US 12,078,403 B2
Rapid freezing, storage, transport, and thawing system for containers of biopharmaceutical products
Jonathan Cutting, New York, NY (US); and Marc Sanchez, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to SARTORIUS STEDIM NORTH AMERICA, INC., Bohemia, NY (US)
Filed by SARTORIUS STEDIM NORTH AMERICA, INC., Bohemia, NY (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/651,672.
Application 17/651,672 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/153,172, filed on Oct. 5, 2018, granted, now 11,253,430.
Prior Publication US 2022/0170694 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25D 15/00 (2006.01); A61J 1/10 (2006.01); A61J 1/16 (2023.01); B01F 31/20 (2022.01); B65D 19/00 (2006.01); F25D 17/06 (2006.01); F25D 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 15/00 (2013.01) [B01F 31/265 (2022.01); F25D 17/06 (2013.01); F25D 25/00 (2013.01); A61J 1/10 (2013.01); A61J 1/165 (2013.01); B65D 19/00 (2013.01); B65D 2519/00776 (2013.01); F25D 2331/801 (2013.01); F25D 2400/20 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for freezing, storing, transporting, and thawing biopharmaceutical product, the system comprising a stationary equipment and one or more movable pallets, each pallet being configured to carry one or more container units, each containing biopharmaceutical product, the stationary equipment comprising an enclosure delimiting an inner area and an outer area, the inner area being configured to receive one pallet therein,
the stationary equipment comprising a gas circulating unit configured to cause a circulation of cold gas or warm gas, from a pull inlet toward a blow outlet,
wherein a largest dimension of the container unit extends substantially in a horizontal direction
whereby the cold gas or warm gas is caused to circulate substantially in the horizontal direction in an interior volume of the pallet, so as to make a horizontal gas flow substantially parallel to said horizontal direction and which maximizes the thermal transfer surface area, such that the horizontal gas flow flows along a top and bottom surface of the container units
wherein the system comprises a shaker device comprising one or more strength members and a drivetrain, wherein the shaker device is configured to support and shake a pallet present on the shaker device, wherein the drivetrain is configured to impart a periodic orbital movement in a vertical plane to the one or more strength members,
wherein the drivetrain comprises a motor located in the outer area, one or more drive gears located in the outer area, and one or more drive shafts located at least partly in the inner area, wherein the drive shaft is in interaction with the one or more strength members.