Automated Aseptic Sampling Workstations and Sample Collection Devices Therefore

Abstract

A method of taking a fluid samples from a processing line is provided that includes: placing an input conduit in fluid communication with the processing line; operatively coupling the input conduit to a peristaltic pump and a valve block; operatively coupling the valve block to a valve actuator so that the valves are movable among an off position, a flush position, and a sample position; controlling the valve actuator to move the valves to the flush position and turning on the peristaltic pump so that fluid from the processing line is pumped to a waste bag; and controlling the valve actuator to move a particular valve to the sample position and to move any valve upstream of the particular valve to the flush position while the peristaltic pump remains on so that fluid from the processing line is pumped to the sample bag associated with the particular valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of automatically taking a plurality of fluid samples from a processing line, comprising:
 cleaning a processing line having a first half of a two-part connector connected thereto;   connecting a second half of the two-part connector to the first part, the second half part of a sample collection device, the sample connection device having a plurality of collection bags, a valve block, and an input conduit with the second half of the two-part connector, the valve block having an input, a plurality of three-way valves, and an output, the plurality of three-way valves corresponding in number to the plurality of collection bags, each of the three-way valves placing the input in fluid communication with a different one of the plurality of collection bags, the output being in fluid communication with a waste collection bag, the input being in fluid communication with the input conduit; and   inserting the valve block into a valve actuator so that a handle of each of the plurality of valves is movable by the valve actuator.   
     
     
         2 . A method of automatically taking a plurality of fluid samples from a processing line, comprising:
 placing an input conduit of a sample collection device in fluid communication with the processing line;   operatively coupling the input conduit to a peristaltic pump and to an input of a valve block having a plurality of three-way valves;   operatively coupling the valve block to a valve actuator so that each of the plurality of three-way valves is movable by a different portion of the valve actuator among an off position, a flush position, and a sample position;   controlling the valve actuator to move all of the plurality of three-way valves to the flush position and turning on the peristaltic pump so that fluid from the processing line is pumped through the valve block to a waste bag in fluid communication with an output of the valve block; and   controlling the valve actuator to move a particular valve of the plurality of three-way valves to the sample position and to move any of the plurality of three-way valves upstream of the particular valve to the flush position while the peristaltic pump remains on, the particular valve being associated with a particular sample bag so that fluid from the processing line is pumped through the valve block to the particular sample bag.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising controlling the valve actuator to move any of the plurality of three-way valves downstream of the particular valve to the off position. 
     
     
         4 . A method of automatically collecting liquid from a processing line, comprising:
 placing an input conduit of a valve block having a plurality of valves in liquid communication with the processing line, each of the plurality of valves having a valve handle;   operatively coupling the valve handle of each of the plurality of valves to a valve actuator for movement among a first position, a second position, and a third position;   controlling the valve actuator to move all of the valve handles to the first position so that liquid from the processing line flows to an output of the valve block; and   controlling the valve actuator to move a particular valve of the plurality of valves to the second position and to move any of the plurality of valves between the input conduit and the particular valve to the first position so that liquid from the processing line flows through the valve block from the input conduit and the particular valve to a sample bag.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising connecting a waste container to the output. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the waster container has a ratio of volume to product volume of the sample bag of  20 : 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising placing the valve actuator in communication with a processor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising controlling the processor to read information from a machine readable label on the valve block, the information comprising physical characteristics of the sample bag. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the physical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of a lot number, an expiration date, a number of the collection containers, a volume of each of the collection containers, a volume of a waste collection container, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising communicating a flow rate through the input conduit from a disposable flow meter associated with the input conduit to the processor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operatively coupling the input conduit to a pump in communication with the processor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising controlling the pump and the valve actuators via an algorithm resident on the processor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the algorithm is configured to:
 move all of the plurality of valves to the third position and place the pump in an off state when no collection or flushing is required,   move all of the plurality of valves to the first position and place the pump in an on state for a predetermined flush time period when flushing is required, and   move a respective one of the plurality of valves to the second position, move any of the plurality of valves upstream of the respective one to the first position, and place the pump to the on state for a predetermined collection time period when a collection is required.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising placing a label printer in communication with the processor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising placing a liquid edge detector in communication with the processor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising placing a sensor in communication with the processor, the sensor being configured to detect an environmental condition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of placing the input conduit in liquid communication with the processing line comprises connecting a first part of a two-part aseptic connector on the input conduit to a second part of the two-part aseptic connector on the processing line.