초록 ▼

A selectively closeable drain connector includes a hollow plunger moveable relative to an aperture-defining drain flange. The connector includes two circumferential seals between the plunger and the flange, and includes at least one passage disposed between the seals leading to a hollow interior. Th

A selectively closeable drain connector includes a hollow plunger moveable relative to an aperture-defining drain flange. The connector includes two circumferential seals between the plunger and the flange, and includes at least one passage disposed between the seals leading to a hollow interior. The drain connector may be joined to a processing bag and/or tank to form a substance processing receptacle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A selectively closeable drain connector arranged for mounting to a tank or bag, the drain connector comprising: a plunger including a plunger body having a first closed end, a second open end, a wall with an exterior surface and with an interior surface bounding a hollow core

What is claimed is: 1. A selectively closeable drain connector arranged for mounting to a tank or bag, the drain connector comprising: a plunger including a plunger body having a first closed end, a second open end, a wall with an exterior surface and with an interior surface bounding a hollow core, and a first and a second circumferential sealing element disposed along the exterior surface, the plunger body further defining at least one passage extending from the exterior surface into the hollow core and disposed between the first and the second circumferential sealing element; and a drain flange defining an aperture adapted to receive the plunger, the aperture being bounded by an inner surface adapted to sealingly engage the first and the second circumferential sealing element when the drain connector is in a closed state, and to sealingly engage the second circumferential sealing element when the drain connector is in an open state; wherein any of the plunger and the flange is adapted to move relative to the other; and wherein the drain connector is characterized by any one or more of the following: (i) the drain flange has a radially extending flange lip adapted for placement against a bottom wall of said tank or bag, and the first sealed end of the plunger is disposed substantially flush against an upper surface of said radially extending flange lip when said drain connector is in a closed state; and (ii) a portion of the plunger is arranged to travel into an interior volume of said tank or bag when said drain connector is in an open state. 2. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein a perimeter of at least a portion of the plunger body is substantially circular in shape. 3. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein the plunger further comprises at least one travel stop. 4. The drain connector of claim 3 wherein the at least one travel stop comprises an externally flared portion disposed along the first closed end of the plunger. 5. The drain connector of claim 3 wherein the at least one travel stop comprises a raised tab or raised ring disposed along the exterior surface of the plunger body. 6. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein each of the first and the second circumferential sealing element has an associated circumferential recess defined in the exterior surface of the plunger body wall, and each of the first and the second circumferential sealing element comprises an O-ring adapted to fit into its associated circumferential recess. 7. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein any of the first and the second circumferential sealing element comprises a raised sealing ring fitted to or integrally formed with the plunger. 8. The drain connector of claim 1, further comprising a hollow outlet tube engaged to the plunger along the open end. 9. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein the drain connector is actuated from an open state to a closed state or vice-versa by motion of the outlet tube. 10. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein the at least one passage comprises a plurality of passages. 11. A hollow processing tank comprising the drain connector of claim 1. 12. The tank of claim 11 wherein the tank is fabricated of a substantially optically transmissive material. 13. The tank of claim 11, further comprising a processing bag fabricated of a substantially non-rigid material, wherein the bag is disposed substantially within the tank and the drain flange is sealingly engaged to the bag. 14. The tank of claim 13, wherein the sealing engagement between the drain flange and the bag is non-permanent and adapted to permit removal of the drain flange. 15. The tank of claim 14, further comprising at least one O-ring disposed between any of: (1) the drain flange and the bag, and (2) the bag and the tank. 16. The tank of claim 11, further comprising a moveable mixing element disposed within the tank. 17. A material processing bag having an outer wall comprising a polymeric film material, wherein said bag further comprising the drain connector of claim 1 sealingly engaged thereto. 18. The bag of claim 17 wherein the bag and the drain connector are sterilized. 19. The bag of claim 17 wherein said polymeric film is a substantially optically transmissive. 20. The bag of claim 17, further comprising a moveable mixing element disposed within the bag. 21. The drain connector of claim 1 wherein the drain flange comprises a substantially optically transmissive material. 22. The drain connector of claim 1, further comprising a sensor affixed to any of the plunger, the drain flange, and an outlet tube associated with any of the plunger and the drain flange, wherein the sensor is adapted to monitor at least one characteristic of a substance contained or flowing within the drain connector. 23. A method for fabricating a sterile processing receptacle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a hollow container; providing a selectively closeable drain connector comprising: a hollow plunger including a plunger body having a first closed end, a second open end, a wall with an exterior surface and with an interior surface bounding a hollow core, a first and a second circumferential sealing element disposed along the exterior surface, and a travel stop, the plunger body further defining at least one passage extending from the exterior surface into the hollow core and disposed between the first and the second circumferential sealing element; and a drain flange defining an aperture adapted to receive the plunger, the aperture being bounded by an inner surface adapted to sealingly engage the first and the second circumferential sealing element when the drain connector is in an open state, and to sealingly engage the second circumferential sealing element when the drain connector is in a closed state; wherein any of the plunger and the flange is adapted to move relative to the other; and wherein the drain connector is characterized by any one or more of the following: (i) the drain flange has a radially extending flange lip adapted for placement against a bottom wall of said tank or bag, and the first sealed end of the plunger is disposed substantially flush against an upper surface of said radially extending flange lip when said drain connector is in a closed state; and (ii) a portion of the plunger is arranged to travel into an interior volume of said tank or bag when said drain connector is in an open state; and joining the drain connector to the hollow container to form a fluid processing receptacle; and sterilizing the fluid processing receptacle. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of packaging the sterile fluid processing receptacle in a sealed package. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the hollow container comprises any of a hollow bag and a hollow tank. 26. A selectively closeable drain connector arranged for mounting to a tank or bag, the drain connector comprising: a hollow plunger including a plunger body having a first closed end, a second open end, a wall with an exterior surface and with an interior surface bounding a hollow core, and a first circumferential sealing element disposed along the exterior surface, the plunger body further defining at least one passage extending from the exterior surface into the hollow core and disposed adjacent to first circumferential sealing element; and a drain flange defining an aperture adapted to receive the plunger, the aperture being bounded by an inner surface adapted to sealingly engage the first circumferential sealing element when the drain connector is in a closed state, the drain flange further including a second sealing element adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the exterior surface of the plunger when the drain connector is in an open state and when the drain connector is in a closed state; wherein any of the plunger and the flange is adapted to move relative to the other; and wherein the drain connector is characterized by any one or more of the following: (i) the drain flange has a radially extending flange lip adapted for placement against a bottom wall of said tank or bag, and the first sealed end of the plunger is disposed substantially flush against an upper surface of said radially extending flange lip when said drain connector is in a closed state; and (ii) a portion of the plunger is arranged to travel into an interior volume of said tank or bag when said drain connector is in an open state. 27. A selectively closeable drain connector arranged for mounting to a tank or bag, the drain connector comprising: a hollow plunger including a plunger body having a first closed end, a second open end, and a wall with an exterior surface and with an interior surface bounding a hollow core, the plunger body further defining at least one passage extending from the exterior surface into the hollow core; and a drain flange defining an aperture bounded by an inner surface and adapted to receive the plunger, the inner surface having a first and a second raised sealing element, wherein, when the drain connector is in a closed state, the at least one passage is disposed between the first and the second raised sealing element and each of the first and the second raised sealing element sealingly engage the exterior surface of the plunger; wherein any of the plunger and the flange is adapted to move relative to the other; and wherein the drain connector is characterized by any one or more of the following: (i) the drain flange has a radially extending flange lip adapted for placement against a bottom wall of said tank or bag, and the first sealed end of the plunger is disposed substantially flush against an upper surface of said radially extending flange lip when said drain connector is in a closed state; and (ii) a portion of the plunger is arranged to travel into an interior volume of said tank or bag when said drain connector is in an open state. 28. The drain connector of claim 1, wherein the drain flange has a radially extending flange lip adapted for placement against a bottom wall of said tank or bag, and the first sealed end of the plunger is disposed substantially flush against an upper surface of said radially extending flange lip when said drain connector is in a closed state. 29. The drain connector of claim 1, wherein a portion of the moveable plunger is arranged to travel into an interior volume of said tank or bag when said drain connector is in an open state. 30. The drain connector of claim 29, wherein the first circumferential sealing element is disposed along an upper portion of the plunger and is arranged to travel into an interior volume of said connector when said drain connector is in an open state. 31. A hollow processing tank having disposed therein the material processing bag of claim 17. 32. The tank of claim 31, further comprising at least one O-ring disposed between any of: (1) the drain flange and the bag, and (2) the bag and the tank.