Method for protecting and unprotecting the fluid path in a controlled environment enclosure

• Main Authors: Immerzeel, Jeroen, Gold, Ross M, Park, Steve Sang Joon, Procyshyn, Christopher A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.10.2021
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMISTRY; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; ENZYMOLOGY; HAND TOOLS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MANIPULATORS; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; SPIRITS; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated, the method not requiring the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus similarly allows the fluid path to be unprotected for use without the use of gloves, the method not requiring the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontaminated is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated.