Stirred tank reactor systems and methods of use

• US 8,623,640 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOBBS, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US13/443,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 435/289.1, 435/291.5, 435/292.1, 366/247, 366/261, 366/270, 366/279, 366/308
• US Class Current: 435/289.1
• 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 reactor system includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An elongated tubular connector is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the tubular connector being coupled with the flexible bag. An impeller is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag and is secured to the tubular connector. A drive shaft is removably received within the tubular connector such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller.

Claims

1. A reactor system comprising:

a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment;

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

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;

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 continuous rotation of the drive shaft facilitates continuous rotation of the impeller.

2. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft directly engages the impeller.

3. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft engages the hub such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the hub.

4. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller, hub, and tubular connector.

5. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an annular seal disposed between the hub and the casing so as to form an aseptic seal therebetween.

6. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bearing disposed between the hub and the casing.

7. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft has a frustoconical head disposed outside of the tubular connector.

8. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impeller is secured to the second end of the tubular connector.

9. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is linear.

10. The reactor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular connector comprises a flexible tube.

15. The reactor system as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft extends through the tubular connector to directly engage the impeller.

16. The reactor system as recited in claim 1, wherein continuous rotation of the drive shaft facilitates continuous rotation of the tubular connector.

17. The reactor system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end of the tubular connector is rotatably coupled with the flexible bag.

18. The reactor system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing;

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

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 continuous rotation of the drive shaft.

19. The reactor system as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the drive shaft has a first engaging portion with a substantially frustoconical configuration; and

the motor mount has a second engaging portion having a substantially frustoconical configuration complementary to the first engaging portion, the first engaging portion being received within the second engaging portion.

11. A method for mixing a fluid, the method comprising:

delivering a fluid into a compartment of a flexible bag, an elongated tubular connector being coupled to the flexible bag and projecting into the compartment thereof, an impeller being coupled with the tubular connector and disposed within the compartment;

removably inserting a drive shaft into the tubular connector so that the drive shaft engages with the impeller;

continuously rotating the drive shaft so that the drive shaft continuously rotates the impeller and mixes the fluid within the compartment; and

further comprising a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub being coupled to the tubular connector and having a passageway extending therethrough, the step of removably inserting the drive shaft comprising passing the drive shaft through the passageway of the hub.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a first end of the tubular connector is rotatably coupled to the flexible bag so that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the first end of the tubular connector with respect to the flexible bag.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising rotating the drive shaft so that the drive shaft rotates the impeller, tubular connector, and hub relative to the flexible bag.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step of removably inserting the drive shaft comprises passing the drive shaft through the passageway of the hub so that the drive shaft engages with the hub.