Bioreactor and method

摘要

The bioreactor is for use in performing biological and/or biochemical reactions and includes a vessel, an agitator, a reaction assembly, and a harvesting outlet. The vessel of the bioreactor includes several ports including a mixing port, a reaction port, and a harvesting port. The agitator extends through the mixing port into the vessel while the harvesting outlet extends through the harvesting port and permits the withdrawal of reaction medium to another vessel. The reaction assembly extends through the reaction port into the vessel and has multiple components including a gas conduit adapted to introduce gas into a reaction medium in the vessel, a sampling device adapted to remove a portion of the reaction medium from the vessel without contamination of the remaining reaction medium, and an introduction conduit permitting the introduction of at least the reaction medium into the vessel.

主权项

1. A bioreactor apparatus for performing biological and biochemical reactions comprising:
a vessel comprising at least three separate and distinct ports, the ports comprising a mixing port, a reaction port, and a harvesting port; an agitator extending through the mixing port into the vessel; a reaction assembly extending through the reaction port into the vessel, the reaction assembly consists of:
a) a gas conduit adapted to introduce gas into a reaction medium in the vessel;b) a sampling device adapted to remove a portion of the reaction medium from the vessel without contamination of the remaining reaction medium remaining in the vessel, wherein the sampling device consists of:
i) a collection conduit extending into the vessel;ii) a sampling valve positioned in the collection conduit and disposed outside the vessel; andiii) an extractor associated with the collection conduit and disposed outside of the vessel and adapted to remove a sample portion of the reaction medium through the collection conduit; andc) an introduction conduit permitting the introduction of at least the reaction medium into the vessel, wherein the gas conduit, sampling device and introduction conduit have a unitary common support; wherein the unitary common support is removeably fixed to the reaction port such that the reaction assembly is placed in and removed from the reaction port as a unit; wherein the harvesting port consists of a dedicated harvesting outlet extending therethrough for the withdrawal of the reaction medium from the vessel, the dedicated harvesting outlet configured to be coupled to another vessel via a sanitary coupling.