Integrated bio-reactor monitor and control system
First Claim
1. A system for controlling a process in a bioreactor, comprising:
- a first sensor system comprisinga first sensor device, anda first connection for communicating a material or information between said first sensor device and the bioreactor, wherein said first sensor device interacts with the bioreactor through said connection and wherein said first sensor device generates one or more data signals based on the material or information communicated from the bioreactor;
a control system for controlling the process in the bioreactor, said control system configured to communicate one or more control signals to said first sensor system wherein the control signals are based on data signals received from said first sensor system; and
a communication network connecting said control system and said first sensor system,wherein said control system comprisesa controller configured with a bioreactor control process to control the conditions in a bioreactor by determining control signals based on the bioreactor control process and information received related to a condition in the bioreactor, and further configured to send the control signals over said communication network, anda utility tower, housed separately from the bioreactor and coupled to said controller via said communication network, said utility tower configured to receive the control signals from said controller and to change a condition in the bioreactor based on the control signals, said utility tower comprisinga monitoring system that transmits information related to a condition of the bioreactor to said controller via said communication network, anda bioreactor supply system which supplies a gas or liquid substance to the bioreactor in response to a control signal received from said controller,wherein said first sensor system is configured to provide the one or more data signals related to a condition in the bioreactor to said control system using said communication network, and said first sensor system is further configured to receive one or more control signals from said control system and to perform a first action based on the one or more control signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. A sensor system interacts with the bioreactor to receive information related to a condition of the bioreactor and/or receive a sample from the bioreactor, which it analyzes. The sensor system sends data signals related to the information and/or the sample to a controller, which determines a control signal based on the received information. The controller sends the control signal to the sensor system which, based on the control signal, performs an action that affects a condition of the bioreactor or affects the sensor system itself.
53 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a process in a bioreactor, comprising:
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a first sensor system comprising a first sensor device, and a first connection for communicating a material or information between said first sensor device and the bioreactor, wherein said first sensor device interacts with the bioreactor through said connection and wherein said first sensor device generates one or more data signals based on the material or information communicated from the bioreactor; a control system for controlling the process in the bioreactor, said control system configured to communicate one or more control signals to said first sensor system wherein the control signals are based on data signals received from said first sensor system; and a communication network connecting said control system and said first sensor system, wherein said control system comprises a controller configured with a bioreactor control process to control the conditions in a bioreactor by determining control signals based on the bioreactor control process and information received related to a condition in the bioreactor, and further configured to send the control signals over said communication network, and a utility tower, housed separately from the bioreactor and coupled to said controller via said communication network, said utility tower configured to receive the control signals from said controller and to change a condition in the bioreactor based on the control signals, said utility tower comprising a monitoring system that transmits information related to a condition of the bioreactor to said controller via said communication network, and a bioreactor supply system which supplies a gas or liquid substance to the bioreactor in response to a control signal received from said controller, wherein said first sensor system is configured to provide the one or more data signals related to a condition in the bioreactor to said control system using said communication network, and said first sensor system is further configured to receive one or more control signals from said control system and to perform a first action based on the one or more control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29)
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24. A system for controlling a process in a bioreactor, comprising:
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a communication network; a first sensor system connected to said communication network, said first sensor system configured to generate one or more data signals based on material or information communicated from a bioreactor to said first sensor system and provide the one or more data signals over said communication network; a control system for automatically controlling a process in the bioreactor and connected to said communication network, said control system comprising a controller configured with a bioreactor control process that determines and provides control signals based on the bioreactor control process and information received related to a condition in the bioreactor, the information including the one or more data signals provided by said first sensor system, and a utility tower, housed separately from the bioreactor, said utility tower configured to receive control signals from said controller and to change a condition in the bioreactor based on the control signals, said utility tower comprising a monitoring system that transmits information related to a condition of the bioreactor to said controller, and a bioreactor supply system which supplies a gas or liquid substance to the bioreactor in response to a control signal received from said controller, wherein said control system is also configured to communicate a control signal to said first sensor system, the control signal communicated to the first sensor system being based on the one or more data signals the control system received from said first sensor system, and wherein said first sensor system is further configured to receive the control signal communicated to the first sensor system, and to perform a first action based on the received control signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification