Bioreactors with multiple or adjustable-position agitator designs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016304824-A1
Application number	US-201615071109-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 16, 2013
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are bioreactor support structures configured to be used with containers having different designs, and methods for making and using such bioreactors. The support structures described herein may include two or more agitator motors and control systems or an adjustable-position agitator motor, a removable spacer and/or lid, multiple configurations for ports and probes, and multiple exhaust filter heating blankets. Also described herein are methods of manufacturing a multi-agitator motor or adjustable-position agitator motor bioreactor, as well as methods of modifying an existing support structure to be used with a container not originally designed to be used with the existing support structure, and methods for operating these bioreactors.

First claim

1 : A bioreactor, comprising:
a support structure configured to hold a container; and an agitator system comprising an impeller and an agitator motor, wherein the agitator system and the support structure are configured to position the agitator motor at a plurality of positions relative to the support structure.

2 : The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a top region and a bottom region, and wherein the plurality of positions comprises a top-mounted agitator motor position and a bottom-mounted agitator motor position.

3 . (canceled)

4 : The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the agitator motor is mounted on an adjustable-length shaft.

5 - 6 . (canceled)

7 : The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the impeller is mounted on an adjustable-length shaft.

8 : The bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising a container configured to reside in the support structure and to be coupled to the agitator motor, wherein the container is a collapsible bag.

9 : The bioreactor of claim 8 , wherein the collapsible bag is configured for use with a top-mounted agitator motor.

10 : The bioreactor of claim 8 , wherein the collapsible bag is configured for use with a bottom-mounted agitator motor.

11 : The bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer with a raised support surface configured to be removably positioned at the bottom of the support structure.

12 - 13 . (canceled)

14 : The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to be used with both internal probes and external probes.

15 : A bioreactor, comprising:
a support structure comprising a sidewall and a base, forming a cavity therein, the cavity configured to hold a container; a top-mounted agitator motor coupled to the support structure; and a bottom-mounted agitator motor coupled to the support structure, wherein the top- and bottom-agitator motors are configured to be selectively used based on a configuration of the container.

16 - 19 . (canceled)

20 : The bioreactor of claim 15 , further comprising a first control system configured to control the top-mounted agitator motor and a second control system configured to control the bottom-mounted agitator motor.

21 : The bioreactor of claim 20 , further comprising a selector to switch between the first and second control systems.

22 . (canceled)

23 : The bioreactor of claim 20 , wherein the first and second control systems comprise variable frequency drives.

24 - 28 . (canceled)

29 : The bioreactor of claim 15 , further comprising at least two exhaust filter heating blankets, wherein the at least two exhaust filter heating blankets are mounted to a rotatable element, and wherein the at least two exhaust filter heating blankets are configured to be selectively employed by rotating the rotatable element.

30 - 34 . (canceled)

35 : A method of modifying a bioreactor, comprising:
attaching a second agitator motor to a support structure comprising a first agitator motor, and adding an access region to the support structure.

36 : The method of claim 35 , wherein the first agitator motor is a bottom-mounted agitator motor, and the second agitator motor is a top-mounted agitator motor.

37 : The method of claim 35 , wherein the first agitator motor is a top-mounted agitator motor, and the second agitator motor is a bottom-mounted agitator motor.

38 - 43 . (canceled)

44 : The method of claim 35 , wherein the bioreactor comprises an original exhaust filter heating blanket, further comprising adding an additional exhaust filter heating blanket to the bioreactor.

45 - 50 . (canceled)

51 : A method of operating a bioreactor comprising a support structure and a multi-agitator motor system, comprising:
selecting a bioreactor bag from a group consisting of top-mounted agitator bags and bottom-mounted agitator bags; selecting between a top-mounted agitator motor and a bottom-mounted agitator motor of the support structure; placing the selected bioreactor bag into the support structure; and coupling the selected bioreactor bag to the selected agitator motor.

52 - 55 . (canceled)

56 : The method of claim 51 , further comprising changing a vertical position of the top-mounted agitator motor.

Assignees

• Genentech Inc

Inventors

• Mahajan Ekta
• Dent Kelsey
• Chan Edward
• Hudson Terry
• Daniel Neria

Classifications

• C12M23/52

  Mobile; Means for transporting the apparatus (transportable laboratories B01L1/52) · CPC title

• C12M41/22

  in contact with the bioreactor walls · CPC title

• C12M23/28

  disposable or single use · CPC title

• C12M41/48

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

• C12M23/48

  Holding appliances; Racks; Supports (holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00) · CPC title