Isolator system with a robot in a sterile work chamber

摘要

The interiors of casings (13,14a,14b,14c) of a base portion (11) and an operating arm (12) of a robot (3) placed in an isolator (1) communicate with each other for passage of a gas. A top end opening (25a) of a vent tube (25) connected to a gas feed device (21) in a gas supply unit (4) provided outside the isolator extends through the casings and opens inside end casing (14a). A drawing device (23) in the air supply unit communicates with a base portion opening (13a) formed in the base portion. At the time of sterilization of the isolator, the pressure inside the isolator is increased relative to the pressure inside the robot, and the gas supply unit is operated to cause a flow of a gas inside the robot from the end casing (14a) to the casing (13) of the base portion (11), thereby preventing any internal portion of the robot from being corroded by the sterilizing gas.