Bioreactors and methods for processing biological material
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11473048-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A bioreactor including a housing, a first fluid dispenser and a second fluid dispenser. The bioreactor is configured to receive a scaffold mounted within the housing with the first and second fluid dispensers being positioned to apply respective first and second fluids to at least two different regions of a mounted scaffold.
Core Innovation
A bioreactor includes a housing and receives a scaffold mounted within the housing. The bioreactor has a first fluid dispenser and a second fluid dispenser spaced apart, configured to apply respective first and second fluids to at least two different regions of the mounted scaffold. The first fluid dispenser is provided along the axis of rotation of a mounted scaffold, and the mounted scaffold is coaxial with and surrounds the first fluid dispenser.
The second fluid dispenser is positioned directly above the position of the mounted scaffold. The bioreactor includes a fluid outlet to remove fluid from within the housing, and a connection system links the bioreactor to one or more oxygenators to re-oxygenate fluid that has been removed via the fluid outlet. The fluid dispensation arrangement supports delivering different fluids to interior and exterior regions of the scaffold while the scaffold is mounted for rotation.
The scaffold can be rotatably mounted on a support structure, including a tubular scaffold configured to be rotatably mounted relative to the center axis. The fluid dispensers can include a perforated shaft or conduit with one or more holes to dispense fluid to the regions of the mounted scaffold.
Claims Coverage
The provided set includes one explicitly independent claim. Its scope is further refined by dependent claims that add structural features, mounting and rotation arrangements, and system-level fluid handling features.
Dual-region fluid dispensing with coaxial axis-of-rotation first dispenser
A bioreactor with a housing receiving a scaffold mounted within the housing, where spaced first and second fluid dispensers apply respective first and second fluids to at least two different regions of the mounted scaffold; the first fluid dispenser is provided along the axis of rotation and the mounted scaffold is coaxial with and surrounds the first fluid dispenser; the second fluid dispenser is positioned directly above the position of the mounted scaffold.
Perforated shaft or conduit dispensers with holes
The first and/or second fluid dispenser includes a perforated shaft or conduit having one or more holes.
Rotatable mounting of scaffold on a support structure
A support structure is configured to allow the scaffold to be rotatably mounted on it.
Fluid outlet for removing fluid from the housing
The bioreactor includes a fluid outlet to remove fluid from inside the housing.
Oxygenator connection for re-oxygenating outlet-removed fluid
A connection system links the bioreactor to one or more oxygenators to re-oxygenate fluid that has been removed via the fluid outlet.
Overall, the claim coverage is centered on a bioreactor architecture in which a first fluid dispenser is aligned with the scaffold axis of rotation and a second dispenser is positioned above to apply respective fluids to different scaffold regions, with dependent refinements adding perforated dispensers, rotatable scaffold mounting, and a fluid outlet coupled to oxygenator-based re-oxygenation.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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