Systems and methods for mixing and sparging solutions and/or suspensions

• US 20060196501A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Scientifics, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hynetics, LLC
• Inventors: Canter, Mark A., Goodwin, Michael E., Jones, Nephi D., Larsen, Jeremy K., Bibbo, Kenneth L.
• Application Number:
  US11/127,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20060196501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23121 having injection means, e.g. nozzles with circumferential outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/441 performing a rectilinear reciprocating movement
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/513 Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/04 with introduction of gas through the stirrer or mixing element

Abstract

A system for mixing a liquid solution or suspension includes a collapsible container having an interior surface bounding a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold a liquid solution or suspension. A mixer is enclosed within the compartment of the container. A shaft has a first end connected to the mixer within the compartment of the container and a second end disposed outside of the compartment, the shaft being selectively movable relative to the container. A gas pathway extends from a portion of the shaft disposed outside of the container to a portion of the shaft or mixer disposed within the compartment of the container, the gas pathway extending through at least a portion of the shaft.

Claims

1. A system for mixing a liquid solution or suspension comprising:

a collapsible container having an interior surface bounding a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold a liquid solution or suspension;

a mixer disposed within the compartment of the container;

a shaft having a first end connected to the mixer within the compartment of the container and a second end disposed outside of the compartment, the shaft being selectively movable relative to the container; and

a gas pathway extending from a portion of the shaft disposed outside of the container to a portion of the shaft or mixer disposed within the compartment of the container, the gas pathway extending through at least a portion of the shaft.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gas pathway in is communication with a plurality of sparging ports formed on the portion of the shaft or the mixer disposed within the compartment of the container.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gas pathway comprises a channel formed within the shaft.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the shaft is connected to the container so that the shaft can be vertically raised and lowered when the container is substantially filled with a liquid solution or suspension.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collapsible container has a top end and an opposing bottom end, the shaft extending through the bottom end of the container, at least one port formed on the top end of the container.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the bottom end of the bag is absent of any ports formed thereon.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the compartment of the container is sealed closed.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collapsible container comprises a flexible bag comprised of a polymeric material.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the flexible bag comprises a 3-dimensional bag comprised of a plurality of panels seamed together.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mixer is adapted to mix a liquid solution or suspension by being vertically raised and lowered within the liquid solution or suspension.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mixer comprises:

a base having a fluid opening extending therethrough; and

a one-way valve positioned adjacent the fluid opening such that when the base moves in a first direction the one-way valve is open so that fluid can flow through the fluid opening and when the base moves in an opposing second direction the one-way valve is closed preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid opening.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the one-way valve comprises a flexible flap mounted on the base.

13. The mixing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the flexible flap comprises of a polymeric sheet partially welded to the base.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for enabling the shaft to raise and lower the mixer within the compartment of the container while preventing leaking of a liquid solution or suspension from the compartment of the mixing bag.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for enabling the shaft to raise and lower the mixer within the compartment of the container comprises a tubular diaphragm having a first end connected to the container and an opposing second end connected to the mixer or mixing shaft.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the diaphragm comprises a tubular sealing portion connected to the stem, a tubular flexing portion, and an annular joint formed between the sealing portion and the flexing portion, the joint having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross section.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the tubular sealing portion, the tubular flexing portion, and an annular joint are molded as a single, integral part.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the diaphragm is turned inside-out as the shaft raises and lowers within the compartment of the mixing bag.

19. The system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a tubular guide mounted on the shaft below the diaphragm, the guide flaring outward along the length thereof.

20. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a substantially rigid housing, the collapsible container being disposed and supported within the housing.

21. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the temperature of a liquid solution or suspension within the compartment of the collapsible container.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the means for controlling the temperature of the liquid solution or suspension within the compartment of the collapsible container comprises a substantially rigid housing having an outer jacket, the jacking bounding a fluid pathway with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the collapsible container being disposed and supported within the housing.

23. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a culture containing growing cells or microorganisms within the compartment of the container.

24. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gas source coupled with the gas pathway, the gas source providing a gas with controlled levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide to the gas pathway.

25. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pH probe at least partially disposed within the compartment of the container.

26. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a dissolved oxygen probe at least partially disposed within the compartment of the container.

27. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an exhaust tube coupled with the container, the exhaust tube being coupled with a pressure regulator.

28. A method for mixing a liquid culture containing growing cells or microorganisms, the method comprising:

positioning a collapsible container within a chamber of a substantially rigid housing, the collapsible container bounding a compartment, a mixer and a shaft projecting therefrom being at least partially disposed within the compartment of the container;

feeding one or more components into the compartment of the container to produce a liquid culture containing growing cells or microorganisms;

moving the shaft and mixer within the compartment of the container so as to mix the culture; and

delivering a gas containing a controlled level of oxygen through a sparging port formed on the shaft or the mixer so as to sparge the culture and maintain an oxygen partial pressure in the culture at levels suitable for the continued growth of cells or microorganisms.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising heating or cooling at least a portion of the housing so as to correspondingly heat or cool the liquid culture within the compartment of the container at levels suitable for the continued growth of the cells or microorganisms.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the act of moving the shaft and mixer within the compartment comprises repeatedly raising and lowering the shaft and mixer within the compartment.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the shaft has a gas pathway formed thereon that communicates with the sparging port, the method further comprising coupling a gas source to the shaft so that the gas source communicates with the gas pathway, the gas source providing the gas which comprises controlled levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide to the gas pathway.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising removing the gas from the compartment of the container at a rate such that the gas maintains a positive gas pressure within the compartment.

33. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising measuring the dissolved oxygen within the culture.

34. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising measuring the pH of the culture.

35. A method for mixing a liquid solution, the method comprising:

positioning a collapsible container within a chamber of a substantially rigid housing, the collapsible container bounding a compartment, a mixer and a shaft projecting therefrom being at least partially disposed within the compartment of the container;

feeding two or more components into the compartment of the container, at least one of the components being a liquid;

moving the shaft and mixer within the compartment of the container so as to form a liquid solution;

measuring the pH of the liquid solution or the partial pressure of oxygen within the solution;

delivering a gas containing a controlled level of oxygen or carbon dioxide through a sparging port formed on the shaft or the mixer so as to sparge liquid solution and thereby adjust or regulate the pH or partial pressure of oxygen of the solution.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the act of moving the shaft and mixer within the compartment comprises repeatedly raising and lowering the shaft and mixer within the compartment.

37. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the shaft has a gas pathway formed thereon that communicates with the sparging port, the method further comprising coupling a gas source to the shaft so that the gas source communicates with the gas pathway, the gas source providing the gas which comprises controlled levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide to the gas pathway.

38. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the liquid solution is substantially free to cells or microorganisms.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein the liquid solution comprises a media.

40. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein at least one of the components comprise a powder.