Claims
- 1. A feed bag comprising:
a body bounding a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold a feed material, the body having a first end with an outlet formed thereat and an opposing second end; a vent port formed on the body so as to communicate with the compartment; a filter coupled with the vent port; a fluid port formed on the body so as to communicate with the compartment, the fluid port being adapted to receive a fluid line for delivering a fluid into the compartment of the body.
- 2. A feed bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the vent port and the fluid port are formed at or toward the second end of the body.
- 3. A feed bag as recited in claim 1, further comprising a vent tube having a first end coupled with the vent port and an opposing second end, the filter being coupled with the second end of the vent tube.
- 4. A feed bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the body constricts to a tubular spout at the first end thereof, the outlet being bounded by the spout.
- 5. A feed bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a two or three dimensional bag comprised of one or more flexible polymeric sheets.
- 6. A feed bag as recited in claim 5, further comprising a rigid outlet port secured to the outlet of the body.
- 7. A feed bag as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted to the second end of the body.
- 8. A feed bag as recited in claim 1, further comprising a feed material disposed within the compartment of the body, the feed material comprising a substantially dry material.
- 9. A feed bag as recited in claim 8, wherein the feed material comprises culture media, buffers, or reagents.
- 10. A feed bag assembly comprising:
a body bounding a compartment and having a feed component disposed therein, the body having a first end with an outlet formed thereat and an opposing second end; a vent port being in at least selective fluid communication with the compartment of the body; and a fluid tube having a first end in at least selective fluid communication with the compartment of the body and an opposing second end coupled with a fluid source for delivering fluid to the body.
- 11. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the vent port is formed on the body.
- 12. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a filter in communication with the vent port.
- 13. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 12, further comprising a vent tube having a first end coupled with the vent port and an opposing second end, the filter being disposed at the second end of the vent tube.
- 14. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the fluid tube is coupled with a fluid port formed on the body, the fluid port being spaced apart from the vent port.
- 15. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the compartment of the body, the vent port being formed on the valve, the fluid tube being coupled with the valve.
- 16. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the body comprises a rigid structure.
- 17. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the outlet port of the body is selectively coupled with a container so that the feed material can dispense from the body into the container.
- 18. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the container comprises a flexible mixing bag.
- 19. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the container bounds a compartment having a positive gas pressure which is in communication with the compartment of the body.
- 20. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the positive gas pressure is in a range between about 3.5 KPa to about 10 KPa.
- 21. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the feed material comprises a substantially dry material.
- 22. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the body comprises a two or three dimensional bag comprised of one or more flexible polymeric sheets.
- 23. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 22, further comprising a rigid outlet port secured to the outlet of the body.
- 24. A feed bag assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a handle mounted to the second end of the body.
- 25. A method comprising:
coupling an outlet of a feed bag to an inlet of a container, the feed bag bounding a compartment having a feed material disposed therein; dispensing the feed material from the feed bag into the container; and delivering a fluid to the compartment of the feed bag so that the fluid flushes remnants of the feed material within the compartment into the container.
- 26. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising opening a vent to the compartment of the feed bag before, during, or after dispensing of the feed material.
- 27. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising creating a positive gas pressure within the container so that the positive gas pressure is transferred into the compartment of the feed bag during dispensing of the feed material.
- 28. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the act of delivering a fluid to the compartment of the feed bag comprises:
coupling a first end of a fluid tube to the feed bag so that the fluid tube is in fluid communication with the compartment of the feed bag; and coupling a second end of the fluid tube to a fluid source.
- 29. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:
sealing off fluid communication between at least a portion the compartment of the feed bag and the container; removing gas within the compartment of the feed bag through a filtered vent.
- 30. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising vibrating at least a portion of the feed bag during dispensing of the feed material.
- 31. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the feed material comprises a culture media, buffer or reagent in a substantially dry form.
- 32. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the container comprises a flexible bag, the method further comprising inflating the flexible bag with a gas.
- 33. A method comprising:
coupling an outlet of a feed bag to an inlet of a container, the feed bag bounding a compartment having a feed material disposed therein; dispensing the feed material from the feed bag into the container; and creating a positive gas pressure within the compartment of the feed bag during dispensing of at least a portion of the feed material.
- 34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the act of creating a positive gas pressure comprises forming a positive gas pressure within the container so that the positive gas pressure is transferred into the compartment of the feed bag.
- 35. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the container comprises a flexible bag, the act of creating a positive gas pressure comprising inflating the flexible bag with a gas.
- 36. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising delivering a fluid to the compartment of the feed bag following dispensing of the feed material so that the fluid flushes remnants of the feed material within the compartment into the container.
- 37. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising venting gas within the compartment of the feed bag through a vent during or following dispensing of the feed material.
- 38. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the feed material comprises culture media, buffers, or reagents in a substantially dry form.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/372,162, filed Apr. 12, 2002, which application is incorporated herein by specific reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60372162 |
Apr 2002 |
US |