Flexible Bioreactor and Support Structure System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289620-A1
Application number	US-201615142811-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include a system having a support structure configured to mechanically support a first bioreactor. The support structure can have a first frame and a second frame together being configured to mechanically support the first bioreactor in interposition between the first frame and the second frame. The first frame can maintain a first set point temperature of the first bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the first frame and the first bioreactor when the first bioreactor is vitally supporting one or more first microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the first bioreactor. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a support structure configured to mechanically support a first bioreactor, the support structure comprising:
a first frame; and
a second frame, together with the first frame, being configured to mechanically support the first bioreactor in interposition between the first frame and the second frame;
wherein:
the first frame is configured to maintain a first set point temperature of the first bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the first frame and the first bioreactor when the first bioreactor is vitally supporting one or more first microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the first bioreactor; and
the first bioreactor comprises:
a first bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more first microorganisms and a first fluidic support medium; and
one or more first bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the first bioreactor cavity, the one or more first bioreactor walls comprising at least one first bioreactor wall material and the at least one first bioreactor wall material being flexible.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the first bioreactor further comprises:
one or more bioreactor fittings in communication with the first bioreactor cavity, the one or more bioreactor fittings comprising at least one gas delivery fitting;
one or more gas delivery devices located within the first bioreactor cavity, the one or more gas delivery devices being operable to inject gas into the first bioreactor cavity to mix the one or more first microorganisms; and
one or more flexible tubes located within the first bioreactor cavity, the one or more flexible tubes comprising at least one gas delivery tube coupling the one or more gas delivery devices to the at least one gas delivery fitting.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the second frame is further configured to maintain the first set point temperature of the first bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the second frame and the first bioreactor when the first bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the first bioreactor.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the first frame comprises two or more first frame rails, each first frame rail of the two or more first frame rails comprising a first frame rail conduit;
each first frame rail conduit of the two or more first frame rail conduits being configured to convey a temperature maintenance fluid to exchange first thermal energy between the first bioreactor and the temperature maintenance fluid in order to maintain the first set point temperature of the first bioreactor when the first bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms; and
the two or more first frame rails are operable to mechanically support the first bioreactor.

5 . The system of claim 4 wherein:
the two or more first frame rails are configured to receive the temperature maintenance fluid in parallel.

6 . The system of claim 4 wherein:
the two or more first frame rails comprise stainless steel; and
the temperature maintenance fluid comprises water.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the support structure comprises a floor gap underneath one of the first frame or the second frame to permit at least part of the one or more first bioreactor walls of the first bioreactor to bulge into the floor gap when the support structure is mechanically supporting the first bioreactor.

8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one light source mechanically supported by the support structure and operable to illuminate the one or more first microorganisms when the first bioreactor is vitally supporting the one or more first microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the first bioreactor.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the support structure is further configured to mechanically support a second bioreactor;
the support structure comprises a third frame and a fourth frame together being configured to mechanically support the second bioreactor in interposition between the third frame and the fourth frame, the third frame further being configured to maintain a second set point temperature of the second bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the third frame and the second bioreactor when the second bioreactor is vitally supporting one or more second microorganisms and when the support structure is mechanically supporting the second bioreactor; and
the second bioreactor comprises:
a second bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more second microorganisms and a second fluidic support medium; and
one or more second bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the second bioreactor cavity, the one or more second bioreactor walls comprising at least one second bioreactor wall material and the at least one second bioreactor wall material being flexible.

10 . The system of claim 9 wherein:
the first frame is configured to maintain the first set point temperature of the first bioreactor and the third frame is configured to maintain the second set point temperature of the second bioreactor such that the first set point temperature of the first bioreactor is approximately equal to the second set point temperature of the second bioreactor.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the first bioreactor further comprises at least one of a parameter sensing device, a filter, a pressure regulator, or an organic carbon material delivery fitting.

12 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the first bioreactor is disposed within an open bag comprising one or more bag walls;
the one or more bag walls comprise a second flexible wall material; and
water fills a gap formed between an exterior of the one or more first bioreactor walls and the one or more bag walls.

13 . A system comprising:
a support means configured to mechanically support a first bioreactor and maintain a first set point temperature of the first bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the support means and the first bioreactor when the first bioreactor is vitally supporting one or more first microorganisms and when the support means is mechanically supporting the first bioreactor; wherein:
the first bioreactor comprises:
a first bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more first microorganisms and a first fluidic support medium; and
one or more first bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the first bioreactor cavity, the one or more first bioreactor walls comprising at least one first bioreactor wall material and the at least one first bioreactor wall material being flexible.

14 . The system of claim 13 wherein:
the support means is further configured to mechanically support a second bioreactor and maintain a second set point temperature of the second bioreactor through an exchange of thermal energy between the support means and the second bioreactor when the second bioreactor is vitally supporting one or more second microorganisms and when the support means is mechanically supporting the second bioreactor; and
the second bioreactor comprises:
a second bioreactor cavity configured to contain the one or more second microorganisms and a second fluidic support medium; and
one or more second bioreactor walls at least partially enclosing the second bioreactor cavity, the one or more second bioreactor walls comprising at least one second bioreactor wall material and the at least one second bioreactor wall material being flexible.

Assignees

• Heliae Dev Llc

Inventors

• Mazur Richard
• Cizek Luke
• Oelschlager Mason
• Mccarty Mason
• Tram Minh Duc
• Hayden Justin
• Bair Candyce

Classifications

• C12M31/00

  Means for providing, directing, scattering or concentrating light (C12M41/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C12M23/40

  Manifolds; Distribution pieces (fluid transfer means B01L3/563) · CPC title

• C12M29/06

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

• C12M21/02 Primary

  Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12) · CPC title

• C12M23/34

  Internal compartments or partitions · CPC title