Abstract: Valves, systems, articles, and methods for controlling fluid flow are generally described. According to some aspects, valves that can move between an open configuration and a closed configuration in response to a change in magnetic field and/or voltage potential are provided. According to certain aspects, valves comprising elastic diaphragms comprising magnetic materials (e.g., an elastic composite material including magnetic nanoparticles or other magnetic materials dispersed in a matrix) and/or electroactive polymers are provided. In some aspects, magnetically actuated systems and/or voltage potential actuated systems comprising elastomeric valves are described. In some embodiments, valves and systems described herein are useful for liquid handling, dosing, and regulation of fluid flow, though embodiments in which the disclosed valves are used in different applications are also contemplated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective housing for a biopharmaceutical liquid bag having a lower shell with a bottom and side walls, and an upper shell. The upper shell includes a housing for receiving the bag, and can be inserted into the lower shell, in such a way that the opening of the housing is adjacent to and facing the bottom of the lower shell, and in such a way that the upper shell is laterally held in place between the side walls of the lower shell.

Abstract: A fluid-connection device capable of and intended for connecting a flexible pipe to a flexible or rigid pipe or enclosure in a biopharmaceutical assembly such as to provide fluid communication between two fluid spaces, including a first connector in fluid communication with the first fluid space, a second connector in fluid communication with the second fluid space, the first connector and the second connector optionally being coupled together in a coupling position, the first connector including a tubular nozzle which can be inserted in one end of the pipe, a pipe clamp being arranged around the end of the tube in order to clamp the pipe onto the tubular nozzle of the first connector, the second connector including protection elements which, in the coupling position, are positioned radially at least partially opposite the pipe clamp, whereby the pipe clamp cannot come into direct contact with external elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid-connection device for connecting a first wall defining a first fluid space, in the form of a flexible pipe, to a second wall defining a second fluid space, in the form of a flexible or rigid disposable pipe or enclosure, in a biopharmaceutical assembly, including a first connector in fluid communication with the first space, the first connector including a tubular nozzle for receiving the pipe by insertion along the axis A, a pipe clamp arranged around the end of the pipe in order to clamp the pipe onto the tubular nozzle of the first connector, a protective cover forming a separate part, capable of being snap-fit in an operative position in which the cover is at least partially surrounding the first connector and the pipe clamp thereof, by way of which the pipe clamp cannot come into direct contact with external elements.

Abstract: A first piece mounted in a fixed and rigid manner on a rigid annular collar of a second piece having an end opening, includes a transversal wall; an annular wall forming a skirt, whose inner face includes a part having a larger diameter and a part having a smaller diameter; a holding toric body adjacent to the inner face, deformable between a retracted state and an expanded state, and filled with a swelling medium; and at least one inlet/outlet port for the swelling media, communicating with the holding body. The first piece is dimensioned in relation to the collar, so as to enable the first piece to be slipped onto, or removed from, the second piece, when the holding body is in the retracted state, and to be mounted onto the collar in a fixed, rigid and tight manner, when the holding body is in the expanded state.

Abstract: A pouch (2) includes: a first, inner, envelope (1) which is closed, delimiting a first space (6) forming a pouch stricto sensu (1) intended for receiving a biopharmaceutical product or device; a second, outer, envelope (8) which is closed, delimiting a second space (9) in which is located the first envelope/pouch stricto sensu (1); a spacer element (11); at least one tracer gas located in the first space (6) or in the intermediate space (14) at a partial pressure different from that of the intermediate space or of the first space; and at least one colorimetric detection layer (12), responding to the concentration of tracer gas which reaches it by changing from a first color to a second color, and being an integral part of a wall (3, 4) of the first envelope/defined pouch (1) and/or of a wall (13) of the second envelope and/or of the spacer element.

Abstract: Process for closing and cutting into sections a flexible tube, with a cutting element and a pinching closing device for cutting into sections with two cross-sections, each with two parts with indentations that can be placed in removable extension by combination elements and that make a passage with an access, whereby the pinching closing device is in the open or closed state where the cross-sections are closed by locking members and where the surfaces form a pinching closing passage of the tube; the pinching region of the tube is positioned in the indentation of a cross-section; the other cross-section is brought opposite the preceding one and the pinching closing device in the closed state, with cooperation of the locking elements, the tube being positively pinched and closed in two positive pinching zones, and thus held in place; the tube is cut into sections between the parts in the closed state, using the cutting element by passing it into the passage without it interfering with the pinching closing devic

Abstract: The pinching device includes two cross-sections, each having a hollow part with a male indentation and a female indentation, and locking elements, whereby the surfaces of the indentations form a positive pinching passage of the tube; the male indentation has a U shape with a core and two wings; the female indentation has a U shape with a core and two wings; and the pinching passage has a U shape with a core and two wings; the two opposite wings will draw together toward their ends that are opposite to the cores of the indentations, and each of the two wings of the pinching passage has an opening whose width will diminish towards its end that is opposite to the core of the pinching passage; the width of the opening of the pinching passage is at most slightly smaller than twice the thickness of the wall of the flexible tube to be pinched, and, designed to constitute a pinching closing device, it is disposable, performing a function of closing the tube on itself in the pinching region, preventing any passage of

Abstract: A vessel includes: a pocket capable of assuming a folded state and an expanded state, processing element including an active inner portion; protection element including a side wall, a lower portion and an upper portion defining an inner space, the lower portion being attached to the upper portion of the pocket, the active inner portion being provided in the inner space when the pocket is in the folded state, the peripheral portion of the inner space about the processing element defining a protection chamber; at least one insertion and/or draining opening. The active inner portion is provided inside the pocket adjacent to the lower end portion thereof, the processing element and the protection element are independent in terms of their movements, and the height of the protection chamber is variable and automatically adapts itself based on respectively, the flat-folded, unfolded and expanded states or any intermediate state of the pocket.

Abstract: A leaktight joining device for ensuring the aseptic transfer of a biopharmaceutical product between a chamber equipped with a removable door and a container equipped with a removable cover, includes: stationary temporary flanging elements, stationary unlocking elements capable of changing the container from an initial locking position to an intermediate unlocking position so as to ensure an aseptic communication between the container and the chamber, stationary locking element capable of changing the container from the intermediate locking position to a final locking position, an annular functional ring gear capable of actuating the stationary unlocking elements and the stationary locking elements of the container.

Abstract: A container for ensuring the transport and the aseptic transfer of a biopharmaceutical product from or to a closed chamber provided with a leaktight joining device, includes: an annular flange delimiting an opening, a removable cover, built-in elements for locking/unlocking the removable cover and a peripheral envelope. The built-in locking/unlocking elements include a built-in functional locking/unlocking arrangement formed by a through-housing formed in the annular flange and a blind housing formed in the removable cover, and by a pin at an inner radial position and a pin at an outer radial position. The container is capable of being in an initial locking position, in an intermediate unlocking position and in a final locking position owing to the displacements of the pin at an inner radial position and the pin at an outer radial position in the blind hole of the removable cover and in the through-housing of the annular flange.

Abstract: The valve includes a female part having a closed, transverse, proximal end wall, and a tubular wall integral with a flange part, a lateral opening being formed on the proximal section of the tubular wall, a male part having a tubular wall forming, on the proximal side, a closing/opening part having an open, transverse, proximal end; the closing/opening part has an external shape and an external dimension that fit the internal shape and internal dimension of the proximal receiving part of the female part. The sealing elements include three ring seals separated from one another in an axial direction, supported by the upper surface of the tubular wall of the male part and engaging with the female part, a proximal seal to the fluid product, a distal seal to external contaminants, and an intermediate seal to the fluid product and to external contaminants between the proximal and distal seals.