Air removal chamber for a cell expansion system and method of use associated therewith

摘要

A cell expansion system includes an air removal chamber to provide a bubble trap so that air and/or gas bubbles do not enter the bioreactor of the cell expansion system. The air removal chamber includes a pair of ports situated at the bottom of the air removal chamber. An entrance port allows fluid to enter the air removal chamber, and an exit port allows fluid to exit the air removal chamber. In one embodiment the air removal chamber forms an element of a premounted fluid conveyance assembly for use with a cell expansion machine.

主权项

1. A cell expansion machine, wherein the cell expansion machine comprises a plurality of fluid level sensors, comprising:
a tubing-organizer; and a fluid conveyance system at least partially attached to the tubing-organizer, the fluid conveyance system comprising:
a fluid containment member including a containment wall defining a fluid containment chamber therein, wherein a width of the fluid containment chamber increases from a bottom of the fluid containment member to a top of the fluid containment member, wherein a height of the fluid containment chamber is greater than about five times an average width of the fluid containment chamber, and wherein the fluid containment member includes a plurality of apertures through the containment wall including:
(a) a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture located adjacent to one another and situated at a bottom of the fluid containment member, the first aperture adapted to allow a cell-containing fluid to enter the fluid containment member, and the second aperture adapted to allow the cell-containing fluid to exit the fluid containment member, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are separated from one another by an aperture separator wall, the aperture separator wall comprising a ridge portion extending into the fluid containment chamber, the ridge portion comprising a first slope face and a second slope face, and wherein the first slope face is oriented at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the second slope face; and(b) a venting aperture located above the first aperture and above the second aperture;a length of tubing fluidly associated with the fluid containment member; anda bioreactor fluidly associated with the length of tubing and with the fluid containment member; wherein the tubing-organizer and the fluid conveyance system are adapted to be detachably-attached to the cell expansion machine, and wherein the tubing-organizer comprises a plurality of sensor ports to provide access through a wall of the tubing-organizer to allow the plurality of fluid level sensors on the cell expansion machine to read a level of the cell-containing fluid in the fluid containment member.