Continuous fermentation system

• US 6,599,735 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DSM Nutritional Products Incorporated (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Vitamins, Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Bartók, Attila, Mueh, Thorsten, Rueckel, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/684,855
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 435/3, 435/286.1, 435/286.5, 435/286.6, 435/286.7, 435/287.1, 435/289.1, 435/296.1, 435/299.1, 435/299.2, 435/813
• US Class Current: 435/286.5
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/18 Fixed or packed bed
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/20 Fluidized bed in chemical or physical processes B01J8/18
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 37/02 Filters
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 21/02 having a known sequence of two or more amino acids, e.g. glutathione
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/81 Packaged device or kit

Abstract

A fermentation assembly comprising: (a) a vessel for culturing living cells; (b) at least two storage flasks in fluid communication with the vessel for supply of liquids and a first transport means for transferring the liquids from the storage flasks to the vessel; (c) individual appliances operably connected to the transport means for monitoring the supply of the contents of the storage flasks to the vessel; (d) a harvest flask in fluid communication with the vessel and a second transport means for transferring the fermentation broth from the vessel to the harvest flask; and (e) a device operably connected to the first transport means for controlling and maintaining a constant dilution rate in the vessel with varying rates of individual supply of liquid from the storage flasks to the vessel is disclosed.

Claims

1. A fermentation assembly comprising

(a) a vessel for culturing living cells;

(b) at least three storage flasks, wherein one of the storage flasks contains water, in fluid communication with the vessel for supply of liquids and a first transport means for transferring the liquids from the storage flasks to the vessel;

(c) individual appliances operably connected to the transport means for monitoring the supply of the contents of the storage flasks to the vessel;

(d) a harvest flask in fluid communication with the vessel and a second transport means for transferring the fermentation broth from the vessel to the harvest flask; and

(e) a device operably connected to the first transport means for controlling and maintaining a cons ant dilution rate in the vessel with varying rates of individual supply of liquid from the storage flasks to the vessel.

2. A fermentation assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least three storage flasks comprise individual storage flasks for solutions of carbon, nitrogen, and mineral sources.

3. A fermentation assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least three storage flasks contains a controlling agent.

4. A fermentation assembly according to claim 1 wherein the vessel contains a bed of immobilized living cells.

5. A fermentation assembly according to claim 4 wherein the bed of immobilized cells is selected from the group consisting of a fixed bed, an expanded bed, a moving bed, and combinations thereof.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the living cells are immobilized on a porous carrier.