BETA CONTAINER FOR AN ALPHA-BETA PORT SYSTEM

Abstract

A beta container for an alpha-beta port system includes a sheath for receiving transport material and a flange part having a through opening for transferring the transport material from and/or into the sheath, a first interface for a reversible connection to an alpha connection of the port system, and a second interface for releasable attachment of a beta cover for closing the through opening. An edge of the sheath is connected with a first surface of a ring which encompasses a jacket surface of the flange part, the first surface and the jacket surface having different materials. An elastic bellows may be fastened to the flange part such that, in the relaxed state, it engages over the second interface and/or projects out of the through-opening on the side facing away from the sheath, and such that it can be compressed. At least one transponder for transmitting an identification may be arranged on the flange part.

Claims

1. A beta container for an alpha-beta port system, comprising: an, in particular a flexible, sheath (6) for receiving a transport material; and a flange part (1) having a through opening (1.3) for transferring the transport material from the and/or into the sheath, a first interface (1.1) for reversible connecting to an alpha connection of the alpha-beta port system, and a second interface (1.2) for releasably attaching a beta cover (5) for closing the through opening, characterized in that an edge (6.1) of the sheath is connected in a material-fitting manner to a first surface (2.1) of a ring (2) which encompasses around a jacket surface (1.4) of the flange part, the first surface and the jacket surface having different materials; and/or in that an elastic bellows (8) is fastened to the flange part, in particular in the through opening, in such a way that, in the relaxed state, it engages over the second interface and/or projects out of the through opening on the side facing away from the jacket, and that it can be compressed, in particular by a beta cover (5) fastened to the second interface and/or to a side of the second interface facing towards the sheath; and/or in that at least one, in particular a passive, transponder (9) for transmitting an identification is arranged at, in particular in, the flange part.

2. The beta container according to claim 1, characterized in that a first seal (3) is arranged between the ring and the jacket surface, and in particular that it is attached to the ring and/or the jacket surface in a form-fitting manner and/or in a material-fitting manner.

3. The beta container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first seal and at least one surface of the ring, in particular the first surface, and/or the first seal and the sheath surface have different materials and/or that a second seal (4) is arranged on a side of the second interface facing away from the sheath, in particular on an inner circumferential surface of the flange part, in order to seal off, in particular surround, a beta cover fastened to the second interface.

4. The beta container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second seal is connected to the first seal, in particular by at least one web (34), and in particular that it is produced together with the latter.

5. The beta container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one web engages through a channel (1.34) of the flange part.

6. The beta container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transponder is arranged in the first seal, the second seal or the web and/or a, in particular the, channel of the flange part.

7. The beta container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows is in a frictionally manner and/or in a form-fitting manner and/or in a material-fitting manner fixed in the through opening via a connecting body (7).

8. The beta-container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring and the sheath are welded together, in that the flange part has a higher heat distortion temperature according to DIN EN ISO 75-1, -2, -3 than the ring and/or the sheath, in that the jacket surface of the flange part and an inner circumferential surface (2.2) of the ring opposite thereto are not weldable to one another, in that the flange part, in particular its jacket surface, and/or the connecting body and/or the beta cover comprise polycarbonate or the like, in that the ring, in particular its first surface, and/or the sheath comprise polyethylene or the like, in that the first and/or second seal and/or the web and/or the bellows comprise EPDM, silicone or the like, and/or in that the transponder is an RFID transponder.

9. The beta container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the beta cover detachably attachable to the second interface.

10. An alpha-beta port system comprising at least one beta container according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one alpha port having a mating interface for reversibly connecting said beta container via its first interface.

11. A use of a beta container according to any one of the preceding claims for sterilely transferring material from the container interior into an isolation space of an alpha-beta port system and/or from the isolation space into the container interior, wherein an identification is transmitted from the transponder; and/or; in particular before, during and/or after this, the beta container is reversibly connected via its first interface to an alpha port of the alpha-beta port system and its beta cover is connected to an alpha door of the alpha port and opened; and/or in particular by this opening, the bellows relaxes and thereby overlaps the second interface and/or protrudes from the through opening.

12. A method of manufacturing a beta container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one of the steps: connecting in a material-fitting manner the edge of the sheath to the ring, in particular the ring spaced from or joined to the flange part, and in particular arranging, in particular producing, the first seal between the sheath surface and the ring, in particular together with the second seal and/or before or after connecting in the material-fitting manner the ring to the edge of the sheath; attaching the bellows to the flange part, in particular in the through opening, and in particular compressing the bellows attached in the through opening by the cover attached to the second interface; and/or arranging the at least one transponder at, in particular in, the flange part, in particular in the channel and/or before producing the web.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0053] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a beta container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates a section through a flange part of the container with the beta cover attached and the bellows compressed;

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates the section of the FIG. 2 with the cover removed and the bellows relaxed;

[0056] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flange part; and

[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates an alpha-beta port system with the beta container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a beta container according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising

[0059] a flange part 1, which has a first interface 1.1 for a reversible connection to an alpha connection 10 of an alpha-beta port system in a manner known per se, and a through opening 1.3,

[0060] a sheath 6, the edge 6.1 of which is or will be welded to a first surface 2.1 of a ring 2,

[0061] a first seal 3, which is or will be arranged between an inner circumferential surface 2.2 of the ring 2 and a jacket surface 1.4 of the flange part 1 and thereby connects the jacket surface and the inner circumferential surface or the flange part and the ring with each other,

[0062] a second seal 4 which is or will be manufactured together with the first seal,

[0063] a beta cover 5, which is detachably fastened in a manner known per se by means of or to a second interface 1.2 of the flange part 1 or which is arranged for this purpose,

[0064] an elastic bellows 8, which is fastened in the through opening via a connecting body 7, and

[0065] an RFID chip 9 which is or will be molded into a web 34 connecting the first and second seals and arranged or made in a channel 1.34 of the flange part 1.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a section through the flange part of the container with the beta cover attached to the second interface, thereby compressing the bellows to a sheath facing side of the second interface (left in the FIG. 2).

[0067] FIG. 3 shows the section of the FIG. 2 with the cover removed. The bellows thus relaxed overlaps the second interface and protrudes from the through opening on the side facing away from the sheath (right in the FIG. 3).

[0068] In addition, a weld seam 26 is indicated between the sheath edge 6.1 and the ring surface 2.1 in the FIG. 3.

[0069] In the perspective flange part view of the FIG. 4, the flange part is shown transparent to illustrate the first seal 3 and the second seal 4 as well as the four webs 34 connecting them and distributed over the circumference, with the RFID chip 9 being molded into one of the webs. For this purpose, silicone is injected in one shot so that the second seal 4 is produced at the same time, the RFID chip is fixed and the ring is connected to the flange part.

[0070] Although exemplary embodiments have been explained in the foregoing description, it should be noted that a variety of variations are possible. Furthermore, it should be noted that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples that are not intended to limit the scope of protection, the applications and the configurations in any way. Rather, the foregoing description provides the person skilled in the art with a guide for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, wherein various modifications, particularly with respect to the function and the arrangement of the components described, may be made without departing from the scope of protection as it results from the claims and the equivalent feature combinations.

[0071] While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0072] 1 flange part [0073] 1.1 first interface [0074] 1.2 second interface [0075] 1.3 through opening [0076] 1.4 jacket surface [0077] 1.34 channel [0078] 2 ring [0079] 2.1 first surface [0080] 2.2 inner circumferential surface [0081] 3 first seal [0082] 4 second seal [0083] 5 beta cover [0084] 6 sheath [0085] 6.1 edge [0086] 7 connecting body [0087] 8 bellows [0088] 9 transponder [0089] 10 alpha port [0090] 26 weld seam [0091] 34 web