US 11,781,811 B2
Apparatus for maintaining a controlled environment
Byron J. Knight, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/685,793.
Application 17/685,793 is a continuation of application No. 17/345,779, filed on Jun. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,668,525.
Application 17/345,779 is a continuation of application No. 16/560,476, filed on Sep. 4, 2019, granted, now 11,035,613, issued on Jun. 15, 2021.
Application 16/560,476 is a continuation of application No. 15/745,834, granted, now 10,443,935, issued on Oct. 15, 2019, previously published as PCT/US2016/045166, filed on Aug. 2, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/200,370, filed on Aug. 3, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0187016 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. F26B 5/06 (2006.01); F26B 25/06 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); A01N 1/02 (2006.01); B01L 9/06 (2006.01); B01L 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC F26B 5/06 (2013.01) [A01N 1/0252 (2013.01); A01N 1/0289 (2013.01); B01L 1/02 (2013.01); B01L 7/00 (2013.01); B01L 9/06 (2013.01); F26B 25/063 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0689 (2013.01); B01L 2300/042 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0829 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1894 (2013.01); B01L 2400/049 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lyophilization nest for preparing lyophilized substances, the nest comprising:
a base;
a first cover and a second cover securable to the base, wherein each of the first and second covers has one or more vent holes extending therethrough;
a first interior space defined by the base and the first cover when the base and the first cover are in a closed relationship, the first interior space being sized to accommodate one or more receptacles;
a second interior space defined by the base and the second cover when the base and the second cover are in a closed relationship, the second interior space being sized to accommodate one or more receptacles;
two or more sealing elements, each of the sealing elements being in closeable engagement with a corresponding one of the vent holes of the first and second covers, such that each sealing element and the corresponding vent hole are operable between:
an open configuration in which a position of the sealing element relative to the corresponding vent hole permits fluid communication between the first or second interior space and air external to the nest when the base and the first or second cover are in the closed relationship; and
a closed configuration in which the position of the sealing element relative to the corresponding vent hole does not permit fluid communication between the first or second interior space and air external to the nest when the base and the first or second cover are in the closed relationship, such that the first or second interior space is sealed off to air external to the nest when the base and the first or second cover are in the closed relationship.