Cell bag rotator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11717795-B2
Application number	US-202117501957-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2021
Priority date	Jan 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A cell bag rotator is constructed to slowly agitate a plurality of cell bags by rotation along a rotation axis that is at least partially horizontal. The cell bag rotator comprises a plurality of plates to which a respective cell bag is attached. The cell bag rotator is suitable for mixing cells with particles for performing various types of subsequent cell therapy processes on the cells.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cell bag rotator, comprising:
a rotation rod comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a bag holder coupled to the first end of the rotation rod, the bag holder, comprising:
a plurality of plates for holding a respective plurality of cell bags in an orientation perpendicular to the rotation rod, wherein each of the plates includes at least one respective fastener for attaching to a cell bag;

a rotator coupled to the second end of the rotation rod and configured to rotate the rotation rod about a first axis of rotation to agitate any cell bags attached to the bag holder;
a base supporting the rotator and comprising a pivot axis enabling rotation of the bag holder about a second axis of rotation orthogonal to the first axis of rotation.

2. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprising a pivot axis selector configured to allow for selection of an amount of rotation of the bag holder about the second axis of rotation from between 0 degrees and 90 degrees from horizontal.

3. The cell bag rotator of claim 2 , wherein the pivot axis selector comprises a knob engaged within a groove defined by the base.

4. The cell bag rotator of claim 2 , further comprising a support rod coupled to a first end of the bag holder, wherein the first end of the rotation rod is coupled to a second end of the bag holder opposite the first end of the bag holder.

5. The cell bag rotator of claim 4 , further comprising a support rod holder to support the support rod when the bag holder is positioned at an angle of 0 degrees from horizontal.

6. The cell bag rotator of claim 5 , wherein the support rod holder comprises a support rod bearing enabling the support rod to rotate freely within the support rod holder.

7. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plates includes 10 plates for respectively holding 10 cell bags.

8. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , further comprising a rotator rod connector attached to an exterior surface of the bag holder and coupling the first end of the rotation rod to the bag holder.

9. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the bag holder further comprises:
a plurality of structural rods for holding the plates parallel to each other and for spacing each of the plates apart from one another by a distance, the distance corresponding to a thickness of the cell bags.

10. The cell bag rotator of claim 9 , further comprising:
a support rod coupled to a first end of the bag holder, wherein the first end of the rotation rod is coupled to a second end of the bag holder opposite the first end of the bag holder, wherein the bag holder further comprises:
a first endplate of the plurality of plates coupled to the first end of the rotation rod and to a first end of the plurality of structural rods; and
a second endplate of the plurality of plates coupled to the support rod and to a second end of the plurality of structural rods opposite the first end of the plurality of structural rods.

11. The cell bag rotator of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of spacers placed over the structural rods in between each of the plates, respectively, wherein a length of each of the spacers corresponds to the distance between the plates.

12. The cell bag rotator of claim 9 , wherein the plates are rectangular in shape and the plurality of structural rods consists of four structural rods located at each corner of each of the plates.

13. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise alligator clips.

14. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the rotator is enabled to rotate at 4 revolutions per minute.

15. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the rotator comprises an electric motor to rotate the rotation rod.

16. The cell bag rotator of claim 1 , wherein the first axis of rotation is offset from a center of the bag holder such that the bag holder is subject to eccentric rotation in response to rotation of the rotation rod.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag
• Univ Pennsylvania

Inventors

• Callahan Thomas
• Duffy Jr Charles

Classifications

• B01F29/322 Primary

  of two or more containers supported for simultaneous mixing, e.g. for bottles in crates · CPC title

• B01F29/62

  without bars, i.e. without mixing elements; characterised by the shape or cross section of the receptacle, e.g. of Y-, Z-, S- or X- shape; with cylindrical receptacles rotating about an axis at an angle to their longitudinal axis · CPC title

• B01F29/80

  rotating about a substantially vertical axis · CPC title

• C12M1/10

  rotatably mounted · CPC title

• C12M23/14 Primary

  Bags · CPC title