EP0597070B1 - Removal of blood product from a container - Google Patents
Removal of blood product from a container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0597070B1 EP0597070B1 EP93912084A EP93912084A EP0597070B1 EP 0597070 B1 EP0597070 B1 EP 0597070B1 EP 93912084 A EP93912084 A EP 93912084A EP 93912084 A EP93912084 A EP 93912084A EP 0597070 B1 EP0597070 B1 EP 0597070B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- cut
- frozen liquid
- frozen
- cutting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000010836 blood and blood product Substances 0.000 title description 10
- 229940125691 blood product Drugs 0.000 title description 10
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 40
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000010257 thawing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 6
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 6
- 241000237858 Gastropoda Species 0.000 description 4
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000012503 blood component Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000000601 blood cell Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000001772 blood platelet Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000003743 erythrocyte Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 229920002457 flexible plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012263 liquid product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002381 plasma Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002244 precipitate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
- B65B69/0033—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by cutting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
- B65B69/0008—Opening and emptying bags
- B65B69/0016—Opening and emptying bags for urine bags or medical drainage bags
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
- B65B69/005—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by expelling contents, e.g. by squeezing the container
- B65B69/0058—Solid contents
Definitions
- the present invention relates to removing a frozen liquid, such as a blood product, from a plastic container.
- One possible method for removing the frozen plasma from the container is through the utilization of heat.
- the utilization of heat to break the bond can damage the plasma due to temperature fluctuations that can denature the proteins.
- Some typical previous practices to retrieve frozen plasma from polymer containers either required product preconditioning in the -10/-20°C range, or required a skin thaw process. It is also known to use a low temperature shock (-80°C) to weaken the container and break it by heavy shaking. Disadvantages with these processes, aside from the concerns with temperature fluctuations also include the fact that these techniques require a two-step process.
- One previous method of opening such a container included cutting or slicing off one end of the container after such processing.
- the disadvantage of such a process is that it tends to be a slow operation that permits excessive thawing of the frozen product. This reduces the yield of the processing operation.
- the manual cutting process can expose the frozen plasma product to human contact which can cause contamination of the plasma being processed and may create some risks for the operator.
- U.S. Patent No. 3,939,623 discloses a plasma collection system in which frozen plasma is thawed before the plasma containers are cut open.
- the containers are carried on a conveyor passed a cutting tool that cuts open the container and allows the liquid contents to fall into a collection vessel.
- a disadvantage of the system is that the premature thawing reduces the process yield and therefore the system is not suitable for removing frozen slugs of plasma.
- UK Patent GB 2044220B (corresponds to U.S. Patent No. 4,253,458) discloses a method and a multiple-bag collection apparatus in which plasma can be collected, separated from the blood cells, frozen, and then removed from its container while frozen, if desired, on an automated basis.
- the method comprises freezing the plasma to block form in the container, cutting the shoulder portion away from the rest of the container, after the plasma has frozen, to define an open, cut end, and expelling the plasma in frozen block form from the container through the open end, by collapsing the opposed walls towards each other, the side edges of the opposed walls, which define side edges of the container, diverging towards the opened end of the container in the collapsed configuration of the container.
- UK Patent GB 2141723B discloses a polyester composition and collapsible container made therefrom for use in the medical field for storing blood and blood components.
- the container can be used in the method disclosed in the U.S. Patent No. 4,253,458.
- European Patent No. 057189 provides an apparatus for removing the contents of a compressible container comprising a compression member including a pair of plates relatively movable between an open spaced apart position to receive the container, and a closed position to compress the container to discharge its contents, an operating member for moving the plates from the open position to the closed position, and a retention member cooperatively associated with the plates to retain the container therebetween during the compression.
- the present invention provides an apparatus and process by which a frozen liquid, such as a frozen blood product, can be removed from a plastic container.
- a frozen liquid such as a frozen blood product
- the container can be processed at storage temperatures (approximately -40'C) without an intermediate preconditioning step.
- the present invention provides a method of removing frozen liquid from a plastics container having first and second ends and a length therebetween, without thawing the frozen liquid, the method comprising the steps of cutting the container along a circumference thereof and removing the frozen liquid from the resultant cut container, characterised in that the container is cut around its circumference and along the length of the container to break an interfacial bond between the frozen liquid and the container.
- the invention also resides in apparatus for removing a frozen liquid from a plastics container without thawing the frozen liquid, the apparatus comprising at least one cutting member (32,34) for cutting a container along a circumference thereof, characterised by a body (16) having an interior for receiving the container, and means (26) for effecting relative rotation of the cutting member (32,34) and the container within the interior to provide a cut around the circumference and along the length of the container to break any interfacial bond between the frozen liquid and the container.
- the cutting member may be rotated around the container, or the container may be rotated relative to the cutting member.
- Figure 1 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention.
- Figure 2 illustrates a top elevational view of a cross-section of the apparatus of Figure 1 along lines II-II of Figure 1.
- Figure 3 illustrates a top elevational view of a cross-section of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along lines III-III of Figure 1.
- Figure 4 illustrates a container after it has been cut pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 5 illustrates the container after it has been cut pursuant to a further embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a further stage of the apparatus of the present invention.
- Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a method for removing the plastic container from the frozen product.
- Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of a method for removing the plastic container from the frozen liquid.
- Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the method for removing the plastic container from the frozen product.
- Apparatus including two work stations or stages is provided: a cutting-debonding mechanism; and a slug expelling station. Although, for the sake of clarity, these stations are illustrated separately it should be noted that these stations can be part of one apparatus.
- a container 12 including a frozen blood product 14 enters the device 10 in a frozen state and exists the device in a state in which the interfacial bond between the blood product and container has been broken as well as the container cut.
- the device 10 includes an elongated body 16 having an entry opening 18 and an exit opening 20.
- the elongated body 16 defines an interior 28 having a perimeter 20 that allows the frozen blood product containers 12 to be received but prevents the container 12 from rotating either side-to-side or end-over-end as it travels through the elongated body 16. Accordingly, the container 12, as it moves from the entry opening 18 to the exit opening 20, maintains a relatively constant lateral position with respect to the elongated member 16.
- the device 10 includes a rotatable drum 26 that is preferably constructed so that it can rotate in a clockwise manner.
- the drum 26 can be oriented so that it rotates in a counterclockwise manner.
- the rotatable drum 26 is located at approximately the middle of the elongated member 16.
- the rotatable drum 26 divides the elongated member 16 into an upper half 28 and a lower half 30.
- the rotatable drum 26 can be located so as to be closer to either the entry opening 18 or the exit opening 20 of the elongated member 16, if desired.
- the cutting members 32 and 34 are coupled to the rotatable drum 26, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, are two cutting members 32 and 34.
- the cutting members 32 and 34 are biased into an interior channel 36, located between the upper half 28 and lower half 30 of the elongated member 16 by biasing members 38.
- the biasing members 38 are springs.
- the cutting members 32 and 34 can be rotatable rigid wheels 41 having a cutting surface. Other cutting surfaces, however, can be utilized, such as blades, knives, and the like.
- the cutting members 32 and 34 are so constructed and arranged that they are biased into the interior channel 36 and contact a surface 40 of the container 12 as the container passes from the elongated member 16 entry opening 18 to the exit opening 20. This causes the cutting members 32 and 34 to cut the container 12 as the container passes through the elongated member 16. At the same time, it has been found that the cutting members 32 and 34 will break the interfacial bond between the frozen plasma and the container 12.
- the cutting members 32 and 34 are oriented at an angle a with respect to the horizontal plane, and thereby the surface 40 of the container 12 as the container 12 passes through the elongated member 16. This causes, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the cutting members 32 and 34 to create helical cuts 43 in the container 12a.
- the combination of the angle a and the rotation of the cutting 32 and 34 around the container 12 creates a "screwing" effect that forces the container to move axially into the rotatable drum 26.
- the shear stress caused by the cutting members 32 and 34 penetrating the container 12 results in the desired debonding effect.
- cuts other than helical cuts can be made in the container 12.
- cuts other than helical cuts can be made in the container 12.
- only one cutting or more than two cutting members can be utilized.
- Figure 4 illustrates, by way of example, a one-turn helical cut 43 in the container 12a.
- Figure 5 illustrates a two-turn helical cut 43 in the container 12a.
- the container 12 remains in a relatively fixed lateral position and the rotatable drum 26, and thereby the cutting members 32 and 34, rotate thereabout, if desired, the cutting members can be fixed and the container can be rotated with respect to the cutting members 32 and 34.
- expelling station 50 means a station wherein the frozen blood product is removed from the cut container 12a.
- the container 12a is fed by the lower half 30 of the elongated member 16 directly to the expelling station 50 in the position it was fed into the entry opening, i.e., top end first.
- an end 56 of the cut container 12a is fed between the rollers 52 and 54.
- the rollers 52 and 54 are motorized and have surfaces 58 that are designed to grip the container. Therefore, the cut container 12a is grabbed by the rollers 52 and 54. At least one of the rollers is spring loaded so that the space between the rollers can open slightly. This allows the cut container 12a to be pulled therethrough. At the same time, the rollers 52 and 54 expel the frozen plasma 14 from the container. Although not illustrated, a bin or other receptacle for receiving and collecting the plasma will be located at this stage.
- each end 56 and 62 of the container 12a can be grasped and pulled causing the plastic container to separate from the frozen plasma 14. Again, this can be a manual or automated process.
- FIG. 9 Illustrated in Figure 9 is a further embodiment of the expelling station 150.
- the container 12a can be fed between two plates 64 and 66.
- the expelling station 150 includes a clamp 69. One end 56 of the container 12a is secured between the clamp 69.
- one or both of the plates 64 and 66 can be movable toward each other. As the plates 64 and 66 are moved toward each other, because the end 56 of the container 12a is secured, the frozen plasma 14 is expelled from the container (illustrated by the arrow).
- the container 12a has been cut helically along a length thereof pursuant to the method of the present invention, the interfacial bond between the plastic container 12 and the frozen blood 14 is broken. This allows a variety of methods and means for expelling the frozen liquid product 14 from the plastic container 12.
- the present invention also provides, in addition to the apparatus, a method for removing the frozen blood product 14 from the plastic container 12.
- the method allows the product to be removed without a preconditioning temperature state. Accordingly, the frozen blood product 14 can be taken directly from storage and removed from the plastic container 12.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
- Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
Abstract
Description
characterised in that the container is cut around its circumference and along the length of the container to break an interfacial bond between the frozen liquid and the container.
characterised by a body (16) having an interior for receiving the container, and means (26) for effecting relative rotation of the cutting member (32,34) and the container within the interior to provide a cut around the circumference and along the length of the container to break any interfacial bond between the frozen liquid and the container.
Claims (14)
- A method of removing frozen liquid from a plastics container having first and second ends and a length therebetween, without thawing the frozen liquid, the method comprising the steps of cutting the container along a circumference thereof and removing the frozen liquid from the resultant cut container,
characterised in that the container is cut around its circumference and along the length of the container to break an interfacial bond between the frozen liquid and the container. - The method of Claim 1 wherein the container (12) is cut helically.
- The method of Claim 1 or 2, including the step of rotating at least one cutting member (32) around the container to cut the container (12).
- The method of Claim 3, including the step of moving the container (12) axially of the circumferential path of the cutting member (32), while the container is being cut.
- The method of any preceding claim including the step of removing the frozen liquid from the container (12) by passing the cut container through means (52,54;64,66) that expels the frozen liquid from the cut container.
- The method of Claim 5 comprising removing the frozen liquid from the cut container (12) by passing the cut container between a pair of rollers (52,54).
- The method of Claim 5 comprising removing the frozen liquid from the cut container by using a pair of plates (64,66).
- The method of any one of Claims 1 to 4, including the step of removing the frozen liquid from the cut container (12) by pulling on at least one end of the cut container to remove the container from the frozen liquid.
- The method of any one of Claims 1 to 4, including the step of removing the frozen liquid from the cut container (12) by unwinding the cut container from the frozen liquid.
- Apparatus for removing a frozen liquid from a plastics container without thawing the frozen liquid, the apparatus comprising at least one cutting member (32,34) for cutting a container along a circumference thereof,
characterised by a body (16) having an interior for receiving the container, and means (26) for effecting relative rotation of the cutting member (32,34) and the container within the interior to provide a cut around the circumference and along the length of the container to break any interfacial bond between the frozen liquid and the container. - The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein said means for effecting relative rotation comprises drive means (26) operable to drive the cutting member (32,34) around the interior of the body.
- The apparatus of Claim 10 or 11, wherein the body (16) has an inlet opening (18) and an outlet opening (20) for a container to pass through the body, with the cutting member (32,34) located between the openings.
- The apparatus of Claim 11 or 12, wherein the cutting member (32,34) is oriented at an angle (a) so as to create a helical cut in the container (12).
- The apparatus of any one of Claim 10 to 13, wherein the body (16) includes two cutting members (32,34).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US89041292A | 1992-05-29 | 1992-05-29 | |
PCT/US1993/002853 WO1993024371A1 (en) | 1992-05-29 | 1993-03-23 | Removal of blood product from a container |
US890412 | 1997-07-09 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0597070A1 EP0597070A1 (en) | 1994-05-18 |
EP0597070A4 EP0597070A4 (en) | 1996-07-24 |
EP0597070B1 true EP0597070B1 (en) | 1998-04-29 |
Family
ID=25396640
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93912084A Expired - Lifetime EP0597070B1 (en) | 1992-05-29 | 1993-03-23 | Removal of blood product from a container |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0597070B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH06509968A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69318255T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993024371A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0616053D0 (en) | 2006-08-11 | 2006-09-20 | Bhp Billiton Petroleum Pty Ltd | Improvements relating to hose |
DE102009056225B4 (en) * | 2009-11-28 | 2015-02-05 | Magurit Gefrierschneider Gmbh | Apparatus for the continuous opening and emptying of bags containing frozen goods, in particular blood plasma bags |
ES2370884B1 (en) * | 2011-07-22 | 2012-08-03 | Grifols, S.A. | METHOD AND DEVICE EMPTY BAGS OF BLOOD PRODUCT. |
RU2602913C2 (en) | 2011-07-22 | 2016-11-20 | Грифольс, С.А. | Bag with blood product emptying device |
ES2377608B1 (en) * | 2011-11-24 | 2012-10-19 | Grifols, S.A. | EMPTY BLOOD EMPTY BAG EMPTY DEVICE. |
ES2744079T3 (en) | 2017-07-31 | 2020-02-21 | Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd | Automated device for emptying bags of frozen blood products |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2829788A (en) * | 1955-05-02 | 1958-04-08 | Giordano Joseph | Apparatus for emptying pigment containers |
US3744214A (en) * | 1971-09-28 | 1973-07-10 | Smith Kline French Lab | Capsule salvage machine |
US3939623A (en) * | 1973-12-21 | 1976-02-24 | Baxter Laboratories, Inc. | Plasma collection system |
SU630129A1 (en) * | 1977-06-03 | 1978-10-30 | Уральский Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени Государственный Институт По Проектированию Металлургических Заводов | Cask-opening method |
JPS5485894A (en) * | 1977-12-17 | 1979-07-07 | Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd | Packing materials cutting depriving treating method of cylindrical package and its machine |
US4253458A (en) * | 1979-03-08 | 1981-03-03 | Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. | Method and apparatus for collecting blood plasma |
CH649446A5 (en) * | 1980-02-27 | 1985-05-31 | Widmer & Ernst Ag | METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF FRUIT GUIDED BY TRANSPORTER DEVICES AND BETWEEN TWO CONVEYOR BELTS, ESPECIALLY NUTS. |
JPS6030162Y2 (en) * | 1980-03-28 | 1985-09-11 | 大和製缶株式会社 | Device for peeling off paper bags from packaging |
SU1366446A1 (en) * | 1986-05-30 | 1988-01-15 | Опытное Производственно-Техническое Объединение "Техрыбром" | Method and apparatus for unpacking stacked articles |
US4944647A (en) * | 1988-04-29 | 1990-07-31 | Alpha Therapeutic Corporation | Bottle cutting and emptying machine |
US5189939A (en) * | 1991-12-23 | 1993-03-02 | Carbonic Reserves, Inc. | Apparatus for cutting blocks of ice |
-
1993
- 1993-03-23 JP JP6500513A patent/JPH06509968A/en active Pending
- 1993-03-23 WO PCT/US1993/002853 patent/WO1993024371A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1993-03-23 EP EP93912084A patent/EP0597070B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-03-23 DE DE69318255T patent/DE69318255T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH06509968A (en) | 1994-11-10 |
DE69318255D1 (en) | 1998-06-04 |
DE69318255T2 (en) | 1999-01-21 |
EP0597070A4 (en) | 1996-07-24 |
EP0597070A1 (en) | 1994-05-18 |
WO1993024371A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
DE60101004T2 (en) | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FRYING PRODUCTS | |
DE69410217T2 (en) | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BLOOD | |
CA1336380C (en) | Apparatus and method for collecting and freezing blood plasma | |
US4253458A (en) | Method and apparatus for collecting blood plasma | |
EP0597070B1 (en) | Removal of blood product from a container | |
EP1438088A2 (en) | Bag system for cryopreservation of body fluids | |
US5041055A (en) | Apparatus and method for removing soft tissue from bones | |
US20070138095A1 (en) | Methods and apparatus for processing temperature sensitive materials | |
EP0336254A1 (en) | Installation for recovering blowing and/or refrigerating agents | |
EP0057189B1 (en) | Apparatus for removing the contents of flexible or collapsible containers | |
US3939623A (en) | Plasma collection system | |
EP0213469A2 (en) | Process for extracting fluid constituents by severing volumes from a blood pouch, and device for carrying out the process | |
DE102011105311A1 (en) | Separation procedure for blood, separation vessel for a blood centrifuge, system for filling a freezing container | |
EP0326985A2 (en) | Process and apparatus for recovering sterilizing gas | |
US4944647A (en) | Bottle cutting and emptying machine | |
DE69501460T2 (en) | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING AND DOSING ADDITIVES DURING THE COLLECTION OF A LIQUID | |
CA1038313A (en) | Plasma collection system and bottle therefor | |
EP0159792A2 (en) | Bag stripping machine | |
CN214471824U (en) | Pathological specimen sampling equipment | |
EP0564635A1 (en) | Process and device for processing mixtures of product | |
DE8815199U1 (en) | Device for the recovery of chlorofluorocarbons from rigid polyurethane foam | |
CN215160893U (en) | Overdue medicine device is handled to cutting ampoule | |
EP0455115A2 (en) | Method and equipment for recovering constituents from cans, containing polluting substances, in particular from propellant-containing spray cans | |
EP0072667A1 (en) | Plastic vial rupturing apparatus | |
US2888353A (en) | Method and apparatus for concentrating juices |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19940128 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI SE |
|
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 19960606 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A4 Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI SE |
|
RHK1 | Main classification (correction) |
Ipc: B65B 69/00 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19970218 |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI SE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69318255 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19980604 |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20030304 Year of fee payment: 11 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Payment date: 20030305 Year of fee payment: 11 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 20030306 Year of fee payment: 11 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20030319 Year of fee payment: 11 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20030331 Year of fee payment: 11 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040323 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040324 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040331 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20041001 |
|
EUG | Se: european patent has lapsed | ||
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20040323 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20041130 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |