Lyophilization container fill fixture, system and method of use
Provided is a gas fill fixture for use in lyophilization, a related system and method. The gas fill fixture includes a chassis, fill indicator and a lid, such that the chassis and lid together form a cavity for receiving a flexible lyophilization container. The system includes a lyophilization container, a lyophilizer and a gas fill fixture incorporating a chassis, a fill indicator and a lid. The method includes process steps for using the system to lyophilize a fluid.
1. A fluid fill indicator for a lyophilization assembly, the fluid fill indicator comprising:
a chassis;
a lid; and
a fill indicator fixed to a surface of the lid and configured to indicate a fill position based on a position of the lid relative to the chassis, the fill indicator configured to receive a lyophilization container that is configured to be received by a lyophilizer.
2. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
3. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes Polycarbonate (PC).
4. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the lid is movably fixed to the chassis by a hinge.
5. The fluid fill indicator of claim 4 , wherein the hinge is a pivot hinge.
6. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a handle.
7. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the fill indicator is disposed in a corner of the lid.
8. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the fill indicator is a mechanical indicator.
9. The fluid fill indicator of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical indicator is a linear indicator.
10. The fluid fill indicator of claim 9 , wherein the linear indicator uses multiple colors to indicate a proper fill condition and an overfilled condition.
11. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the fill indicator includes a sensor.
12. The fluid fill indicator of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is selected from among optical sensors, inductive sensors, and capacitive sensors.
13. The fluid fill indicator of claim 1 , wherein the fill indicator is a projection extending from a bottom surface of the lid toward the chassis.
14. The fluid fill indicator of claim 13 , wherein the chassis includes a projection extending from a top surface of the chassis, and as the lid pivots, a location of the fill indicator relative to the projection on the chassis indicates the fill position.
15. A system for lyophilizing a fluid, the system comprising:
a lyophilization tray configured to receive a lyophilization container;
a lyophilizer configured to receive the lyophilization tray; and
a fluid fill indicator configured to receive the lyophilization container, the fluid fill indicator including
a chassis,
a lid, and
a fill indicator fixed to a surface of the lid and configured to indicate a fill position based on a position of the lid relative to the chassis.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fill indicator is a mechanical indicator.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the mechanical indicator is a linear indicator.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the linear indicator uses multiple colors to indicate a proper fill condition and an overfilled condition.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the chassis by a hinge.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the chassis includes sidewalls defining an interior space configured to receive the lyophilization container.