System and method for draining a flexible bioprocessing bag
An apparatus for draining a bioreactor vessel includes a tubular body portion having an interior passageway, and at least one aperture in the tubular body portion providing for fluid communication with the interior passageway, the tubular body portion being configured for positioning at a bottom of a vessel, and a suction tube having a first end configured for fluid coupling with the tubular body portion, and a second end configured for fluid coupling with a port in a sidewall of the vessel.
1 . A method of draining a flexible bioprocessing bag, comprising the steps of:
arranging a suction tube interior to a flexible bioprocessing bag such that a first end of the suction tube is connected to a drain port attached to a bottom wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag, the bottom wall opposing a top wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag, and a second end of the suction tube is connected to a port in a sidewall of the flexible bioprocessing bag, the sidewall extending between the bottom wall and the top wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag;
changing a state of a suction drain device to place an interior of the flexible bioprocessing bag in fluid communication with the suction tube;
positioning a drain flange over the drain port such that an interior neck of the drain flange forms a seal with a tubular body portion of the drain port; and
activating a pump to draw a fluid from the interior of the flexible bioprocessing bag into the suction tube and out of the flexible bioprocessing bag through the port in the sidewall of the flexible bioprocessing bag.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the drain port is part of the suction drain device that includes the tubular body portion having an interior passageway, and at least one aperture in the tubular body portion providing for fluid communication with the interior passageway, the tubular body portion being configured for positioning at a bottom of the flexible bioprocessing bag;
wherein the first end of the suction tube is connected to the tubular body portion.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
when positioned over the tubular body portion, the drain flange defines a space between the bottom of the flexible bioprocessing bag and the drain flange for passage of a fluid between the drain flange and the bottom of the flexible bioprocessing bag and into the at least one aperture in the tubular body portion.
4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
the suction drain device includes a plunger slidably received within the interior passageway of the tubular body portion;
wherein the plunger is movable between a closed position where there is no fluid communication between the at least one opening and the suction tube, and an open position where the at least one opening is in fluid communication with the suction tube.
5 . A bioprocessing system, comprising:
a vessel;
a flexible bioprocessing bag positionable within the vessel, the flexible bioprocessing bag including a top wall, a bottom wall opposite the top wall, and two sidewalls extending between the top wall and the bottom wall; and
an apparatus for draining the flexible bioprocessing bag positioned at the bottom wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag, the apparatus including:
a tubular body portion having an interior passageway, and at least one aperture in the tubular body portion providing for fluid communication with the interior passageway, the tubular body portion being configured for positioning at the bottom wall of a flexible bioprocessing bag;
a suction tube having a first end configured for fluid coupling with the tubular body portion in the bottom wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag and a second end configured for fluid coupling with a port in one of the two sidewalls of the flexible bioprocessing bag; and
a drain flange configured to be positioned over the tubular body such that an interior neck of the drain flange forms a seal with an outer periphery of the tubular body portion.
6 . The bioprocessing system of claim 5 , wherein:
when positioned over the tubular body portion, the drain flange defines a space between the bottom wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag and the drain flange for passage of a fluid between the drain flange and the bottom wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag and into the at least one aperture in the tubular body portion.
7 . The bioprocessing system of claim 6 , wherein:
the tubular body portion includes a flange portion configured for attachment to the bottom wall of the flexible bioprocessing bag; and
wherein the at least one aperture is located in the tubular body portion above an upper surface of the flange portion.
8 . The bioprocessing system of claim 6 , wherein:
the drain flange includes a plurality of radially extending channels in a bottom surface of the drain flange;
wherein the plurality of channels provide fluid communication between an interior of the flexible bioprocessing bag and the at least one aperture in the tubular body portion.
9 . The bioprocessing system of claim 5 , wherein:
the apparatus further includes a plunger slidably received within the interior passageway of the tubular body portion;
wherein the plunger is movable between a closed position where there is no fluid communication between the at least one aperture and the suction tube, and an open position where the at least one aperture is in fluid communication with the suction tube.