Bioprocessing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160171-A1
Application number	US-201615044013-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 15, 2016
Priority date	May 20, 2009
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bioreactor comprising:
a vessel, a jet mixing system comprising a plurality of jet flow agitators disposed in the vessel, each jet flow agitator comprising a shaft, a shroud surrounding the shaft, and an impeller mounted on the shaft within the shroud, and a gas delivery system configured to supply a process gas to the vessel, wherein the vessel includes a vent, and the gas delivery system includes a source of oxygen in communication with the vessel, an oxygen monitor configured to monitor the oxygen content of a liquid in the vessel, and a controller configured to adjust the oxygen content of the liquid, using the vent and oxygen source, in response to input from the oxygen monitor.

2 . The bioreactor of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors.

3 . The bioreactor of claim 2 further comprising a process controller configured to receive input from the sensors.

4 . The bioreactor of claim 1 further comprising a temperature control system configured to regulate temperature in the vessel.

5 . The bioreactor of claim 1 further comprising a concentration monitor configured to monitor the concentration of a product in the liquid in the vessel, and a controller configured to stop a bioprocess taking place within the vessel based on input received from the concentration monitor.

6 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the jet mixing system further comprises a jet aeration mixer, or a suction chamber jet mixer.

7 . The bioreactor of claim 1 further comprising delivery devices configured to deliver to the vessel a medium, microorganisms or cells, and/or other materials used in a bioprocess.

8 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the vessel includes an outlet through which effluent can be collected.

9 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the jet mixing system is configured to limit any increase in the overall temperature of a fluid medium in the vessel to less than 5 degrees C. over the course of mixing.

10 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the vessel is formed of glass and/or stainless steel.

11 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the vessel is jacketed.

12 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the shaft includes a bore through which a fluid can be delivered to the vessel by the gas delivery system.

13 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the vessel includes a port through which the contents of the vessel can be harvested or sampled.

14 . The bioreactor of claim 2 wherein said sensors include a foam sensor, a dissolved oxygen sensor, and a pH sensor.

15 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the jet mixing system includes a torque controller.

16 . The bioreactor of claim 1 wherein the jet mixing system is configured for pulsating flow.

17 . The bioreactor of claim 16 wherein the jet mixing system comprises a flow diverter.

Assignees

• Xyleco Inc

Inventors

• Medoff Marshall
• Masterman Thomas Craig

Classifications

• C12M41/48 Primary

  Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00) · CPC title

• C12M27/00

  Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel (by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J) · CPC title

• C12M29/22

  Oxygen discharge · CPC title

• C12M41/12

  of temperature (controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00) · CPC title

• C12M41/26

  of pH · CPC title