Kit for installing impeller into process vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022017845-A1
Application number	US-202117375855-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2021
Priority date	Jul 15, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A kit for a bioreactor includes a bioreactor bag, a connector, an impeller assembly, and a clamp. The connector defines an aperture. The connector also includes a welding surface extending between a first end and a second end, with the second end including an outwardly extending flange. The welding surface can be heat-sealable to the bioreactor bag. The impeller assembly includes a shaft and a blade configured to pass through the aperture. The impeller assembly includes an impeller flange configured to contact the flange of the connector when the impeller shaft is received in the aperture. The impeller assembly also includes a bearing supporting the impeller shaft. The clamp is configured to secure the connector flange to the impeller assembly. Preparing a bioreactor includes welding the connector to the neck of the bioreactor bag and then inserting the shaft and blade through the aperture into the bioreactor bag.

First claim

1 . A kit for a process vessel, comprising:
a bag including a neck; a connector defining an aperture and including a welding surface surrounding the aperture, wherein the welding surface is configured to be heat-sealed to the neck of the bioreactor bag; and an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and impeller blade configured to pass through the aperture of the connector, wherein the impeller assembly and the connector are configured to be mechanically joined to one another.

2 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp, and wherein:
the connector includes an outwardly extending flange, the impeller assembly includes an impeller flange configured to contact the outwardly extending flange of the connector, and the impeller assembly and the connector are configured to be mechanically joined to one another by using the clamp to secure the outwardly extending flange of the connector and the impeller flange to one another.

3 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly and the connector are configured to be mechanically joined to one another by a press-fit between the impeller assembly and a cup formed at an end of the connector.

4 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly and the connector are configured to be mechanically joined to one another by engagement features included on at least one of the impeller assembly or the connector.

5 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly and the connector are configured to be mechanically joined to one another by engagement of a captive nut disposed on one of the connector or the impeller assembly engaging with threading provided on the other of the connector or the impeller assembly.

6 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly and the connector are configured to be mechanically joined to one another by a plurality rotating bolts and locking nuts included in one of the impeller assembly or the connector, and a plurality of recesses configured to receive the rotating bolts formed in the other of the impeller assembly or the connector.

7 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein when the impeller assembly and the connector are mechanically joined to one another, a seal is formed between the impeller assembly and the connector.

8 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the bag and the connector each comprise a polyolefin.

9 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the bag and the connector each comprise a fluoropolymer.

10 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the welding surface is defined on an inner surface of the connector.

11 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the welding surface is defined on an outer surface of the connector.

12 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the bag is a gusseted three dimensional bag.

13 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the process vessel is a bioreactor and the bag is a bioreactor bag.

14 . A method of assembling a process vessel, comprising:
bonding a neck of a bag to a welding surface of a connector, the connector defining an aperture; inserting a blade and a shaft of an impeller assembly through the aperture of the connector into the bag; and mechanically fixing the impeller assembly to the connector.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein mechanically fixing the impeller assembly to the connector includes clamping an impeller flange included in the impeller assembly to a connector flange included in the connector.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein mechanically fixing the impeller assembly to the connector includes pressing the connector and the impeller assembly together to form a press-fit.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein mechanically fixing the impeller assembly to the connector includes bringing engagement features included on one of the impeller assembly or the connector into contact with the other of the impeller assembly or the connector.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein mechanically fixing the impeller assembly to the connector includes engaging a captive nut disposed on one of the impeller assembly or the connector with threading provided on the other of the impeller assembly or the connector.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the bonding includes heat welding.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the process vessel is a bioreactor and the bag is a bioreactor bag.

Assignees

• Entegris Inc

Inventors

• Christoffersen Kurt
• Coscia Nicholas
• Bores Gregory W

Classifications

• B01F27/80

  with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis · CPC title

• B01F33/86

  Mixing heads comprising a driven stirrer · CPC title

• B01F35/413

  by means of clamps or clamping arrangements for fixing attached stirrers or independent stirrer units · CPC title

• B01F35/513

  Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers · CPC title

• C12M27/02 Primary

  Stirrer or mobile mixing elements · CPC title