Bioreactor support system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022251491-A1
Application number	US-202017617747-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 24, 2019
Publication date	Aug 11, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bioreactor support system configured to hold a bioreactor bag, said bioreactor support system ( 1 ) comprising: —a base module ( 3 ) comprising an impeller drive unit ( 5 ); and —at least two vessel units ( 11 a, 11 b, 11 c ) of different sizes, which are configured to support and substantially enclose a side wall of a bioreactor bag ( 111 a, 111 b, 111 c ) when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system ( 1 ), wherein said base module ( 3 ) and said at least two vessel units ( 11 a, 11 b, 11 c ) comprise mating connection devices ( 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 15 a, 15 b, 15 c ) such that the at least two vessel units ( 11 a, 11 b, 11 c ) can be connected to one and the same base module ( 3 ) and such that the impeller drive unit ( 5 ) of the base module ( 3 ) can be used to drive an impeller ( 113 a, 113 b, 113 c ) in a bioreactor bag ( 111 a, 111 b, 111 c ) when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system ( 1 ).

First claim

1 . A bioreactor support system configured to hold a bioreactor bag, said bioreactor support system comprising:
a base module comprising an impeller drive unit; and at least two vessel units of different sizes, which are configured to support and substantially enclose a side wall of a bioreactor bag when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system,
wherein said base module and said at least two vessel units comprise mating connection devices such that the at least two vessel units can be connected to one and the same base module and such that the impeller drive unit of the base module can be used to drive an impeller in a bioreactor bag when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system.

2 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein said base module comprises a vessel unit connection part, wherein said vessel unit connection part comprises at least a first vessel unit connection device and a second vessel unit connection device, wherein said first and second vessel unit connection devices are configured for connection to vessel units of different sizes and wherein said at least two vessel units comprise at least a first vessel unit and a second vessel unit which are of different sizes, wherein said first vessel unit comprises a first base module connection device which is configured such that it can be connected to the first vessel unit connection device of the vessel unit connection part of the base module and wherein said second vessel unit comprises a second base module connection device which is configured such that it can be connected to the second vessel unit connection device of the vessel unit connection part of the base module.

3 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two vessel units each comprises an essentially cylindrical side wall, wherein the cylindrical side walls of different vessel units are of different diameters.

4 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein when one of the vessel units is connected to the base module the vessel unit and the base module are configured to support a bottom wall and a side wall of a bioreactor bag when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system.

5 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein the impeller drive unit is configured to provide a rotating magnetic field and wherein the base module comprises an impeller connection position where an impeller connector provided in a bioreactor bag to be provided in the bioreactor support system can be provided in a position allowing the rotating magnetic field from the impeller drive unit of the base module to drive the impeller of the bioreactor bag.

6 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 5 , wherein the base module comprises a vessel unit connection part in the form of a bioreactor bottom support plate, wherein said vessel unit connection part comprises at least first and second vessel unit connection devices and the impeller connection position which is provided as an opening, wherein the at least two vessel units are configured to be connected to an upper side of the vessel unit connection part and the impeller drive unit is provided on the opposite side of the vessel unit connection part wherein the opening in the vessel unit connection part is configured to receive an impeller connector provided in a bioreactor bag which can be provided in the bioreactor support system such that the impeller connector can be provided in a position in relation to the impeller drive unit which position is allowing the rotating magnetic field from the impeller drive unit to drive the impeller of the bioreactor bag.

7 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vessel units comprises an essentially cylindrical side wall which comprises a part of the side wall which can pivot outward such that an opening into an interior of the vessel unit can be provided for loading a bioreactor bag into the bioreactor support system.

8 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vessel units comprises an essentially cylindrical side wall which is divided into a first side wall part and a second side wall part which each comprises essentially a half cylindrical wall, optionally comprising openings for external access to an interior of the vessel units, where the first side wall part comprises the base module connection device and is configured to be connectable to the base module while the second side wall part is pivotally connected to the first side wall part such that the second side wall part can pivot into at least one open position allowing access into an interior of the vessel unit and one closed position in which the first and second side wall parts together form the essentially cylindrical side wall.

9 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vessel units comprises one or more flexible heater pads on an inner surface of a side wall, which flexible heater pads are configured to heat a bioreactor bag when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system.

10 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vessel units comprises at least one opening in a side wall for provided in the bioreactor support system.

11 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of said at least one opening comprises a graduation for indication of different volumes.

12 . The bioreactor support system according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the vessel units comprises a sensor support provided in connection with an opening in a side wall of the vessel unit, wherein the sensor support is attached to the side wall of the vessel unit such that it's position can be adjusted along a height of the vessel unit.

13 . A bioreactor system comprising a bioreactor support system according to claim 1 and at least two bioreactor bags of different sizes corresponding to the different sizes of the at least two vessel units, said at least two bioreactor bags each comprising an impeller and an impeller connector.

14 . The bioreactor system according to claim 13 , wherein the impeller comprises a magnet such that it can be rotated by magnetic force and wherein a size of the impeller in the bioreactor bag is adapted to the si/c of the bioreactor bag.

15 . The bioreactor system according to claim 13 , wherein the impeller connector of the bioreactor bag is configured to be provided in a close position to the impeller drive unit of the base module via an impeller connection position provided in the base module.

16 . The bioreactor system according to claim 13 , wherein said bioreactor system is used for scale-up procedures.

17 . A base module of a bioreactor support system which is configured to hold a bioreactor bag, said base module comprising:
at least a first vessel unit connection device and a second vessel unit connection device, wherein said first and second vessel unit connection devices are configured for connection to vessel units of different sizes, wherein said vessel units are comprised in the bioreactor support system and are configured to support and substantially enclose a side wall of a bioreactor bag when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system; and an impeller drive unit which is configured to drive an impeller in a bioreactor bag when a bioreactor bag is provided in the bioreactor support system.

18 . The base module accordin

Assignees

• Global Life Sciences Solutions Usa Llc

Inventors

• Kini Prasad
• Agnihotry Shashikanth
• Prabhu Manoja

Classifications

• B01F33/4534

  using a rod for supporting the stirring element, e.g. stirrer sliding on a rod or mounted on a rod sliding in a tube · CPC title

• C12M23/14 Primary

  Bags · CPC title

• C12M23/48 Primary

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

• C12M27/02

  Stirrer or mobile mixing elements · CPC title

• B01F35/513

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