Disposable container, mixing system and packaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10836989-B2
Application number	US-201514885580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2015
Priority date	Oct 16, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A bioreactor system and packaging is provided. The bioreactor system includes a vessel for housing biomaterials for processing and a support structure. The vessel includes a flexible material defining a chamber and a mixing system positioned within the chamber. The mixing system includes an agitator for imparting motion and mixing to the contents of the vessel and includes a base affixed to the flexible material at a base section of the chamber, a shaft moveably mounted in the base and extending from the base into the chamber and at least one mixing element mounted to the shaft, the shaft configured to be driven by a motor magnetically coupled to the shaft and external to the lower portion of the chamber. The support structure is connected to the mixing system such that the shaft is moveable therein and configured to cooperate with an external structure to provide support for the shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bioreactor system comprising:
a vessel for housing biomaterials for processing, the vessel comprising a flexible material defining a flexible chamber having a chamber wall that comprises at least three orifices and a tubing section extending from each orifice into the chamber;
a mixing system positioned within the chamber, the mixing system comprising an agitator for imparting motion and mixing to the contents of the vessel such that biomaterials contained within the chamber are mixed and gas bubble circulation is increased, the agitator comprising:
a base welded to the flexible material at a base section of the chamber,
a shaft moveably mounted in the base and extending from the base into the chamber, and
at least one mixing element mounted to the shaft, the mixing element and the shaft configured to be driven by a motor magnetically coupled to the shaft and external to a lower portion of the chamber; and

a support structure comprising a hub engaged with the shaft above a middle of the mixing system relative to the base while physically connected to the flexible material through the tubing sections to impart separation between the chamber and the mixing system to cooperate with an external structure to provide support for the vessel,
wherein the hub comprises a collar disposed circumferentially about the shaft, the shaft axially extending through the collar on both sides of the collar,
wherein the collar is spaced from the at least one mixing element along the shaft,
wherein the shaft is rotatably secured within the collar of the hub, and
wherein the support structure including the hub may be positioned in at least two different locations along the length of the shaft, with a first position for providing support during transportation or storage and a second position for providing support during the operation of the reactor.

2. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the base welded to the flexible material at the lower portion of the chamber is a first point of support for the mixing system and the support structure engaged with the shaft is a second point of support for the mixing system.

3. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises:
a connector attached to the hub and configured to receive a rod and connectable with the tubing section of the chamber wall, and
a rod inserted into the connector that can be connected to a bioreactor tank or a shipping container.

4. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure further comprises:
at least three connectors on a circumferential surface of the hub and equally spaced, and
three rods each inserted into each of the at least three connectors to substantially prevent fluid leakage from the vessel.

5. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mixing element includes an impeller blade.

6. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the external structure includes a bioreactor tank or a shipping container.

7. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material includes a plastic container or a flexible plastic bag.

8. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes at least one input port, at least one exhaust port, at least one harvest port and at least one sensor or probe.

9. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the tubing sections comprises flexible material.

10. The bioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the hub is the sole hub, and wherein the collar is the sole collar.

11. A packaging for storage and transport of the bioreactor system of claim 1 , the packaging comprising a frame comprising:
a base member including a cavity configured in size to have the mixing system base securely positioned therein,
vertical support members connected to the base member, and
cross members connecting adjacent vertical support members;
with the support structure connected to the frame through the orifices and engaged with the shaft of the mixing system in the first position.

12. The packaging of claim 11 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of rods each enclosed in one of the plurality of tubing sections with one end of the rods connected to the hub and the other end of the rods protruding through the orifices to be connected to the frame of the packaging.

13. The packaging of claim 11 , further including a slide clip that is positioned in the cavity of the base member and is capable of being magnetically attached to the mixing system base.

14. The packaging of claim 11 , wherein the frame includes four vertical support members defining a front side, a left side, a right side and a back side; four front side cross members, three left side cross members, three right side cross members and three back side cross members such that an open space is defined in the frame of a suitable size to allow the vessel to be positioned in the open space.

15. The packaging of claim 14 , wherein the front side cross members are elongated defining two ends and including a tongue portion at each end and the vertical support members to which the front side member is attached include a pocket of a complementary shape to the tongue portion so as to provide a substantially snug fit when the tongue portion is positioned in the pocket.

16. The packaging of claim 11 , wherein the frame includes a top section, a base section, and sides, the packaging further comprising:
an external packing, the external packing including:
a top tray that is positioned adjacent the top section of the frame,
a bottom tray that is positioned adjacent the base section of the frame, and
sides positioned adjacent the sides of the frame.

17. The packaging of claim 16 , further comprising a shipping pallet on which the bottom tray is positioned and at least one shipping strap to secure the packaging and external packing to the shipping pallet.

18. An assembly including a bioreactor system and a packaging for storage and transport thereof, the bioreactor system comprising:
a vessel for housing biomaterials for processing, the vessel comprising a flexible material defining a chamber having a chamber wall that comprises at least three orifices and a tubing section extending from each orifice into the chamber, and a mixing system positioned within the chamber, the mixing system comprising:
an agitator for imparting motion and mixing to the contents of the vessel such that biomaterials contained within the chamber are mixed and gas bubble circulation is increased, the agitator comprising a base affixed to the flexible material at a base section of the chamber,
a shaft moveably mounted in the base and extending from the base into the chamber,
at least one mixing element mounted to the shaft, and

a support structure having a hub comprising a collar in which the shaft is rotatably positioned, the collar being spaced from the at least one mixing element along the shaft, the shaft configured to be driven by a motor magnetically coupled to the shaft and external to a lower portion of the chamber;
the packaging enclosing the bioreactor system, the packaging including a frame comprising:
a base member including a cavity configured in size to have the mixing system base securely positioned therein,
vertical support members connected to the base member, and
cross members connecting adjacent vertical support members;

wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of rods each having a first end and a second end, enclosed in one of the plurality of tubing sections with the second end protruding through

Assignees

• Global Life Sciences Solutions Usa Llc

Inventors

• Forsberg Steven James
• Stankowski Ralph
• Tuohey Colin R

Classifications

• C12M29/06

  Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers (per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26) · CPC title

• C12M27/02 Primary

  Stirrer or mobile mixing elements · CPC title

• C12M23/28

  disposable or single use · CPC title

• C12M23/26

  flexible (flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505) · CPC title

• C12M23/14

  Bags · CPC title