Abstract:
An alignment device for a bag containing one or more ports wherein the alignment device is attached to the one or more ports or to the bag adjacent the one or more ports. The plate has either an indicator or a unique outer edge shape that is designed to fit into a corresponding unique opening in a bag holder to ensure proper alignment of the bag and its port(s) in the holder. In one embodiment the plate has a series of holes equal to and in alignment with the one or more ports of the bag and the port(s) are extended through the holes of the plate and the plate is attached to the bag by retainers on the port(s) below the plate. Alternatively, the plate may be fitted over the port(s) and attached to the bag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/927,598, filed on May 4, 2007, entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     The present invention relates to a bag for use in a holder, such as a vat or carboy, and arranging the bag in a proper alignment within the holder via an alignment feature attached to the bag. More particularly, it relates to a disposable bag for use in a holder, such as a vat or carboy, with the bag having one or ports and an alignment feature attached to the bag adjacent the one or more ports to properly orient the bag in its holder. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally, products such as pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, enzymes, nutraceuticals and the like were processed in stainless steel containers. After use the steel containers had to be cleaned and sterilized. This often required the use of steam and/are caustics to accomplish this task. 
     Additionally, for regulated products such as pharmaceuticals, the sterilization process had to be validated to show that it could sterilize the device and could so time after time. 
     Both the cleaning process and the validation are time consuming and expensive and can&#39;t be varied without a new validation. 
     This has led to the use of single use, disposable plastic bags to store and process many of these products. These bags are provided sterile (generally gamma irradiated), do not require cleaning as they are disposed of after use and reduces the validation required by the user and/or shifts the validation to the bag supplier. 
     These bags contain one or more ports through which liquids, additives, product and the like are added or removed from the bag during processing. 
     These bags are generally placed into a holder such as steel plastic, fiberglass, graphite or other composite vat, tote or carboy to help hold the weight of the liquid and to protect the bag from rupture due to contact with other items on the manufacturing floor. These holders have an opening in their bottom portion through which the ports extend. As the port arrangements differ by bag type, manufacturer or customer requirement, the bottom of the holders generally have large rectangular or circular opening and a matching plate that has several openings in it through which the ports are arranged while supporting the bag bottom by the remainder of the plate. 
     The ports are generally unmarked and indistinguishable from each other. However their arrangement is critical to the use of the bag due the arrangement of inlets and outlets from the holder. Often, the bag is inserted wrongly (backward for example) and is only discovered when the bag is at least partially filled. This requires the removal of the liquid and either rearrangement of the bag in the holder so that the ports are properly aligned or the use of a new bag. 
     What is needed is a better means for properly arranging a bag in its holder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an alignment device for a bag containing one or more ports wherein the alignment device is attached to either the one or more ports such as by wire ties, clamps or cable ties or to the bag adjacent the one or more ports via adhesives or welding or molding such as overmolding. The plate has either an indicator or an unique outer edge shape that is designed to fit into a corresponding unique opening in a bag holder such as a carboy or tote to ensure proper alignment of the bag and its port(s) in the holder. 
     In one embodiment the plate formed of plastic has a series of holes equal to and in alignment with the one or more ports of the bag and the port(s) are extended through the holes of the plate and the plate is attached to the bag by retainers on the port(s) below the plate. Such retainers can be plastic cable ties, wire ties, tube clamps and the like. 
     Alternatively, the plate may be fitted over the port(s) and attached to the bag such as by thermal bonding or welding. 
     In another embodiment, the plate is overmolded to the bag or the bag is formed and molded to the plate. 
     The plate may have any unique design that ensures that the alignment of the bag in the holder is correct and cannot be reversed or incorrectly aligned. Such designs use a plate that is affixed to the bag or its port(s) in such a way that it cannot be realigned or moved out of register. 
     Such designs include but are not limited to plates having a permanent graphical representation as to the alignment or an asymmetrical design which corresponds to a similar opening in the holder. 
     In another embodiment, the plate has two parts, an inner asymmetric portion and symmetric outer portion selectively attachable to the inner asymmetric plate portion and is of a configuration to fit into a standard opening in a holder. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the present invention in planar, bottom view. 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the present invention in planar view. 
         FIG. 4  shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view. 
         FIGS. 5  A and B shows fifth embodiment of the present invention in planar view. 
         FIGS. 6  A-H show different shapes useful in the embodiments of the present invention in planar view. 
         FIGS. 7A  and B show another embodiment in planar bottom up view. 
         FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment in planar bottom up view. 
         FIG. 9  shows a knockout plug according to an embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1  is shown a first embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view. A bag  2  is held within a holder  4  such as a carboy or a tote and has one or more ports  6  extending out at least of its lowermost portion  8 . An alignment plate  10  is attached to either the bag  2  or its one or more ports  6  as will be discussed below. The plate  10  also provides support for the bottom of the bag while in use in the holder  4  by fitting into and aligning with a hole or opening  12  in the lowermost portion  8  of the holder  4 . As can be seen, the port(s)  6  extend through the plate  10  so they may be connected to inlets, outlets, pumps, storage bags, tubing, etc (not shown) as is needed in the process. In this embodiment the plate  10  is attached to the ports  6  of the bag  2  by an attachment device  14  such as a cable tie or a wire wrap or similar device. 
     To the extent the same elements are used in later Figures, their reference numbers remain the same. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , one surface  16  of the plate  10  may be adhered or welded or molded to the bag  2  during assembly so that its orientation remains the same. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the plate containing a graphic design  18  as to the orientation or alignment of the bag  2  when it is inserted into the holder  4  such that the operator will know which way to orient the bag  2  as it is being inserted into the holder  4  and attached to the various other elements such as pumps, filters, inlet hoses, outlet hoses, etc, (not shown). The graphical design  18  may be anything such as an arrow as shown pointing in a given direction to indicate the bag&#39;s alignment to the holder  4 . It may also include words  19  providing an indication of the direction of the bag or which port is which such as inlet, outlet, etc so an operator may properly align the bag in the holder. Alternatively, the graphic design  18  could be a hash mark, the arrow mentioned above or other symbol that is designed to align with a similar feature on the holder  4  itself (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  is an embodiment in which the bag  2  has one port  6 . In this embodiment the bag  2  also has an alignment device  20  in this case in the form of a nub that extends outwardly from the bag  2  and the alignment plate  10  contains both an opening for the port  6  but also for the alignment device  20  such that the plate  10  is always properly aligned to the bag and not allowed to rotate relative to it. The plate  10  may be attached to the port  6  in this instance by an attachment device  14  again in this instance a ratcheted cable tie. Other alignment devices include but are not limited to twist ties such as plastic coated wire ties, steel or plastic clamps and the like. 
     Bags  2  containing two or more ports  6  that extend through the plate  10  do not necessarily need a separate alignment device  20  but may have one if desired. 
     While the plate  10  in the above embodiments is shown as being a rectangle, the shape of the plate  10  and its corresponding hole  12  is not limited to such. It may be any symmetric or asymmetric shape or design that is desired, such as any polygon including but not limited to triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons and the like. They may also be circular or oval. They may also be combinations of the different shapes such as two circles of different sizes or two polygons of different sizes or different shapes. 
     Multiple plates  10  may also be used, with each one associated either with at least one port  6  or an alignment device  20 . 
     Any of the embodiments discussed above may if desired contain the graphical design  18  discussed above. 
     In  FIG. 5A  is shown a plate  10  the design of which is asymmetrical in shape and which corresponds to and sized to fit an asymmetrical opening  12  in the holder  4  as shown in  FIG. 5B . In this instance, the plate  10  and opening  12  are in the shape of a four sided polygon having opposite first and second sides  22  A, B parallel to each other and a third and fourth sides  22  C,D parallel to each other and intersecting the first and second sides  22  A, B at an angle of greater than 0 degree and less than 180 degree. In this way once the plate  10  is secured to the bag  2  such that it can not rotate either by attaching the plate  10  to the bag  2  itself or through the use of various multiple ports or the use of an alignment device  16  as discussed above, the bag  2  will only fit into the opening  12  in one orientation. As can be seen the opening  12  has corresponding sides  23  A and B and  23  C and D to those respectively of sides  22 A and B and  22  C and D. 
     In  FIGS. 6A-H  are shown just a representative sampling of the possible asymmetrical plate  10  and corresponding opening  12  designs that can be used. Others will be well known and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art and are meant to be included in the appended claims.  FIG. 6A  shows a polygon  24  having opposite first and second sides  25  A, B which are parallel to each other and a third and fourth sides  25  C,D which are not parallel to each other and each of which intersect the first and second sides  25  A, B at an angle of greater than 0 degree and less than 180 degree.  FIG. 6B  shows a triangle  26  with at least one side  27 A longer than the others  27  B,C. Essentially any triangle other than an isosceles triangle may be used.  FIG. 6C , shows an asymmetrical pentagon  28  with at least side  29 A being of a different length. Other asymmetrical polygonal shapes can also be used.  FIG. 6D  shows the use of two dissimilar circles  30  A, B attached at their adjacent surfaces. As shown in  FIG. 6E  the circles  30  A, B may only be partial. In  FIG. 6F , the use of dissimilar shapes, in this instance a rectangle  32  coupled to a circle  34  is used. In  FIG. 6G , the use of dissimilar ovals  36  A, B are used.  FIG. 6H  simple knocks one corner  39  off a rectangle  37  to form a notch or key. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 7A , it may be desirable to have a first plate portion  10 A having a symmetrical outer shape that corresponds to the symmetrical shape of the opening  12  of the holder  4  (not shown) and an opening  38  of an asymmetrical shape such as any of those discussed above in the first plate portion  10 A. A second plate portion  10 B in  FIG. 7B  fits into the asymmetrical opening  38  of the first plate portion  10 . In this manner a universal design can be made that allows for the orientation of the bag  2  in the plate  10  in the holder  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  any of the plates  10  may also have a series of preformed holes  40  or holes containing knock out plugs  42  arranged in the most common positions in the plate  10  so that one plate may be used with a variety of bag/port designs. Additionally, channels  44  from the edge of the plate  10  to the holes  40  or knockout plugs  42  may be included with this or any other embodiment to allow one to squeeze the tubing adjacent the port(s) so as to allow one to fit the plate onto an existing bag. 
       FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of knock out plug  42  in the plate  10  taken along lines  8 - 8 . 
     The alignment plate can be made of various materials, such as plastic (thermoplastic or thermoset) composites (such as graphite composites or fiberglass composites), metal (such as stainless steel or aluminum) or wood (such as pine, cedar or wood composites or plywood). 
     One preferred material is stainless steel in that even when relatively thin it is still strong, is well known and widely used in the industry and is compatible with the bags and holder. 
     Another is a thermoplastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PVDF, PES, and the like. One embodiment is to use a high density polyethylene. Another is a linear low density polyethyelene. 
     Thermosets such as urethanes or epoxies may be used to form the plate. Composites such as fiberglass or graphite composites are also useful. 
     Wood is relatively inexpensive and light weight and can be used in the present invention as well. Rot resistant woods such as cedar or various pines are useful. Plywood, chip board, wood laminates and the like are also useful, although they may need a protective coating if they are to be subjected to a wet environment. 
     In a further alternative embodiment of this invention, one can coat the steel, plastic or wood layer with a thermoplastic layer, a thermoelastomeric layer such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or an elastomeric layer such as a silicone layer. In one example of this embodiment, the rigid plate is made of steel, preferably stainless steel, which is coated on at least one side and preferably encapsulated in a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene, a TPE or a silicone. In another embodiment, the plate is made of a plastic to which silicone adheres such as polysulfones or polyethersulfones. In a further embodiment, the plastic plate can be coated or encapsulated or laminated with another plastic layer or TPE layer. In the same way, a wood plate can also be coated or encapsulated with one of these layers. 
     The coated layers may provide additional cleanliness to the plate or act as a bonding layer between the plate and the bag to which it is attached if such bonding is desired. It also reduces the potential for flash or rough surfaces on the plate to pierce the adjacent bag. 
     The plate may in the case of plastics, composites and metals either formed from a blank sheet of material or molded as the finished plate. Wood can be formed from a blank and shaped into the desired configuration and port arrangement. 
     Additionally, wireless tracking devices such as RFID chips, Zigbee® or Bluetooth® devices may also be included on the plate to provide manufacturing data about the plate, the bag to which it is attached and with devices having read/write capabilities to track the use of the bag at the user&#39;s facility. There information relating to a trackable event such as entry into inventory, use, the material made or stored in the bag, etc can added by the user to the tag. Such a tag  100  is shown in  FIG. 5A .