Presterilizable filtration system to be disposed of after a single use

Abstract

A presterilizable filtration system is provided and is to be disposed of after a single use. The system has a recirculation tank and a filtration module that are connected to each other in a circuit via a hose system that can be regulated by at least one valve. The valve has a disposable separate valve part that can be integrated in the hose system and a reusable actuator.

Claims

1. A filtration system, comprising: a pre-sterilized subsystem (2) that includes: at least one disposable Container (6); at least one disposable filtration module (7); a disposable hose system (8) connecting the at least one container (6) and the at least one filtration module (7); a disposable pump part (14) integrated into the hose system (8) between the at least one container (6) and the at least one filtration module (7); a disposable, valve part (12) integrated in the hose system (8) and having a variable passage; and a plurality of disposable measuring cells (28) integrated into the hose system (8); and a reusable filtration installation (1) that includes: a reusable pump drive (15) removably associated with the disposable pump part (14) for selectively operating the disposable pump part (14) to control flow through the hose system (8); a reusable actuator (13) removably associated with the disposable valve part (12) and operating the disposable valve part (12) for selectively varying the passage of the disposable valve part (12) to control flow through the hose system (8); reusable transducers (29) removably associated respectively with the disposable measuring cells (12); and a controlling unit (4) connected to the reusable actuator (13), to the reusable transducers (29) and to the reusable pump drive (15) for controlling the disposable pump part (14) and for controlling the reusable actuator (13) and thereby controlling the disposable valve part (12) of the valve (11) and for receiving information from the measuring cells (28), and wherein the at least one container (6), the at least one filtration module (7), the hose system (8), the disposable valve part (12), disposable measuring cells (28) and the disposable pump part (14) are prepackaged in a sterile manner for connection to the reusable actuator (13), the reusable pump drive (15) and the reusable transducers (29).

2. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one container (6) is a recirculation tank which, with the at least one filtration module (7) and the hose system (8), forms a circuit (9).

3. The filtration, system according to claim 1, wherein the disposable valve part (12) is as a flap valve, diaphragm valve, ball valve, seat valve or slide valve.

4. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the disposable pump part (14) is an exchangeable pump head of a pressure piston pump, rotary piston pump, centrifugal pump or diaphragm pump.

5. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one container (6) is a flexible bag.

6. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one container (6) is connected to the hose system (8) via a fixed connection, the hose system being configured to be cut by a welding appliance for separating the at least one container (6) from the hose system (8) in a liquid-tight manner.

7. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filtration module (7) has a permeate outlet, and the hose system further comprising a permeate hose line (20) fixedly connected to the permeate outlet for delivering permeate to a permeate tank.

8. The filtration system according to claim 7, further comprising a second a second disposable valve part (12) integrated in the permeate hose line (20) and a second reusable actuator (13) removably associated with the second disposable valve part (12), the second reusable actuator (13) being configured for operating the disposable valve part (12) for selectively varying the passage of the second disposable valve part (12) to control flow of permeate through the permeate hose line (20).

9. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filtration module (7) is dead-end filtration module.

10. The filtration system according to claim 9, wherein the dead-end filtration module (7) is a filter capsule.

11. The filtration system according claim 2, wherein the at least one filtration module (7) is a crossflow filter with tangential feed.

12. The filtration system according to claim 11, wherein the crossflow filter (7) is a stack of membrane cartridges.

13. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filtration module (7) contains filtration membranes in an ultrafiltration or microfiltration range and comprising hollow fibers, flat membranes or membrane adsorbers.

14. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one container has a disposable safety valve.

15. The filtration system according to claim 1, wherein all parts of the filtration system are formed from materials that can be sterilized with gamma rays.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a filtration installation.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the presterilizable filtration system from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(3) The filtration installation 1 is basically composed of a presterilizable filtration system 2 to be disposed of after a single use, and of reusable installation parts 3 that include a computing and controlling unit 4 with a screen 5.

(4) The filtration system 2 is designed to be disposed of after a single use and basically comprises a recirculation tank 6 and a filtration module 7 which are connected to each other in a circuit 9 via a hose system 8. A pump 10 is arranged between the recirculation tank 6 and the filtration module 7 in order to circulate the medium that is to be filtered. A valve 11 that can be controlled by the computing and controlling unit 4 is arranged between the filtration module 7 and the recirculation tank 6 in the hose system 8 or circuit 9. The valve 11 is composed of a separate valve part 12, with a variable passage through which the medium is conveyed, and of an actuator 13 which can be connected to the valve part 12 and which forms a reusable installation part 3. The actuator 13 is connected to the computing and controlling unit 4 and is controlled by the latter. The valve part 12 is configured, for example, as a flap valve (not shown).

(5) The pump 10 is likewise configured in two parts and is composed of a disposable pump part 14, which can be integrated in the hose system 8, and of a reusable pump drive 15, which forms a reusable installation part and which is likewise connected to the computing and controlling unit 4 and is controlled by the latter. The pump part 14 is configured, for example, as a pump head (not shown) of a centrifugal pump.

(6) The recirculation tank 6 is configured as a flexible bag and is fixedly connected to a feed hose 16 that leads to the pump part 14, and to a return hose 17 that leads back from the filtration module 7 through the circuit 9.

(7) The filtration module 7 is connected to the circuit 9. The permeate outlets of the filtration module 7 are connected to a permeate hose line 20, which leads to a permeate tank (not shown). A separate valve part 12 and/or a further controllable valve 11 is integrated in the permeate hose line 20. A sterile connector 21 to the permeate tank (not shown) is arranged in the permeate hose line 20, via which sterile connector 21 the permeate tank can be coupled in a sterile manner or can be exchanged in a sterile or at least aseptic manner. The permeate tank is preferably connected fixedly to the permeate hose line 20. The recirculation tank 6 has, at its upper end, two hose connections 22, 23 which are closed at their ends by sterile connectors 21 and through which media can be conveyed, if appropriate with the aid of further pumps 10. At its lower end, the recirculation tank 6 has two further hose connections 24, 25 which are likewise closed off by sterile connectors 21 and to each of which containers (not shown) can be connected in order to take up medium from the recirculation tank 6. A further hose 26 arranged at the lower end of the recirculation tank 6 is connected to a measuring point 27 which is divided into a disposable measuring cell 28, which is integrated in the hose system 8, and a reusable transducer 29. The transducer 29 is in each case connected via a signal line 30 to the computing and controlling unit 4.

(8) The container 6 or recirculation tank is fitted with a gas admission/gas removal filter 18 with a safety valve 19.

(9) The measuring cell 28 integrated in the hose 26 is configured as a temperature sensor 31. In the circuit 9, between pump 10 and filtration module 7, there is a further measuring point 27 whose measuring cell 28 is configured as a pressure sensor 32. Two further measuring points 27 are moreover arranged in the circuit 9 between the controllable valve 11 and the filtration module 7. One measuring cell 28 is configured as a pressure sensor 32, and a further measuring cell 28 is configured as a flow meter 33.

(10) Two measuring points 27 are likewise arranged in the permeate hose line 20, the measuring cell 28 of one being configured as a pressure sensor 32, and the measuring cell 28 of the other measuring point 27 being configured as a flow meter 33. In the direction toward the sterile connector 21, a further controllable valve 11 is arranged in the permeate hose line 20. The recirculation tank 6 is connected to a weighing module 34 which determines the weight in the recirculation tank 6 and forwards this weight to the computing and controlling unit 4. The signal from the weighing module 34 can also be used as a filling level signal.

(11) The filtration system 2 can be presterilized as a fully interconnected overall system and can be supplied in sterile outer packaging. The operator then simply has to remove the filtration system 2 from its outer packaging (not shown) and fit it into the filtration installation 1 and connect the disposable parts of the valves 11, pumps 10 and measuring points 27 to their counterparts that remain in the filtration installation 1.

(12) When filtration is complete, all the structural parts of the filtration system 2 that come into contact with product can be disposed of as a closed system.

(13) All the measuring cells 28 of the measuring points 27 are supplied in precalibrated form to the operator.