Patent ID: 7014049

Claim:
An apparatus containing at least one biologically active saccharide covalently bound by at least one spacer to a cross linked matrix material, said apparatus being autoclavable and comprising: a cylindrical container defined by a circumferential wall, having a top end and a bottom end, each of said top end and said bottom end having a protruding edge, a port defining an opening in said circumferential wall, said port protruding from the circumferential wall in an outward direction, a top lock cover in the form of a circular disk which has a plurality of downward projections to clip on to and under the protruding edge of said cylindrical container, said top lock cover being attachable to the top end of said container, said top lock cover having a central opening, a bottom lock cover in the form of a circular disk which has a plurality of upward projections to clip onto and over the protruding edge of said cylindrical container, said bottom lock cover being attachable to the bottom end of said container with said bottom lock cover having a central opening, said downward projections being of sufficient flexibility to engage with the protruding edge of said container and to permit said top lock cover to be pressed onto the container, optionally an outer ring located outside and adjacent to the top and bottom of the cylindrical housing to engage with and secure the top lock cover and bottom lock cover, respectively, a cover for said port, a first packing ring positioned between the upper end of said container and said top lock cover, a second packing ring positioned between the bottom end of said container and said bottom lock cover, said first and second packing ring each being fitted with a membrane located adjacent each of the top end and the bottom end of said container.