DISPOSABLE BIOREACTOR CONDENSER BAG AND FILTER HEATER

• US 20120260671A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xcellerex, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Tuohey, Colin, Erdenberger, Thomas, Fisher, Michael, Hodge, Geoffrey L., Guertin, Patrick M., Galliher, Parrish M., DAMREN, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,499,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4263 Means for active heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0042 Thermo-electric condensing; using Peltier-effect
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0093 Removing and treatment of non condensable gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/28 disposable or single use
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/04 Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/26 Conditioning fluids entering or exiting the reaction vessel
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/12 of temperature controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method for condensing moisture in a moist gas stream entering a bioreactor or leaving a bioretractor, forming a dry gas stream for entering or leaving the bioreactor.

Claims

1. A system for condensing moisture in a moist gas stream entering or leaving a bioreactor, the system comprising:

a condenser container capable of holding a fluid, the condenser container comprising;

an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, the inner wall surface defining an interior chamber for holding the fluid;

a first fitment attached to the outer wall surface of the condenser container, the first fitment forming a first port configured to allow the moist gas stream to flow through the first port and into the interior chamber;

a second fitment attached to the outer wall surface of the condenser container, the second fitment forming a second port configured to allow a dried gas to flow from the interior chamber and out of the second port; and

a cooling device in contact with at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container and arranged to cool the at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container, thereby condensing moisture in the moist gas stream entering or leaving the bioreactor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises a thermoelectric module comprising a first module surface and a second module surface, and wherein the thermoelectric module is configured for cooling the first module surface and transferring heat removed from the first module surface to the second module surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first module surface is configured to provide cooling for the at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second module surface is configured to assist in heating of a filter positioned downstream of the condenser container.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermoelectric module is a Peltier heating and cooling module.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a structure comprising a biocompatible material disposed within the interior chamber, the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the condenser container comprises a flexible bag.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the condenser container comprises a flexible bag.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a frame arranged to removably hold the first module surface adjacent to at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container to provide cooling of the outer wall surface of the condenser container during operation of the system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the condenser container is a flexible bag.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the flexible bag is a two dimensional bag.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon substantially completely fills the gap between the two inner layers of the bag.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon comprises a mesh.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the mesh is pleated.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon comprises a series of fins attached to a support.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon comprises a spiral coil.

17. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon comprises a material chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon comprises a metal.

19. The system of claim 6, wherein the structure arranged to allow condensation to form thereon is also arranged to promote turbulence within the container.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is disposable or single-use.

21. A method of condensing moisture in a gas stream leaving a bioreactor, the method comprising:

providing a system according to claim 1;

providing fluid communication of the first port of the condenser container with a port of the bioreactor arranged to allow the moist gas stream to leave the bioreactor;

allowing the moist gas stream leaving the bioreactor to flow through the first port and into the interior chamber of the condenser container;

cooling the at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container;

allowing heat to be transferred from the interior chamber of the condenser container to the cooling device, thereby lowering the temperature of the interior chamber of the condenser container;

condensing moisture in the moist as stream; and

forming a dry gas stream leaving the bioreactor.

22. A method of condensing moisture in a moist gas stream to form a dry gas for addition to a bioreactor, the method comprising:

providing a system according to claim 1;

providing fluid communication of the first port of the condenser container with the moist gas stream;

allowing the moist gas stream to flow through the first port and into the interior chamber of the condenser container;

cooling the at least one portion of the outer wall surface of the condenser container;

allowing heat to be transferred from the interior chamber of the condenser container to the cooling device, thereby lowering the temperature of the interior chamber of the condenser container;

condensing moisture in the moist gas stream; and

forming a dry gas.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing the dry gas flowing out of the second port to flow into a bioreactor.