TRANSPORT CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MICROBIAL MONITORING IN A BARRIER SYSTEM

Abstract

A transport container for at least one nutrient medium carrier, wherein the transport container comprises a base element and a cover element, the base element and the cover element are connectable to each other, the base element and the cover element are connected to each other in a closed state of the transport container and enclose an interior space of the transport container, and the at least one nutrient medium carrier can be arranged in the interior space. Furthermore, a method for automated microbial monitoring in a barrier system is provided.

Claims

1. A transport container for at least one nutrient medium carrier, the transport container comprises: a base element, and a cover element, wherein the base element and the cover element are connectable to each other, wherein the base element and the cover element are connected to each other in a closed state of the transport container and enclose an interior space of the transport container, and wherein the at least one nutrient medium carrier can be arranged in the interior space.

2. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the base element is plate-shaped and the cover element is hood-shaped.

3. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the cover element comprises a ring and a hood, wherein the hood is arranged on the side of the ring opposite the base element and is connected to the ring.

4. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the base element and the cover element are mechanically or magnetically coupleable to each other to hold the transport container in the closed state.

5. The transport container according to claim 4, wherein the base element and the cover element are mechanically coupleable via a bayonet lock.

6. The transport container according to claim 4, wherein the base element and the cover element each comprise one or more magnets, through which the base element and the cover element are magnetically coupleable.

7. The transport container according to claim 4, wherein the base element and the cover element are designed such that the mechanical or magnetic coupling can be released using a tool or by inserting into a receptacle or station.

8. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the transport container comprises a seal arranged between the base element and the cover element.

9. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the base element comprises a receptacle for one or more nutrient medium carriers.

10. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the receptacle comprises one or more receiving elements, wherein the receiving elements are arranged such that they surround or hold one or more nutrient medium carriers when they are arranged in the receptacle.

11. A method for automated microbial monitoring in a barrier system, the method comprising the steps of: introducing at least one closed transport container into the barrier system, wherein each transport container contains at least one nutrient medium carrier; opening the transport container within the barrier system; and arranging the at least one nutrient medium carrier within the barrier system.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein each transport container comprises a base element and a cover element, wherein the base element and the cover element are connectable to each other, wherein the base element and the cover element are connected to each other in a closed state of the transport container and enclose an interior space of the transport container, wherein the at least one nutrient medium carrier is arranged in the interior space of the closed transport container.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises the following steps before the introducing step: loading the at least one transport container with one or more nutrient medium carriers; and closing each loaded transport container.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein in the arranging step, each nutrient medium carrier is arranged at a specific position within the barrier system, and each nutrient medium carrier remains at the defined position for a certain period of time.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises the following steps after the arranging step: placing each nutrient medium carrier back into the respective transport container; and closing the respective transport container.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises the following step: removing each reclosed transport container from the barrier system.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0075] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. The figures show:

[0076] FIG. 1 a depiction of an embodiment of a transport container in the closed state;

[0077] FIG. 2 a depiction of the transport container from FIG. 1 in the open state;

[0078] FIG. 3 a depiction of the transport container from FIG. 1 in the open state with nutrient medium carriers arranged therein; and

[0079] FIG. 4 a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0080] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a transport container 10. The transport container 10 is used for the sterile transport of one or more nutrient medium carriers 12. The transport container 10 comprises a base element 14 and a cover element 16. The base element 14 forms a main body of the transport container 10. Preferably, the base element 14 is designed as a, preferably round, plate. The cover element 16 forms a lid of the transport container 10. Preferably, the cover element 16 is designed as a hood. The base element 14 and the cover element 16 can each be made of a plastic or a metal (for example, aluminum or stainless steel).

[0081] The base element 14 and the cover element 16 are connectable to each other. In a closed state of the transport container 10, the base element 14 and the cover element 16 are connected to each other. Specifically, the lid is placed on the main body. In an open state of the transport container 10, the base element 14 and the cover element 16 are not connected to each other but are separated. Specifically, the lid is removed from the main body. Placing the lid can also be referred to as closing the transport container 10, and removing the lid can be referred to as opening the transport container 10.

[0082] The base element 14 and the cover element 16 are coupleable to each other to hold the transport container 10 in the closed state. The coupling can be mechanical or magnetic, for example. Different closure systems can be used for this purpose.

[0083] For example, the closure system can have a tab and a slot that can couple with each other. Such a closure system is also referred to as a bayonet lock. A bayonet lock is an example of a mechanical coupling. Specifically, the base element 14 can have a tab 18 and the cover element 16 a corresponding slot (not shown), wherein the tab can engage with the slot to hold the transport container 10 in the closed state. Preferably, the base element 14 has at least three tabs, and the cover element 16 has at least three corresponding slots.

[0084] Alternatively, a magnetic closure system can be used. For example, one or more magnets (permanent magnets) can be arranged on the base element 14 and the cover element 16. Each magnet of the cover element 16 can then magnetically couple with a corresponding magnet of the base element 14 to hold the transport container 10 in the closed state.

[0085] Alternatively, a closure system can be used that can only be opened when the transport container 10 is placed on a specific receptacle or station (particularly at the storage location or evaluation location), wherein the locking mechanism, for example, a pin, is released, and only then can the lid be lifted. Alternatively, a closure system can be used that can only be opened using a specific tool. Here, too, the locking mechanism, for example, a pin, can be released using the tool, and only then can the lid be lifted. This would have the advantage that the transport container 10, e.g., a bayonet lock, does not accidentally open during transport. In other words, the opening of the transport container 10 could be done via an actively operating unlocking station, for example, by an actively actuated mechanism.

[0086] The transport container 10 has an interior space. In the closed state of the transport container 10, the base element 14 and the cover element 16 enclose the interior space. The environment of the interior space is isolated from the external environment in the closed state. Isolated means that there is no fluid or particle exchange between the two environments. In particular, the transport container 10 can have a seal, particularly a sealing lip, an O-ring, or a sealing cord, for sealing, arranged between the base element 14 and the cover element 16, particularly along their connection point. The base element can have a groove 24 for the seal, which runs along the edge. The seal can be placed in the groove 24 for sealing.

[0087] The one or more nutrient medium carriers 12 can be arranged in the interior space, particularly for transport. The base element 14 can, for example, have a receptacle 20 for the one or more nutrient medium carriers 12. The receptacle 20 is arranged in the interior space in the closed state. When nutrient medium carriers 12 are arranged in the receptacle 20, these nutrient medium carriers are also arranged in the interior space when the transport container 10 is in the closed state. The receptacle 20 can be formed by one or more receiving elements 22. The receiving elements 22 can be arranged to surround, in particular hold, the nutrient medium carriers 12 to be held. Multiple nutrient medium carriers 12 can be arranged in the receptacle 20. The nutrient medium carriers 12 can, in particular, be stacked in the receptacle 20. The receiving elements 22 extend, preferably vertically, from the base element 14 into the interior space. In particular, the receptacle 20 is formed by at least three receiving elements 22. The receiving elements 22 are preferably arranged at the edge of the base element 14. The receiving elements 22 are preferably evenly distributed along the edge of the base element. The receiving elements 22 are particularly arranged at or near the groove 24, especially internally.

[0088] The cover element 16 is preferably rigid or stiff. In particular, the cover element 16 can be made of a metal, aluminum, stainless steel, or a plastic. The cover element 16 can, for example, have a minimum wall thickness of 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, or 5 mm.

[0089] The cover element 16 can also be designed in two parts. For example, the cover element 16 can comprise a ring and a hood. The ring is designed to couple with the base element 14 to connect the cover element 16 to the base element 14. In other words, the ring is arranged in the area of the seal or closure. The hood is arranged on the side of the ring opposite the base element 14 and is connected to the ring. In particular, the hood closes off this side of the ring. The ring is preferably dimensionally stable (for example, made of a metal or plastic). The hood preferably consists of a (dimensionally stable) film, particularly a plastic film.

[0090] In FIG. 3, three nutrient medium carriers 12 are shown stacked on top of each other in the receptacle 20 of the transport container 10.

[0091] FIG. 4 shows a method 30 for automated microbial monitoring in a barrier system. In the steps of method 30, an isolator is used as the barrier system. However, method 30 can also be carried out with any other barrier system.

[0092] In a first step 32 of method 30, one or more transport containers 10 are loaded with one or more nutrient medium carriers 12. For this purpose, the nutrient medium carriers 12 are arranged in the receptacles 20 of the respective transport container 10, in particular inserted into them. Each transport container 10 thus contains at least one nutrient medium carrier 12.

[0093] In a further step 34 of method 30, each transport container 10 is closed. For this purpose, the cover element 16 is connected to the base element 14, in particular coupled.

[0094] Steps 32 and 34 can be carried out in a preparation isolator.

[0095] In a further step 36 of method 30, each transport container 10 is introduced into the isolator, in particular transported or transferred into the isolator. Each transport container 10 is arranged at a specific position within the isolator.

[0096] Step 36 can be carried out, in particular, before the isolator is decontaminated. In this case, the outer surface of the transport container 10 can be decontaminated together with the entire isolator after introduction. The introduction can take place in particular through the opened isolator door.

[0097] In a further step 38 of method 30, each transport container 10 is opened. For this purpose, the cover element 16 is separated from the base element 14, in particular decoupled, so that the cover element 16 can be removed from the transport container 10, in particular from the base element 14. Step 38 preferably takes place within the closed isolator, i.e., when all accesses are closed.

[0098] In a further step 40 of method 30, each nutrient medium carrier 12 is arranged at a specific position (a storage location) within the isolator. For this purpose, the nutrient medium carrier 12 is removed from the transport container 10, in particular from the receptacle 20, transferred to the storage location, and placed there.

[0099] Each nutrient medium carrier 12 remains at the respective storage location for a specific period, which corresponds to the duration of the microbial monitoring. While the nutrient medium carrier 12 is at the storage location, it can collect microbes from the environment of the storage location.

[0100] Alternatively, the storage location can also serve as an interim storage or intermediate station for one or more nutrient medium carriers. From the interim storage or intermediate station, each of these nutrient medium carriers can then be transferred or brought to another storage location for microbial monitoring for the specific period at a specific time. The interim storage or intermediate station can be isolated from the environment of the isolator.

[0101] In a further step 42 of method 30, each nutrient medium carrier 12 is placed back into the respective transport container 10, in particular reset into it.

[0102] In a further step 44 of method 30, each transport container 10 is then closed again. For this purpose, the cover element 16 is placed back on and connected to the base element 14, in particular coupled.

[0103] In a further step 46 of method 30, each transport container 10 is then removed from the isolator for further evaluation/analysis of the nutrient media of the nutrient medium carriers 12. The removal can take place, in particular, after a renewed decontamination or cleaning of the isolator.

[0104] All steps of the method can be carried out, in particular, robot-assisted (i.e., by means of one or more handling robots).

[0105] It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

[0106] As used in this specification and claims, the terms for example, e.g., for instance, such as, and like, and the verbs comprising, having, including, and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.