Fluid mixing systems with adjustable mixing element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331273-B2
Application number	US-202418654917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2024
Priority date	Oct 25, 2011
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A fluid mixing system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing, the flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An impeller is disposed within the chamber of the flexible bag. A drive shaft is coupled with the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller. A drive motor assembly is coupled with the draft shaft and is adapted to rotate the drive shaft. An adjustable arm assembly is coupled with the drive motor assembly and is adapted to move the drive motor assembly which in turn moves the position of the drive shaft and impeller. An electrical controller can control movement of the adjustable arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for mixing a fluid, the method comprising:
operating a mixing element at a first speed at a first location within a compartment of a container so that the mixing element mixes a first volume of the fluid within the compartment to conform to a fluid mixing parameter;
dispensing a first additional fluid into the compartment of the container to form a second volume of the fluid;
automatically relocating the mixing element to a second location upon sensing the second volume of the fluid within the compartment; and
operating the mixing element at a second speed at the second location so that the mixing element mixes the second volume of the fluid within the compartment to conform to the fluid mixing parameter.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixing parameter is a threshold shear value for the fluid.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mixing element comprises an impeller and the steps of operating the mixing element comprise rotating the impeller.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second volume is at least five times greater than the first volume.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second volume is at least ten times greater than the first volume.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically relocating the mixing element comprises raising the mixing element by at least 10 cm.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein a distance the mixing element is raised is based upon the second volume of the fluid in the compartment.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of dispensing a first additional fluid comprises dispensing portions of the fluid into the compartment.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
the mixing element comprising an impeller mounted on the end of a drive shaft;
a drive motor assembly coupled with the draft shaft and adapted to rotate the drive shaft; and
an adjustable arm assembly coupled with the drive motor assembly and adapted to move the drive motor assembly which in turn moves the position of the drive shaft and impeller, the step of relocating the mixing element comprising manipulating the adjustable arm assembly so as to raise the impeller.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the step of raising the mixing element comprises an electronic controller controlling manipulation of the adjustable arm assembly.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag that bounds the compartment.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compartment of the container is sterile during operation of the mixing element.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
dispensing a second additional fluid into the compartment of the container to form a third volume of the fluid; and
automatically relocating the mixing element to a third location within the compartment; and operating the mixing element at the third location within the third volume of the fluid so that the mixing element mixes the second volume of the fluid within the compartment to conform to the fluid mixing parameter.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Goodwin Michael E
• Jones Nephi D

Classifications

• B01F35/715

  Feeding the components in several steps, e.g. successive steps · CPC title

• B01F35/2209

  Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle · CPC title

• B01F35/513

  Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers · CPC title

• B01F33/86

  Mixing heads comprising a driven stirrer · CPC title

• B01F27/2312

  the position of the rotating shaft being adjustable in the interior of the receptacle, e.g. to locate the stirrer in different locations during the mixing · CPC title