Methods for Fluid Mixing Systems with Tiltable Support Housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237011-A1
Application number	US-202117236238-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2021
Priority date	Jun 15, 2012
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for mixing a fluid includes: dispensing a first volume of a fluid into a flexible container, the flexible container being at least partially disposed within the chamber of a support housing; repeatedly moving the support housing and the flexible container contained therein so as to mix the first volume of fluid within the flexible container; adding further fluid into the flexible container after moving the support housing to form a second volume of fluid; and manipulating a mixing element within the flexible container so as to mix the second volume of fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for mixing a fluid comprising:
dispensing a first volume of a fluid into a flexible container, the flexible container being at least partially disposed within a chamber of a support housing; repeatedly moving the support housing and the flexible container contained therein so as to mix the first volume of fluid within the flexible container; and manipulating a mixing element within the flexible container.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein repeatedly moving the support housing comprises repeatedly rocking, shaking, tilting, or swiveling the support housing.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein manipulating the mixing element comprises rotating an impeller or magnetic stir bar within the flexible container.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein manipulating the mixing element comprises pivoting, swiveling, or vertically raising and lowering the mixing element within the flexible container.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of repeatedly moving the support housing occurs without manipulating the mixing element within the flexible container.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of manipulating the mixing element further comprises concurrently, repeatedly moving the support housing and the flexible container contained therein.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of manipulating the mixing element occurs without repeatedly moving the support housing and the flexible container contained therein.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first volume of fluid comprises cells or microorganisms.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising sparging a gas into the first volume of the fluid.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible container comprises a flexible bag that is comprised of one or more sheets of a polymeric film.

11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mixing element comprises an impeller and the method further comprises adjusting a location of the impeller within the flexible container based on a volume of fluid within the flexible container.

12 . A method for mixing a fluid comprising:
tilting a support housing that comprises a sidewall that encircles a chamber, an access opening formed at a first end of the sidewall, and a floor disposed at a second end of the sidewall, an axis extending through the chamber so as to pass through the floor and the access opening, the support housing being tilted from a first position wherein the axis is vertically oriented to a second position wherein the axis is at an angle from vertical; and inserting a container assembly into the chamber of the support housing when the support housing is in the second position, the container assembly comprising a flexible bag bounding a compartment adapted to hold a fluid.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising inserting a drive shaft into the container assembly and coupling the drive shaft to the support housing while the support housing is in the second position.

14 . The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising delivering a fluid into the compartment of the flexible bag and mixing the fluid within the compartment of the flexible bag.

15 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the step of mixing the fluid comprises repeatedly moving the support housing and the flexible container contained therein.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the step of repeatedly moving the support housing comprises activating a motor so as to cause the support housing to repeatedly rock between a forward tilt position and an opposing rearward tilt position.

17 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the step of tilting the support housing comprises tilting the support housing so that the axis is at least 75° from vertical when in the second position.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Jones Nephi D
• Knudsen Brandon M
• Woods Whitt F

Classifications

• B01F35/43

  Supporting receptacles on frames or stands · CPC title

• B01F35/42

  Clamping or holding arrangements for mounting receptacles on mixing devices · CPC title

• B01F31/201

  Holders therefor · CPC title

• B01F27/88

  with a separate receptacle-stirrer unit that is adapted to be coupled to a drive mechanism · CPC title

• B01F35/421

  having a cup-shaped or cage-type form · CPC title