Bioreactor with impeller assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10335751-B2
Application number	US-201715829379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 22, 2014
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A bioreactor includes a flexible container and an impeller assembly having a hollow tube. The impeller assembly is coupled to the flexible container. At least one mixing element is removably disposed on the hollow tube. A drive shaft is adapted to engage the hollow tube of the impeller assembly and facilitate rotational movement of the hollow tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bioreactor, comprising:
a flexible container;
an impeller assembly having a polygonal interior, the impeller assembly being coupled to the flexible container;
at least one mixing element removably disposed on the impeller assembly, the impeller assembly extending entirely through an opening of the mixing element; and
a drive shaft having a polygonal cross-section adapted to engage the polygonal interior of the impeller assembly and facilitate rotational movement of the impeller assembly.

2. The bioreactor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly comprises a rotational assembly that includes a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub having a polygonal interior through which the drive shaft can pass.

3. The bioreactor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly comprises a first tubular connector having the polygonal interior, the at least one mixing element being removably disposed on the first tubular connector.

4. The bioreactor as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first tubular connector has an exterior surface with a polygonal transverse cross section.

5. The bioreactor as recited in claim 3 , wherein the impeller assembly further comprises a second tubular connector, the second tubular connector having a first end coupled to the flexible container and an opposing second end coupled to the first tubular connector, the second tubular connector being more flexible than the first tubular connector.

6. The bioreactor as recited in claim 5 , wherein the impeller assembly further comprises a rotational assembly that includes a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub having a passageway extending therethrough, the first end of the second tubular connector being secured to the hub.

7. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the drive shaft engages the hub such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the hub.

8. A bioreactor, comprising:
a flexible container;
an impeller assembly comprising a hollow tube, the impeller assembly being coupled to the flexible container;
at least one mixing element removably disposed on the hollow tube, the impeller assembly extending entirely through an opening of the at least one mixing element; and
a drive shaft adapted to engage the hollow tube of the impeller assembly and facilitate rotational movement of the hollow tube.

9. The bioreactor as recited in claim 8 , wherein the impeller assembly comprises a rotational assembly that includes a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub having an opening extending therethrough through which the drive shaft can pass, the hollow tube being coupled to the hub.

10. The bioreactor as recited in claim 8 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion, the first tubular portion being more rigid than the second tubular portion.

11. The bioreactor as recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one mixing element is removably disposed on the first tubular portion.

12. The bioreactor as recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one mixing element comprises a plurality of spaced part impellers removably coupled to the first tubular portion.

13. The bioreactor as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the hollow tube has an exterior surface with a polygonal transverse cross section.

14. The bioreactor as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the hollow tube has an interior surface with a polygonal transverse cross section.

15. A bioreactor, comprising:
a flexible container;
a tubular connector coupled to the flexible container;
at least one mixing element comprising a hub having an opening extending therethrough and a plurality of fins outwardly projecting from the hub, the tubular connector being received within the opening of the hub so that rotation of the tubular connector facilitates rotation of the at least mixing element; and
a drive shaft adapted to engage an interior of the tubular connector and facilitate rotational movement of the tubular connector.

16. The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the interior portion of the tubular connector has a polygonal transverse cross section.

17. The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the at least one mixing element comprises a plurality of spaced part impellers disposed on the tubular connector.

18. The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:
at least a portion of the tubular connector having an exterior surface with a polygonal transverse cross section; and
the opening of the hub of the at least one mixing element having an interior surface with a polygonal transverse cross section, the at least a portion of the tubular connector being received within opening of the hub.

19. A bioreactor, comprising:
a flexible container;
an impeller assembly having a polygonal interior, the impeller assembly being coupled to the flexible container;
at least one mixing element removably disposed on the impeller assembly, the mixing element comprising a hub having an interior surface bounding an opening, the opening extending longitudinally through the hub, and one or more fins extending radially outwardly from the hub; and
a drive shaft having a polygonal cross-section adapted to engage the polygonal interior of the impeller assembly and facilitate rotational movement of the impeller assembly.

20. The bioreactor as recited in claim 19 , wherein the outer surface of the impeller assembly and the interior surface of the mixing element have a polygonal transverse cross-section, wherein the impeller assembly extends entirely through the opening of the mixing element so that the outer surface of the impeller assembly engages the interior surface of the mixing element to facilitate rotational movement of the mixing element.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Williams Trevor G

Classifications

• B01F15/0085

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00675

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F2215/0073

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/00681 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00691

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic