction.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the branching valve (17) further is arranged downstream of the sterile filter (11) in the flow direction.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising additional RFID tags (21, 21) associated respectively with the first container (2″) and the second container (3″), the additional RFID tags (21, 21) storing process-relevant data and where the process controller (6) controls operation of the first pump (4), the second pump (5), and the branching valve (15) based on the process-relevant data stored on the additional RFID tags (21, 21).

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the branching valve (17) further is arranged downstream of the sterile filter (11) in the flow direction.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising additional RFID tags (21, 21) associated respectively with the first container (2″) and the second container (3″), the additional RFID tags (21, 21) storing process-relevant data, and where the process controller (6) controls operation of the first pump (4), the second pump (5), and the branching valve (15) based on the process-relevant data stored on the additional RFID tags (21, 21).

8. A device (1″) for producing a solution of at least one liquid first medium and at least one second medium, comprising: a first container (2″) for the liquid first medium; a second container (3″) for the second medium; a first pump (4) for directing the liquid first medium from the first container (2″); a second pump (5) for directing the second medium from the second container (3″); and a prepackaged disposable sterile mixing system (7, 7′) that comprises: a static mixer (9) having a supply line (12) that receives the liquid first medium from the first pump (4) and the second medium from the second pump (5), the static mixer (9) being configured to mix the liquid first medium and the second medium to produce a mixed solution; a sensor device (10) arranged downstream of the static mixer (9) in a flow direction and configured to sense characteristics of the mixed solution flowing from the static mixer (9); a sterile filter (11) arranged downstream of the static mixer (9) in the flow direction; an RFID tag (15) associated with the sterile filter (11) and storing process-relevant data; a branching valve (17) arranged downstream of the static mixer (9) in the flow direction and configured to direct the mixed solution in either of first and second directions; and sterile connectors (16) configured as attachments for connection of the prepackaged disposable sterile mixing system (7, 7′) to the containers (2″, 3″) or to the pumps (4, 5) that are associated to the containers (2′″, 3″); and the device (1″) further comprising a process controller (6) communicating with at least the first pump (4), the second pump (5), the RFID tag (15), the sensor device (10) and the branching valve (15), the process controller (6) controlling operation of the first pump (4), the second pump (5) and the branching valve (15) of the prepackaged disposable sterile mixing system (7, 7′) based on the process-relevant data stored on the RFID tag (15).

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sterile filter (11) further is arranged downstream of the sensor device (10) in the flow direction.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the branching valve (17) further is arranged downstream of the sterile filter (11) in the flow direction.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising additional RFID tags (21, 21) associated respectively with the first container (2″) and the second container (3″), the additional RFID tags (21, 21) storing process-relevant data and where the process controller (6) controls operation of the first pump (4), the second pump (5), and the branching valve (15) based on the process-relevant data stored on the additional RFID tags (21, 21).

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the branching valve (17) further is arranged downstream of the sterile filter (11) in the flow direction.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising additional RFID tags (21, 21) associated respectively with the first container (2″) and the second container (3″), the additional RFID tags (21, 21) storing process-relevant data, and where the process controller (6) controls operation of the first pump (4), the second pump (5), and the branching valve (15) based on the process-relevant data stored on the additional RFID tags (21, 21).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device with a first and second container and a sensor device, which is positioned between a static mixer and a sterile filter.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a device of FIG. 1, which however has a third container for a third medium.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation according to FIG. 2, in which the containers each are provided with a RFID tag.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a further device corresponding to FIG. 3, which however has a second controllable branching valve and a return line to the first container, wherein the first branching valve is positioned between the sensor device and a sterile filter.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a further device corresponding to FIG. 4, wherein the sensor device and the branching valve are positioned downstream of the sterile filter in the direction of flow.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a further schematic representation of a device corresponding to FIG. 3, which however has a branching valve, which is arranged between the sensor device and the sterile filter.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the mixer, of the sensor device and the sterile filter of FIG. 1, as a prepackaged mixing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) A device 1 for producing a solution of at least one liquid first medium and at least a further second medium is essentially composed of a first container 2, a second container 3, a first pump 4, a second pump 5, a process controller 6 and a prepackaged mixing system 7.

(9) The first container 2 is filled with a liquid first medium, and is connected to the first pump 4 that is positioned upstream in the direction of flow. Correspondingly, the second container 3 is connected to the second pump 5 that is positioned upstream in the direction of flow. The pumps 4, 5 are connected to the process controller 6 via control lines 8.

(10) According to the example of FIGS. 1 and 7, the mixing system 7 is comprised of a static mixer 9, a sensor device 10 that is positioned downstream of the mixer 9 in the direction of flow, and a sterile filter 11 that is positioned downstream of the static mixer 9 in the direction of flow.

(11) The static mixer 9 has a supply line 12 and a discharge line 13. The sensor device 10 is positioned between the static mixer 9 and the sterile filter 11, according to the examples of FIGS. 1 and 7 as well as to the example of FIG. 3. The sensor device 10 may be provided with one or more sensors, not shown. The sensor device 10 may determine individual parameters. The sensor device 10 may, for example, determine the conductance or the pH value. A pressure sensor or a volume sensor may also be provided. The sensor device 10 is connected to the process controller 6 via a signal line 14.

(12) The sterile filter 11 has an RFID tag 15 with a memory, not shown, that may be read by the process controller 6. In the memory of the RFID tag 15 process-relevant data (identity of the filter, release status, compatibility with buffer solutions and test data) may be stored and may be read out, wirelessly, by the process controller 6. The mixing system 7 has, at its attachments known sterile connectors 16 for a sterile connection. The mixing system 7 has a branching valve 17 for discharging discarded solution. The branching valve 17 is connected via a further control line 18 to the process controller 6 and is controlled by the process controller 6.

(13) According to the examples of FIGS. 2 to 6, a third container 19 for a third medium is provided in addition to the first container 2 and the second container 3. Correspondingly, a third pump 20 is positioned upstream of the third container 19, in the direction of flow.

(14) In the example of FIG. 3, the mixing system 7′ corresponds to the mixing system 7 of example in FIG. 2. Containers 2″, 3″ and 19″ have RFID tags 21 that may also be read by the process controller 6.

(15) Further process-relevant data referred to containers 2″, 3″, 19″ are stored in the RFID tags 21. In particular it is possible to identify the containers and verify the compatibility and release of their contents.

(16) In the example of FIG. 4, the device 1′″ has a return line 22 that connects the branching line 23 of branching valve 17 via a second branching valve 24 to the container 2′″. According to example of FIG. 4, the branching valve 17 is positioned between the sensor device 10 and the sterile filter 11.

(17) The example of device 1′″ in FIG. 5 essentially corresponds to the example of FIG. 4, with the exception that the sensor device 10 is now positioned downstream of the sterile filter, in the direction of flow. Correspondingly, the branching valve 17 is positioned downstream of the sensor device 10 in the direction of flow.

(18) Finally, the example of FIG. 6 essentially corresponds to the example of FIG. 3, with the exception that the branching valve 17 is positioned between the sensor device 10 and the sterile filter 11.

(19) According to the example of FIG. 7, the static mixer 9, the sensor device 10 and the sterile filter 11, having the RFID tag 15, together with the sterile connectors 16 as attachments for connection to the containers 2, 3 or pumps 4, 5 associated to containers 2, 3, form the prepackaged mixing system 7.

(20) It is obvious that the embodiments discussed in the specific description and shown in the figures only represent illustrative embodiments of the present invention. The person skilled in the art is provided with a wide range of possible modifications in view of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE LIST

(21) 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″ device 2, 2″, 2′″ first container 3, 3″ second container 4 first pump 5 second pump 6 process controller 7, 7′ mixing system 8 control lines 9 static mixer of 7 10 sensor device of 7 11 sterile filter of 7 12 supply line of 9 13 discharge line 14 signal line of 10 15 RFID tag of 11 16 sterile connector 17 branching valve 18 control line 19, 19″ third container 20 third pump 21 RFID tag of 2″, 3″, 20″ 22 return line 23 branching line of 17 24 second branching valve