Device for accommodating receptacles and associated container

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a container for accommodating, filling, tempering, storing, emptying and transporting receptacles for biological, biochemical and biopharmaceutical substances, in particular liquids.

1 . Device for accommodating and transporting receptacles for biological, biochemical and biopharmaceutical substances, comprising the following features:
 1.1 several compartments disposed adjacent to one another for accommodating at least one receptacle each,   1.2 each compartment is bounded by at least two walls extending parallel at a distance from one another,   1.3 a fluid is able to circulate through at least parts of the walls which have co-operating connectors for fluid lines,   1.4 at least one wall of each compartment can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the walls,   1.5 at least one wall of the device can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the walls against the action of at least one spring element.   
     
     
         2 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the walls are guided along rails which extend in the direction perpendicular to the walls. 
     
     
         3 . Device as claimed in  claim 1  in which the at least one spring element is secured to a bearing by a first portion. 
     
     
         4 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one spring element is loosely supported against a co-operating counter-bearing by a second portion. 
     
     
         5 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the spring element is a component selected from the group comprising compression springs, tension springs, leaf springs, pneumatic springs, elastomer bodies, caoutchouc bodies, rubber bodies, hydraulic rams, pneumatic rams. 
     
     
         6 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which at least one wall bounds two adjacent compartments. 
     
     
         7 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which every compartment is additionally bounded by at least two side faces which extend at a distance apart from one another and essentially perpendicular to the walls. 
     
     
         8 . Device as claimed in  claim 7 , the side faces of which form vertical boundary faces for the compartments and extend in the peripheral region of the walls. 
     
     
         9 . Device as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the co-operating side faces of at least one compartment are angled towards one another at their bottom end when the device is in a functional position, forming an at least partial base surface. 
     
     
         10 . Device as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the base surface at least partially subtends an angle of more than 90 degrees with a co-operating side face. 
     
     
         11 . Device as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the side faces are guided in grooves of the walls. 
     
     
         12 . Device as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the grooves in the extension of co-operating side faces have a depth which is bigger than an anticipated maximum displacement of co-operating walls of a compartment relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . Container with a thermally isolated housing which has at least one door or a cover and encloses a cavity for accommodating a device as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . Container as claimed in  claim 13 , with at least a wall-side housing opening for accommodating at least one fluid-circulating line to the connector to at least one fluid line of at least one wall of the device. 
     
     
         15 . Container as claimed in  claim 13 , with an integrated auxiliary unit for tempering the cavity enclosed by the housing.