Methods for operating a bioreactor with impeller assembly and related bioreactors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019282983-A1
Application number	US-201916421168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 23, 2019
Priority date	Mar 22, 2014
Publication date	Sep 19, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for operating a bioreactor includes passing a drive shaft into a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector projecting from the first tubular connector, the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector being at least partially disposed within a container, the first tubular connector being more flexible than the second tubular connector, the second tubular connector having a length that comprises at least 20% of a combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector. Rotating the drive shaft so as to rotate the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector within the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a bioreactor, the method comprising:
passing a drive shaft into a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector projecting from the first tubular connector, the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector being at least partially disposed within a container, the first tubular connector being more flexible than the second tubular connector, the second tubular connector having a length that comprises at least 20% of a combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector; and rotating the drive shaft so as to rotate the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector within the container.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the length of the second tubular connector comprises at least 40% of the combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising at least one mixing element removably disposed on the second tubular connector.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mixing element removably disposed on the second tubular connector.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first tubular connector is comprised of an elastomeric material and the second tubular connector is not comprised of an elastomeric material.

6 . A method for operating a bioreactor, the method comprising:
passing a drive shaft into a tubular member that is at least partially disposed within a container, a first mixing element being disposed on the tubular member so that first mixing element encircles the tubular member; and rotating the drive shaft so as to rotate the tubular member and the first mixing element within the container.

7 . The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first mixing element is removably disposed on the tubular member.

8 . The method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising a second mixing element disposed on the tubular member so that the second mixing element encircles the tubular member.

9 . The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the tubular member comprises a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector projecting from the first tubular connector.

10 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first tubular connector is more flexible than the second tubular connector.

11 . A bioreactor comprising:
a flexible container; a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector projecting from the first tubular connector, the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector being at least partially disposed within a container, the first tubular connector being more flexible than the second tubular connector, the second tubular connector having a length that comprises at least 20% of a combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector; and at least one mixing element disposed on the second tubular connector.

12 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 11 , wherein the length of the second tubular connector comprises at least 40% of the combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector.

13 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 11 , wherein the at least one mixing element is removably disposed on the second tubular connector.

14 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a drive shaft disposed within the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector within the container.

15 . A bioreactor comprising:
a flexible container; a tubular member that is at least partially disposed within a container; and a first mixing element being disposed on the tubular member so that first mixing element encircles the tubular member.

16 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first mixing element is removably disposed on the tubular member.

17 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a drive shaft disposed within the tubular member such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the tubular member within the container.

18 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the tubular member comprises a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector projecting from the first tubular connector, the first tubular connector being more flexible than the second tubular connector.

19 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first tubular connector has an exterior surface with a cylindrical configuration and the second tubular connector has an exterior surface with a polygonal transverse cross section.

20 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 15 , further comprises a rotational assembly that includes a casing mounted to the flexible container and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub having a passageway extending therethrough, the tubular member being coupled to the hub.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Williams Trevor G

Classifications

• B01F2215/0073

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/0085

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/00681 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00675

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00691

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic