30. Bilstad's Figure 2 is said to depict an assembly line to be used for sterile joining of
components 10 and 12.1 B. Ex. 2006, pp. 6-7.
31. Bilstad's Figure 2 is reproduced below:
40 50 so
FIG 2
ID (L
22#.
12
32. Bilstad'sFigure 3 is saidto show components 10 and 12 movingtowards each other andthe
formation of a sterile joint within the reactive volume, 6 B. Ex. 2006, p. 7,11. 5-27.
5 The complete description of Bilstad's Figure 2 follows:
FIGURE 2 illustrates a general assembly line production concept for a sterile
joining system 20. Such a mass production system, it is anticipated, would provide many
benefits throughout the industry. Components 10, 12 are shown spaced along the sterile
joining system 20 at various stages of the process. FIGURE 2 shows the sterile joining
system 20 comprised of a support surface 22 extending the length of the system. This
surface, when divided lengthwise, has a left half (L) and a right half (R). Components 10,
12 are shown arranged in pairs on support surface 22, with component 10 along the left side
(L) of surface 22 and component 12 along the right side (R). The support surface 22 may be
a conveyor belt, or similar moving surface, to automatically transport components 10, 12
through the system 20. Sterile filling using a bulk 30 container may use only a single line
of empty components, as will be more fully understood later in this disclosure.
The arranged components 10, 12 are first optionally conveyed to a labeling station
40 where important batch, lot, and date codes may be applied. Components 10, 12 are then
conveyed to the active sterile field station 50 where a sterile connection between the pre
sterilized components may be effected. This process is better illustrated in FIGURES 3A and
3B.
B. Ex. 2006, p. 6,1. 21 - p. 7J. 4.
6 Bilstad describes Figures 3A-3D as follows:
FIGURES 3A - 3D show an electron beam (e-beam) field 60 createdwithin station
50. Electron beam 60 is created by the tube 54 as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Tube 54
comprises a vacuum tube 55 shrouding filament 56 on all sides, except at base 57. Base 57
has various electrical connectors 58 for plugging into a low voltage source. Opposite base
57 is a thin filinwindow 59 which discharges the electron beamtoward the desired location.
Window 59 is approximately 3 microns thick, and through it abeamof approximately 2 min
x 25 mm. (0.08" x 1 ") area is discharged. Arrays of tubes 54 could be set up to increase the
collective area of the e-bearn discharge. An example of this arrangement is illustrated in U.S.
Patent No. 5,414,267 (or Re. 35,203) to Wakalopulos, the disclosure of which is hereby
-7-
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