Preformed mixing bag for dry powder, apparatus, method and system for using same

Abstract

A mixing bag having an interior mixing chamber having a volume sufficient to receive a predetermined weight of substantially dry material and a selected volume of process compatible solution to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the mixing bag is in the form of a bioprocess container having at least three sealable openings. Any one of the sealable openings is configured for at least one of injection of a process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form the solution, enabling transporting the substantially dry material into the interior mixing chamber, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form the solution or enabling withdrawal of the solution at the selected concentration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mixing bag comprising an interior mixing chamber having a volume sufficient to receive a predetermined weight of substantially dry material capable of remaining in suspension in a process compatible solution and a selected volume of process compatible solution to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration, said interior mixing chamber having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is located in an opposed spaced relationship to said first end; and 
 at least two sealable openings wherein one of said at least two sealable openings extends from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for at least one of enabling transporting of material into the interior mixing chamber, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution at said selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber and the other of said at least two openings extends from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said second end and which is configured for at least one of enabling injection of a process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution at said selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The mixing bag of  claim 1  wherein said at least two sealable openings comprise 
 a first sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for at least one of enabling agitation of the material and solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentrated, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution with a selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber;  
 a second sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said second end and which is configured for at least one of enabling injection of the process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution with a selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber; and  
 a third sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for enabling transporting the substantially dry material into the interior mixing chamber.  
 
     
     
         3 . The mixing bag of  claim 1  wherein said selected concentration is at least one of a high concentration capable of being diluted to a target concentration and a target concentration intended for use without being diluted.  
     
     
         4 . The mixing bag of  claim 1  wherein said substantially dry material is a non-soluble powder.  
     
     
         5 . The mixing bag of  claim 1  wherein said substantially dry material is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         6 . The mixing bag of  claim 1  wherein said substantially dry material is selected from a group consisting of diatomaceous earth, Celpure P65® media, Celpure P100® media, Celpure 300® media, Celpure P1000® media, LRA® media and sorbents.  
     
     
         7 . A bioprocess container comprising 
 an outer member having a predetermined shape and a side wall defining an interior mixing chamber having a volume sufficient to receive a predetermined weight of dry powder and a selected volume of process compatible solution to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration, said interior mixing chamber having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is located in an opposed spaced relationship to said first end;    a first sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for at least one of injecting a process compatible solution into the interior chamber or enabling agitation of the material and solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration,    a second sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for at least one of enabling transporting the substantially dry material into the interior mixing chamber, enabling injection of the process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration; and    a third sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said second and which is configured for enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution with a selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber.    
     
     
         8 . The bioprocess container of  claim 7  wherein said outer member is in the shape of an elongated thin walled generally rectangular shaped member having a hollowed-out passageway  
     
     
         9 . The bioprocess container of  claim 7  wherein said dry powder is a non-soluble powder.  
     
     
         10 . The bioprocess container of  claim 7  wherein said dry material is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         11 . The bioprocess container of  claim 7  wherein said dry material is selected from a group consisting of diatomaceous earth, Celpure P65® media, Celpure P100® media, Celpure 300®.  
     
     
         12 . A bioprocess compatible container comprising 
 an interior mixing chamber configured to have a predetermined weight of dry powder and at least three sealable openings wherein each of said at least three sealable openings extends from a location exterior to the bioprocess container and into communication with the interior mixing chamber and wherein any one of the said at least three sealable openings is configured for at least one of transporting of material into the interior chamber, injecting a process compatible fluid into the interior mixing chamber, enabling agitation of the powder and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the powder in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution with a selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber.    
     
     
         13 . The bioprocess compatible container of  claim 12  wherein said selected concentration is at least one of a high concentration capable of being diluted to a target concentration and a target concentration intended for use without being diluted.  
     
     
         14 . The bioprocess compatible container of  claim 12  wherein said substantially dry material is a non-soluble powder.  
     
     
         15 . The bioprocess compatible container of  claim 12  wherein said substantially dry material is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         16 . The bioprocess compatible container of  claim 12  wherein said substantially dry material is selected from a group consisting of diatomaceous earth, Celpure P65® media, Celpure P100® media, Celpure 300® media, Celpure P1000® media, LRA® media and sorbents.  
     
     
         17 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 injecting a selected volume of a process compatible solution into a bioprocess container wherein said bioprocess container has an interior mixing chamber having a predetermined weight of dry powder and at least three sealable openings wherein each of said at least three sealable openings extends from a location exterior to the bioprocess container and into communication with the interior mixing chamber and wherein any one of the said at least three sealable openings is configured for at least one of transporting of material into the interior chamber, injecting a process compatible fluid into the interior mixing chamber, enabling agitation of the powder and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the powder in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution with a selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber;    agitating through two selected sealable openings the powder and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having powder in suspension with a selected concentration; and    withdrawing from the interior mixing chamber through one selected sealable openings the solution with a selected concentration.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of injecting uses a first sealable opening, the step of agitating uses said first sealable opening and a selected third sealable opening.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of withdrawing uses a second sealable opening which is an sealable opening other than said first sealable opening and said third sealable opening.  
     
     
         20 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 injecting a selected volume of a process compatible solution into a bioprocess container having an outer member formed of a predetermined shape and a side wall defining an interior mixing chamber having a volume sufficient to receive a predetermined weight of dry powder and a selected volume of process compatible solution to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration, said interior mixing chamber having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is located in an opposed spaced relationship to said first end, a first sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for at least one of injecting a process compatible solution into the interior chamber or enabling agitation of the material and solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration, a second sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said first end and which is configured for at least one of enabling transporting the substantially dry material into the interior mixing chamber, enabling injection of the process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration; and a third sealable opening extending from a location exterior to the mixing bag and into communication with the interior mixing chamber at said second and which is configured for enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration or enabling withdrawal of the solution with a selected concentration from the interior mixing chamber.    agitating through sad first sealable opening and said third two sealable openings the powder and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form a solution having powder in suspension with a selected concentration; and    withdrawing from the interior mixing chamber through said second sealable openings the solution with a selected concentration.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of withdrawing includes said selected concentration being at least one of a high concentration capable of being diluted to a target concentration and a target concentration intended for use without being diluted.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of injecting includes said substantially dry material being a non-soluble powder.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of injecting includes said substantially dry material is diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of injecting includes said substantially dry being selected from a group consisting of diatomaceous earth, Celpure P65® media, Celpure P100® media, Celpure 300® media, Celpure P1000® media, LRA® media and sorbents.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step 
 connecting said first sealable opening to a source of a process compatible solution.