Apparatus and method for mass transfer involving biological/pharmaceutical media
DCFirst Claim
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1. A mass transfer method comprising:
- (a) establishing a mass transfer system which includes;
(i) a first pump having inlet and discharge ports;
(ii) an elongated mass transfer chamber having first and second inlets at opposite ends of the chamber to accommodate flow of a first mass transfer medium therethrough in mass transfer relationship with a second mass transfer medium therein;
(iii) a first mass transfer medium reservoir having inlet and outlet ports;
(iv) switchable flow control means comprising flow ports designated A, B, C, and D, for connecting;
(1) in a first configuration, port A in flow communication with port B, and port C in flow communication step D; and
(2) in a second configuration, port A in flow communication with port D, and port B in flow communication with port C;
(v) conduits connecting the pump discharge port to said port C, the pump inlet port to the reservoir outlet port, the reservoir inlet port to said port A, the chamber first inlet to said port B and the chamber second inlet to said port D;
(b) operating said first pump to establish flow of said first medium through said mass transfer chamber in a selected direction; and
(c) periodically repositioning said switchable flow control means so as to sequentially change according to a predetermined schedule the direction of flow of said first medium through said mass transfer chamber.
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Abstract
A mass transfer apparatus and method is based upon use of a mass transfer chamber, such as a hollow fiber membrane bioreactor, with a control to change the directional flow therethrough for enhancement of the mass transfer operation. The invention has particular utility in cell growth systems, where the periodic reversal of flow direction of a nutrient stream passed through the bioreactor equalizes dispersion of cell growth through the bioreactor and enhances the transport of metabolic waste from the cells being grown.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A mass transfer method comprising:
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(a) establishing a mass transfer system which includes; (i) a first pump having inlet and discharge ports; (ii) an elongated mass transfer chamber having first and second inlets at opposite ends of the chamber to accommodate flow of a first mass transfer medium therethrough in mass transfer relationship with a second mass transfer medium therein; (iii) a first mass transfer medium reservoir having inlet and outlet ports; (iv) switchable flow control means comprising flow ports designated A, B, C, and D, for connecting; (1) in a first configuration, port A in flow communication with port B, and port C in flow communication step D; and (2) in a second configuration, port A in flow communication with port D, and port B in flow communication with port C; (v) conduits connecting the pump discharge port to said port C, the pump inlet port to the reservoir outlet port, the reservoir inlet port to said port A, the chamber first inlet to said port B and the chamber second inlet to said port D; (b) operating said first pump to establish flow of said first medium through said mass transfer chamber in a selected direction; and (c) periodically repositioning said switchable flow control means so as to sequentially change according to a predetermined schedule the direction of flow of said first medium through said mass transfer chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cell growth method comprising:
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(a) establishing a sterile growth system which includes; (i) a pump having discharge and inlet ports; (ii) an elongated cell growth chamber having first and second inlets at opposite ends of the chamber; (iii) a nutrient medium reservoir having inlet and outlet ports; (iv) switchable flow control means comprising flow ports designated A, B, C, and D, for connecting; (1) in a first configuration, port A in flow communication with port B, and port C in flow communication with step D; and (2) in a second configuration, port A in flow communication with port D, and port B in flow communication with port C; (v) conduits connecting the pump discharge port to said port C, the pump inlet port to the reservoir outlet port, the reservoir inlet port to said port A, the chamber first inlet to said port B and the chamber second inlet to said port D; (b) introducing culture medium to the system; (c) inoculating the chamber with a selected cell type; (d) operating said pump to establish flow of said medium through said growth chamber in a selected direction; (e) incubating the system for a selected period and during such period changing the medium if and as required for the selected medium; and (f) periodically repositioning said switchable flow control means so as to sequentially change according to a predetermined schedule the direction of flow through said growth chamber, to substantially uniformly disperse cell growth throughout said chamber and transport metabolic waste away from the cells being grown in said chamber.
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Specification