STIRRED TANK REACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20140106453A1
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc., Hyclone Laboratories, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Kunas, Kurt T., Oakley, Robert V., Hasan, Fauad F., Goodwin, Michael E., Larsen, Jeremy K., Jones, Nephi D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,540,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/394
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/44 Mixing of ingredients for microbiology, enzymology, in vitro culture or genetic manipulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/071 Fixing of the stirrer to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/88 with a separate receptacle-stirrer unit that is adapted to be coupled to a drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/91 with propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/86 Mixing heads comprising a driven stirrer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/51 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/513 Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/00 Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges flow directing inserts in C12M27/18-C12M27/24; apparatus for chemical or physical processes in general B01J, chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/06 Tubular C12M23/08, C12M23/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/26 flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/28 disposable or single use
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/02 Stirrer or mobile mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/00 Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method of mixing a fluid includes positioning a flexible bag into the chamber of a support housing, the support housing having a plurality of baffles positioned so that the bag folds around the baffles. A fluid is delivered into a compartment of the flexible bag. A mixing element, such as an impeller, is moved within the compartment of the flexible bag so as to mix the fluid therein.

Claims

1. A method of mixing a fluid, the method comprising:

positioning a flexible bag into the chamber of a support housing, the support housing having a plurality of baffles positioned so that the bag folds around the baffles;

delivering a fluid into a compartment of the flexible bag; and

moving a mixing element within the compartment of the flexible bag so as to mix the fluid therein.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the fluid comprises delivering a culture comprising cells or microoganisms.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of moving the mixing element comprises rotating a drive shaft that rotates an impeller within the compartment.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of moving the mixing element comprises:

removably inserting a drive shaft into a tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the tubular connector being connected to the bag, the second end of the tubular connector being secured to an impeller disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag; and

rotating the drive shaft so that the impeller rotates relative to the bag.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the first end of the tubular connected being rotatably secured to the bag so that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates concurrent rotation of the impeller and the tubular connector.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub having a passageway extending therethrough, the first end of the tubular connector being secured to the hub.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the drive shaft engages the hub so that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the hub.

8. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising securing an end of the drive shaft to the impeller.

9. A reactor system comprising:

a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber;

a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment, the flexible bag being disposed within the chamber of the support housing;

a plurality of baffles disposed on the support housing so that the bag folds around the baffles; and

a mixing element disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag.

10. The reactor as recited in claim 9, wherein the mixing element comprises an impeller disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag.

11. The reactor as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

an elongated tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the tubular connector having a first end connected to the bag and an opposing second end disposed within the compartment;

an impeller disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the impeller being coupled with the second end of the tubular connector; and

a drive shaft removably received within the tubular connector and removably coupled with the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller.

12. The reactor as recited in claim 11, further comprising a rotational assembly which includes a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub having a passageway extending therethrough, the first end of the tubular connector being secured to the hub.

13. The reactor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drive shaft engages the hub such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the hub.

14. The reactor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller, hub, and tubular connector.

15. The reactor system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tubular connector comprises a flexible tube.

16. The reactor system as recited in claim 11, wherein the first end of the tubular connector is rotatably coupled with the flexible bag.

17. The reactor system as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a housing;

a motor mount disposed on the housing and having a passage extending therethrough; and

a drive motor coupled with the motor mount for selectively rotating the motor mount relative to the housing, the drive shaft being engaged with the motor mount so that rotation of the motor mount by the drive motor facilitates rotation of the drive shaft.