US 11,697,790 B2
Probe holder and method for positioning a probe
Simon Topp-Manske, Lohfelden (DE); Christian Zahnow, Goettingen (DE); Ute Husemann, Goettingen (DE); and Bernward Husemann, Goettingen (DE)
Assigned to Sartorius Stedim Blotech GmbH, Goettingen (DE)
Appl. No. 16/82,295
Filed by Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Goettingen (DE)
PCT Filed Mar. 14, 2017, PCT No. PCT/EP2017/000335
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 5, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/211435, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 14, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2016 006 916.3 (DE), filed on Jun. 6, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0031996 A1, Jan. 31, 2019
Int. Cl. C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); G01D 11/30 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 23/48 (2013.01) [C12M 23/28 (2013.01); C12M 23/46 (2013.01); C12M 23/50 (2013.01); C12M 41/00 (2013.01); G01D 11/30 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A probe holder (1) for positioning at least one probe (50) in a system (100) for biotechnological uses, the probe (50) having a body with first and second holding locations spaced apart from one another in a probe extension direction (S; S1, S2, S3, S4), the system (100) for biotechnological uses comprising a receiving container (110) that includes a rigid portion, the receiving container (110) receiving a container that has a flexible container wall (40) such that the probe (50) is at least partially engaged through the flexible container wall (40), the probe holder (1) comprising:
a holder base (10) having:
a fixed portion (11) positioned and fixed on the rigid portion of the receiving container (110) of the system (100) for biotechnological uses, and
a movable portion (12) that is adjustably movable in a base adjustment direction relative to the fixed portion (11) of the holder base (10); and
at least one probe positioning means (20) having first and second holding regions (22, 23) and a central region (27) extending between the first and second holding regions (22, 23), the first and second holding regions (22, 23) releasably holding the first and second holding locations of the probe (50), the central region (27) of the at least one probe positioning means (20) being mounted to the movable portion (12) of the holder base (10) for movement of the probe (50) relative to the holder base (10) in at least one direction different from the base adjustment direction, wherein the probe positioning means (20) is for:
positioning the at least one probe (50) on the holder base (10) and relative to the rigid portion of the receiving container (110) such that a leading end of the probe (50) in the probe extension direction (S; S1, S2, S3, S4) is in an operating position where the leading end of the probe (50) is at least partially engaged through the flexible container wall (40); and
adjusting a position of the probe (50) in at least the probe extension direction (S; S1, S2, S3, S4) and relative to the fixed portion (11) of the holder base (10) in response to expansion and contraction of the flexible container wall (40) while keeping the leading end of the probe in the operating position.