Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213874 | WEIGHT MEASUREMENTS OF LIQUIDS IN FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS - Articles and methods for measuring weight of a liquid in a disposable bag bioreactor are presented. In certain embodiments, bioreactor systems described herein include a supported container (e.g., a flexible bag in a reusable housing) for containing a liquid, and at least two pressure indicating sensors operatively associated with the container. A first pressure indicating sensor can be placed near the bottom of the container to measure the total downward force within the container, including the liquid head in the container and the gas pressure above the liquid. The second pressure indicating sensor can be placed near the top of the container to measure only the pressure at the top of or above the liquid. Signals from the pressure indicating sensors can be directed to a control system that receives the signals and calculates a difference between the signals. This difference can be used to determine a volume or a weight of the liquid in the container. Advantageously, real-time weight measurements can be obtained while the system is in operation and continuous flow processes can be monitored. Moreover, in some embodiments, the pressure indicating sensors are isolated from contact with any fluid (e.g., liquid) in the container and, therefore, do not require cleaning after processing of each batch of reactants. Contamination of the process fluid by contact with the pressure indicating sensors can also be avoided. | 09-04-2008 |
20090035856 | CONTINUOUS PERFUSION BIOREACTOR SYSTEM - Systems and methods for containing and manipulating liquids, including vessels and unit operations or components of cell culture, cell containment, bioreactor, and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing systems, are provided. In certain embodiments, such vessels and unit operations are directed to continuous perfusion reactor or bioreactor systems and may include one or more disposable components. For instance, in one aspect, a system includes an apparatus in the form of a bioreactor for harvesting cells which produce one or more products. The apparatus may include a disposable, collapsible bag adapted for containing a liquid, the collapsible bag in fluid communication with a liquid-solids (e.g., cell) separation device. For example, an outlet of the collapsible bag may be connected to an inlet of the separation device, and an outlet of the separation device may be connected to an inlet of the collapsible bag for recycle. Accordingly, after separating the cells from the liquid in the separation device, the cells can be flowed back into the collapsible bag where they can be re-harvested. Meanwhile, product contained in the liquid can be collected in a separate container. The efficiency of product formation in such a system may be enhanced by using mixing systems described herein. | 02-05-2009 |
20090188211 | Bag wrinkle remover, leak detection systems, and electromagnetic agitation for liquid containment systems - Systems and methods for containing and manipulating fluids, such as those involving collapsible bags and rigid containers that may be used as mixing systems, and as reactors for performing chemical, biochemical and/or biological reactions, are provided. A series of improvements and features for fluid containment systems such as containers including bag wrinkle removing systems, leak detection systems, and electromagnetic agitation systems are described. | 07-30-2009 |
20090290962 | LIFT AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG CONTAINERS OF VESSELS AND BIOREACTORS - Disclosed are a lift assembly and methods that may be used to raise a component of a system, a component such as a collapsible bag to be used as a reactor for performing chemical or biological reactions, and/or to position the collapsible bag for use. Use of the lift assembly may allow for the automated assembly of the systems described herein. In some cases, trauma to the system components is minimized. | 11-26-2009 |
20120028234 | TISSUE AND ORGAN GRAFT BIOREACTOR AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A single-use, single or multiple tissue, organ, and graft bioreactor and environmental control system is designed to replicate the necessary conditions for growth of tissues, organs, or grafts, while addressing problems in scaling up the tissue growth; adaptation to a single-use or disposable format; and operation as a stand-alone unit that provides full environmental control of cell culture conditions. | 02-02-2012 |
20120132548 | GAS DELIVERY CONFIGURATIONS, FOAM CONTROL SYSTEMS, AND BAG MOLDING METHODS AND ARTICLES FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG VESSELS AND BIOREACTORS - Disclosed herein are fluid containment systems such as gas delivery configurations, foam control systems and bag molding methods and articles for supported collapsible bag vessels and bioreactors. A vessel may include a device which can reduce the foam produced or contained within the vessel. Sensors and/or controllers may optionally be used to monitor and/or control foaming. | 05-31-2012 |
20120238011 | CONTINUOUS RECOVERY HARVEST BAG - Disclosed herein is a single use continuous recovery, flow-through harvest vessel and corresponding method for harvesting culture medium and simultaneously either leaving the microcarrier beads behind in the vessel or flowing microcarrier beads and medium back into a bioreactor. | 09-20-2012 |
20120260671 | DISPOSABLE BIOREACTOR CONDENSER BAG AND FILTER HEATER - Disclosed herein is a system and method for condensing moisture in a moist gas stream entering a bioreactor or leaving a bioretractor, forming a dry gas stream for entering or leaving the bioreactor. | 10-18-2012 |
20130017131 | SINGLE-USE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT MODULE - Disclosed herein is a single use, controlled environment manufacturing module in the form of a sterile sealed bag formed of a substantially flexible material, such that the bag can be inflated and deflated for transport and/or disposal. The flexible bag has one or more access ports and connectors to accommodate a variety of biochemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing processes to be carried out within the flexible bag. The interiors of one or more disclosed modules can be connected, forming a module train. | 01-17-2013 |
20130200005 | LARGE VOLUME DISPOSABLE ULTRAFILTRATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A disposable filtration system can include a disposable filter housing having an ultrafiltration filter contained therein. The disposable filtration system can further include a feed inlet and retentate outlet in fluid communication on one side of the filter and a permeate conduit on the other side of the filter for withdrawing permeate that passes through the filter. The system can include at least one disposable pressure control valve in fluid communication with either the retentate outlet or the permeate conduit and configured to regulate the pressure within the housing. | 08-08-2013 |
20130274929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a customizable bio-manufacturing system which includes a manufacturing space having a first air handling system for providing supply air and a second air handling system for handling exhaust air, the supply air system being optionally provided with at least one of filtration, heating, cooling and or humidity control and a plurality of portable modules provided within the manufacturing space. At least one module having an interior capable of being interconnected with another module interior and each module's interior includes one or more components to perform at least one specific task of a biological, chemical, and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing process. At least one module includes an on-board environmental control system for controlling an environment within the module and a connection means for interconnecting the module interior with another module interior. The system also includes a central controller operating to at least perform one or more of operation and information collection for the operation of at least one of the system and one or more modules. | 10-17-2013 |
20130288346 | LINEARLY SCALABLE SINGLE USE BIOREACTOR SYSTEM - Disclosed is a single-use bioreactor bag design providing substantially equivalent maximum shear rate at the impeller tip and average or bulk shear rate over a range of power per unit working volume and rpm needed for bioculture processing. The uniformity in shear profile of the bag design providing a unique advantage when used as a scale-down or scale-up platform. Also disclosed is a linearly scalable, single-use, bioreactor system for use in carrying out a scalable biomanufacturing process, the system comprising two single-use bioreactor bags of different volumes, wherein the ratio H/D of the height of the working volume H to the diameter D of the tank, or of the bag is equal to about 1.5, and the bulk shear in each of the bags is substantially constant. The disclosed small scale system models larger scale systems from both a shear/scalability/performance basis and also from a validation and regulatory basis. In summary, the 10 L bioreactor system disclosed provides for “linear scalability” by using the same or substantially simulating the same vessel geometry, gas sparging system, impeller shape and type, polymer composition of the flexible bag/components, process control system, and shear rates as larger 50-5000 L systems. | 10-31-2013 |
20140260712 | PROBE ASSEMBLY - A probe assembly for inserting a probe into a flexible or semi-rigid vessel or tubing having a distal aseptic connector for coupling to the vessel or tubing, the probe sheath comprising at least a portion that is rigid, the probe sheath extending longitudinally from the aseptic connector and having at least one inner longitudinal lumen configured to receive an elongate sensor or probe body and to permit longitudinal movement of the sensor/probe body within the probe sheath lumen, and an actuator for deploying a probe within the vessel or tubing by advancing the probe body through the aseptic connector to a position where the probe can measure at least one parameter within the vessel or tubing is disclosed herein. | 09-18-2014 |
20140349385 | SINGLE-USE MIXING AND BIOREACTOR SYSTEMS - Disclosed are magnetic agitation mixing systems for use with flexible container reaction vessels. In one aspect of the invention, the orientation of magnetic coupling between the impeller magnets and the external driver magnets is modified such that the coupling is neither strictly axial nor strictly radial. Also disclosed are “receiver-less” retainer configurations whereby the single-use container need not have a rigid base that defines a cup or post to engage of rotatable agitator. | 11-27-2014 |
20150071575 | GAS DELIVERY CONFIGURATIONS, FOAM CONTROL SYSTEMS, AND BAG MOLDING METHODS AND ARTICLES FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG VESSELS AND BIOREACTORS - Systems for containing and manipulating fluids including systems and methods involving supported collapsible bags that may be used as reactors for performing chemical, biochemical and/or biological reactions contained therein are provided. Generally, a series of improvements and features for fluid containment systems such as gas delivery configurations, foam control systems and bag molding methods and articles for supported collapsible bag vessels and bioreactors are provided. For instance, in one aspect, fluids contained in a vessel can be sparged, e.g., such that a fluid is directed into a container of the vessel, and in some cases, the sparging can be controlled by rapidly activating or altering the degree of sparging as needed. Multiple spargers may be used in some cases. In another aspect, the vessel includes a seamless collapsible bag. In some cases, the collapsible bag may be injected, blown, or spin cast molded. In yet another aspect, the vessel includes a device which can reduce the foam produced or contained within the vessel. Sensors and/or controllers may optionally be used to monitor and/or control foaming. | 03-12-2015 |