Agitation device and stirring system

Abstract

To provide a stirring device that can increase the amount of oxygen dissolved in the culture medium. [Solution] The device comprises a hollow external structure and an internal structure that extends horizontally within the external structure and partitions an annular channel containing culture medium and air between itself and the inner surface of the external structure. The annular channel has a reduced region which is a region on one side of a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first direction of the internal structure, and an expanded region which is a region on the other side of the second direction of the internal structure and has a larger channel cross-sectional area than the reduced region. The device further includes a drive unit that applies an external force to the culture medium in the annular channel so that the culture medium flows from the expanded region over the top of the internal structure towards the reduced region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a stirring device and a stirring system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a stirring device that fills a culture solution in an annular flow path between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and blows gas into the annular flow path from below. According to this stirring device, the culture solution is swirled in the annular flow path by blowing the gas, thereby promoting the stirring of the culture solution.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when stirring the culture solution, it is necessary to appropriately control the concentration of oxygen in the culture solution. In particular, in order to promote the growth of cells in the culture solution and improve the survival probability, it is required to further improve the amount of oxygen dissolved in the culture solution.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a stirring device and a stirring system capable of increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in a culture solution.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the stirring device according to the present disclosure includes a hollow external structure, The present invention comprises an internal structure which is arranged to extend in a first horizontal direction within the external structure, thereby partitioning an annular channel containing culture medium and air between itself and the inner circumferential surface of the external structure, wherein the annular channel has a reduced region which is a region on one side of a second horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the first direction of the internal structure, and an expanded region which is a region on the other side of the internal structure in the second direction and has a larger channel cross-sectional area than the reduced region, and further comprises a drive unit which applies an external force to the culture medium in the annular channel so that the culture medium flows from the expanded region over the top of the internal structure toward the reduced region.

[0007] The stirring system according to this disclosure comprises a plurality of stirring devices and a connecting pipe connecting the annular flow channels of the plurality of stirring devices, wherein the connecting pipe extends upward from each connection point to the annular flow channel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to increase the amount of oxygen dissolved in the culture medium. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an overview of a stirring device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a side view of a stirring device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the stirring apparatus according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operating state of a stirring device according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the stirring apparatus according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a side view of a stirring device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] <First Embodiment> <Agitator 1> The first embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The stirring device 1 of the first embodiment is a device used for cell culture. The stirring device 1 comprises an external structure 10, an internal structure 40, and a drive unit 50.

[0011] <External structures> The external structure 10 is a component that forms the outer shape of the stirring device 1 and has a hollow interior. The external structure 10 has a cylindrical body 20 and a pair of end plates 30.

[0012] The cylindrical body 20 is a cylindrical member centered on a central axis O1 that extends in the first horizontal direction D1 (the depth direction in Figures 1 and 3, and the left-right direction in Figure 2). The outer circumferential surface 21 of the cylindrical body 20 is a cylindrical surface centered on the central axis O1. The inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 20 is a cylindrical inner circumferential surface 22 that is a cylindrical surface centered on the central axis O1. The thickness of the cylindrical body 20 is constant in the circumferential direction of the central axis O1.

[0013] The pair of end plates 30 (see Figure 2) are disc-shaped with respect to the central axis O1. These end plates 30 close both ends of the cylindrical body 20 in the first direction D1. As a result, a space is formed inside the cylindrical body 20.

[0014] <Internal structure> The internal structure 40 of this embodiment is a rotating body 41 disposed inside the external structure 10. The rotating body 41 is cylindrical in shape, extending around an eccentric axis O2 that extends parallel to the central axis O1. The rotating body 41 is rotatable around the eccentric axis O2. The rotating body 41 extends in a first direction D1 within the external structure 10. Both end faces of the rotating body 41 in the first direction D1 are slidably in contact with a pair of end plates 30, or are facing each other with a clearance between them. The outer circumferential surface 21 of the rotating body 41 is a cylindrical outer circumferential surface 43 centered on the eccentric axis O2. The outer diameter of the cylindrical outer circumferential surface 43 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical inner circumferential surface 22 of the external structure 10.

[0015] By arranging the rotating body 41 as the internal structure 40 within the external structure 10 in this manner, an annular flow path is formed inside the external structure 10 by the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 22 of the external structure 10 and the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 43 of the internal structure 40. The culture solution C and air are accommodated in the annular flow path. The annular flow path is a flow path that forms an annulus so as to surround the central axis O1 and the eccentric axis O2. The annular flow path is a flow path through which fluid circulates annularly along a virtual plane including the second direction D2 and the vertical direction D3.

[0016] The rotating body 41 is arranged in a state biased to one side (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the second direction D2 within the external structure 10. That is, the eccentric axis O2 is arranged in an eccentric state so as to be displaced to one side of the second direction D2 from the central axis O1.

[0017] Due to the rotating body 41 being arranged biased to one side of the second direction D2, the portion of the internal structure 40 on one side of the second direction D2 in the annular flow path has a reduced flow path cross-sectional area. The region where the flow path cross-sectional area is reduced in this way is defined as the reduced region R1 of the annular flow path. The reduced region R1 is the portion on one side of the second direction D2 from the eccentric axis O2 among the regions of the annular flow path within the vertical direction D3 range of the rotating body 41.

[0018] Due to the rotating body 41 being arranged biased to one side of the second direction D2, the portion of the internal structure 40 on the other side of the second direction D2 (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 3) in the annular flow path has an enlarged flow path cross-sectional area. The region where the flow path cross-sectional area is enlarged in this way is defined as the enlarged region R2 of the annular flow path. The enlarged region R2 is the portion on one side of the second direction D2 from the eccentric axis O2 among the regions of the annular flow path within the vertical direction D3 range of the rotating body 41.

[0019] <Drive unit> The drive unit 50 of the present embodiment is an electric motor 51 that rotationally drives the rotating body 41 around the eccentric axis O2. The drive unit 50 may be configured using other power sources other than the electric motor 51. The electric motor 51 has an electric motor main body 51a and an output shaft 51b.

[0020] The motor body 51a is located outside the external structure 10. When the motor body 51a is driven, the output shaft 51b is rotationally driven. The output shaft 51b is a shaft that extends in the first direction D1 and passes through the end plate 30 and is connected to the rotating body 41. As a result, the rotating body 41 is rotationally driven around the eccentric axis O2 as the output shaft 51b rotates.

[0021] Here, the rotating body 41 is rotated in the stirring direction by the electric motor 51. That is, as shown in Figure 3, the cylindrical outer surface 43 of the rotating body 41 rotates in the stirring direction (clockwise in Figures 1 and 3), progressing sequentially from the expanding region R2, the top 44a of the rotating body 41, the contracting region R1, the bottom 44b of the rotating body 41, the expanding region R2, the top 44a, and so on.

[0022] Furthermore, the output shaft 51b of the electric motor 51 and the rotating body 41 may be coupled by a magnetic coupling. In this case, it is not necessary to form a through-hole in the end plate 30. Therefore, the degree of airtightness within the external structure 10 can be improved, and contamination can be avoided.

[0023] <Culture medium and air> Culture medium C and air are supplied and discharged within the annular channel. Therefore, the external structure 10 is provided with an air supply hole 23, an air discharge hole 24, a liquid supply hole 25, and a liquid discharge hole 26.

[0024] <Air supply port> The air supply hole 23 is a hole that penetrates the cylindrical body 20 from the inside to the outside and is provided on one side of the cylindrical body 20 of the external structure 10 in the second direction D2. The air supply hole 23 is provided so as to penetrate the narrowed region R1 of the annular flow path and the outside of the cylindrical body 20 in the second direction D2. The air supply hole 23 is located above the central axis O1 and the eccentric axis O2 and below the top 44a of the rotating body 41. The air supply hole 23 is connected to an air source located outside the external structure 10. Culture air A1 as microbubbles from the air source is supplied into the annular flow path through the air supply hole 23.

[0025] <Air vent> The air discharge hole 24 is a hole that penetrates the cylindrical body 20 from the inside to the outside and is provided at the top (the very top in this embodiment) of the cylindrical body 20 of the external structure 10. The air discharge hole 24 is provided so as to penetrate the annular flow path and the outside of the cylindrical body 20 in the vertical direction D3. The air discharge hole 24 is positioned above the rotating body 41 and is located at the very top of the cylindrical body 20 in this embodiment. If the agitator 1 is provided in a space with a high degree of cleanliness, the air discharge hole 24 may be open to the atmosphere in which the outside of the external structure 10 is located. In addition, the air discharge hole 34 may be connected to a suction device provided outside the external structure 10.

[0026] <Liquid supply hole> The liquid supply hole 25 is a hole that penetrates the cylindrical body 20 from the inside to the outside and is provided on one side of the cylindrical body 20 of the external structure 10 in the second direction D2. The liquid supply hole 25 is provided so as to penetrate the narrowed region R1 of the annular flow path and the outside of the cylindrical body 20 in the second direction D2. The liquid supply hole 25 is located above the central axis O1 and the eccentric axis O2 and below the top 44a of the rotating body 41. The liquid supply hole 25 is located below the air supply hole 23. The liquid supply hole 25 is connected to a culture medium supply source located outside the external structure 10. Culture medium C is supplied from the culture medium supply source into the annular flow path through the liquid supply hole 25.

[0027] <Liquid drain hole> The liquid discharge hole 26 is a hole that penetrates the cylindrical body 20 inward and outward, and is provided on the other side of the cylindrical body 20 of the external structure 10 in the second direction D2. The liquid discharge hole 26 is provided so as to penetrate the expanded region R2 of the annular flow path and the outside of the cylindrical body 20 in the second direction D2. The liquid discharge hole 26 is provided in a region above the expanded region R2 in the annular flow path. The liquid discharge hole 26 is provided directly above the expanded region R2 in the annular flow path. The liquid discharge hole 26 is formed above the top 44a of the rotating body 41. The liquid discharge hole 26 is provided on the rear side in the stirring direction of the air discharge hole 24.

[0028] The liquid discharge hole 26 is connected to other equipment or a waste disposal area located outside the external structure 10. The culture medium C in the annular flow path is discharged to the outside by overflowing the liquid discharge hole 26 when it reaches the height of the liquid discharge hole 26. In other words, the maximum liquid level of the culture medium C is set by the position of the liquid discharge hole 26. The liquid discharge hole 26 may also be connected to a suction device located outside the external structure 10.

[0029] <Effects and Effects> When operating the stirring device 1 with the above configuration, the rotating body 41 is rotated in the stirring direction by driving the electric motor 51 while the culture medium C, consisting of the culture medium and cells added to the culture medium, is contained in the annular channel.

[0030] As a result, an external force is applied to the culture medium C from the cylindrical outer surface 43 of the rotating body 41, causing the culture medium C to begin flowing in the stirring direction, similar to the rotating body 41. At this time, the annular flow path has a smaller flow path cross-sectional area in the narrowing region R1 on one side of the second direction D2 as viewed from the rotating body 41, and a larger flow path cross-sectional area in the expanding region R2 on the other side of the second direction D2. Therefore, a difference in the flow velocity of the culture medium C occurs between these narrowing region R1 and expanding region R2. That is, in the narrowing region R1, the movement speed of the culture medium C becomes relatively larger, resulting in a relatively smaller static pressure of the culture medium C. On the other hand, in the expanding region R2, the movement speed of the culture medium C becomes relatively smaller, resulting in a relatively larger static pressure.

[0031] As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the liquid level L1 in the contracted region R1 is relatively lower, while the liquid level L2 in the expanded region R2 is relatively higher, creating a difference in liquid level between the contracted region R1 and the expanded region R2.

[0032] Then, when the liquid level L2 in the expanded region R2 exceeds the height of the top 44a of the rotating body 41, the culture medium C in the expanded region R2 flows over the top 44a of the rotating body 41 toward the contracted region R1. At this time, since the liquid level L1 in the contracted region R1 is lower than the liquid level L2 in the expanded region R2, the culture medium C falls from the expanded region R2 toward the contracted region R1. While the electric motor 51 is running, the above liquid level difference is continuously maintained, and the flow of the culture medium C from the expanded region R2 toward the contracted region R1 also continues.

[0033] Furthermore, when the stirring device 1 is in operation, culture air A1 as microbubbles is constantly supplied into the culture medium C from the air supply port 23. In addition, the culture medium C is supplied to the annular channel from the liquid supply port 25, for example, in batches. As the culture air A1 and culture medium C flow through the annular channel, they are guided from the narrowing region R1 of the annular channel, through the bottom 44b side of the rotating body 41, to the expanding region R2. During this process, the dissolution of culture air A1 into the culture medium C proceeds.

[0034] Then, the culture air A1 that did not dissolve completely in the culture medium C escapes from the liquid level L2 of the expanded region R2 into the upper space within the annular channel and is discharged to the outside through the air discharge hole 24. Furthermore, when the liquid level in the expanded region R2 reaches the height of the liquid discharge hole 26, the culture medium C is discharged to the external structure 10 as an overflow through the liquid discharge hole 26. In other words, the liquid level L2 of the expanded region R2 is maintained by the height of the liquid discharge hole 26.

[0035] As described above, with the stirring device 1 of this embodiment, the culture medium C flows from the expanding region R2 to the contracting region R1 in the annular channel. This flow draws air from the upper part of the annular channel into the culture medium C. This allows air bubbles to diffuse into the culture medium C and promotes the dissolution of air into the culture medium C. Therefore, the oxygen concentration in the culture medium C can be increased, promoting cell growth and improving cell viability.

[0036] Since the air supply unit is configured to supply culture air A1 to the reduced region R1, the residence time of culture air A1 in the culture medium C of the annular channel can be increased. This further promotes the dissolution of air into the culture medium C.

[0037] The air discharge hole 24 is positioned above the rotating body 41, and in this embodiment in particular, it is formed at the very top of the annular flow path. Therefore, a distance can be ensured between the liquid levels L1 and L2 of the culture medium C and the air discharge hole 24, thereby preventing contamination of the culture medium C through the air discharge hole 24.

[0038] Since the liquid supply port 25 is configured to supply culture medium C to the reduced region R1, the diffusion time of culture medium C in the annular channel can be extended. This promotes mixing of culture medium C and helps to homogenize the components in culture medium C.

[0039] By adopting a configuration in which the culture medium C overflows from the liquid discharge hole 26, the liquid level L2 in the expanded region R2 can be easily set. Furthermore, since the liquid discharge hole 26 is located on the expanded region R2 side, a distance can be maintained between it and the liquid supply hole 25 located on the reduced region R1 side. This prevents the formation of a short path for the culture medium C from the liquid supply hole 25 to the liquid discharge hole 26.

[0040] The contact surface of the culture medium C on the rotating body 41 is the cylindrical outer surface 43 centered on the eccentric axis O2. Therefore, the shear force applied to the culture medium C can be reduced. Furthermore, the contact surface of the external structure 10 with the culture medium C is the cylindrical inner surface 22 centered on the central axis O1. This also reduces the shear force applied to the culture medium C. Therefore, the survival rate of cells in the culture medium C can be improved.

[0041] By simply positioning the eccentric axis O2 eccentrically to one side of the second direction D2 with respect to the central axis O1, the reduced region R1 and the expanded region R2 of the annular flow path can be easily formed. By positioning the eccentric axis O2 eccentrically above the central axis O1, the overall liquid levels L1 and L2 of the culture medium C can be raised, thereby increasing the capacity of the culture medium C.

[0042] Furthermore, since the culture medium C is contained within the external structure 10 in a nearly sealed state, contamination from the outside can be prevented.

[0043] <Modification of the first embodiment> As a modification of the first embodiment, for example, the configuration shown in Figure 4 may be adopted. That is, in this modification, a rotating cylinder 42 having a cylindrical shape centered on an eccentric axis O2 is used as the internal structure 40. The rotating cylinder 42 has a cylindrical outer surface 43 that extends uniformly in a first direction D1 with respect to the eccentric axis O2. Inside the rotating cylinder 42, a core portion 45 having a cylindrical shape centered on the eccentric axis O2 is provided. The core portion 45 is fixed immovably to the external structure 10, and only the rotating cylinder 42 is rotatable around the eccentric axis O2 so as to slide against the core portion 45. The electric motor 51, which serves as the drive unit 50, is configured to rotate only the rotating cylinder 42.

[0044] In this modified stirring device 1, the only object driven by the electric motor 51 is the rotating cylinder 42. Therefore, the power required for rotational drive can be reduced. The core portion 45 described above does not necessarily have to be provided; in other words, the inside of the rotating cylinder 42 may be hollow. <Second Embodiment>

[0045] Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 5. In the second embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their detailed descriptions are omitted. The stirring device 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it employs an air pump 55 as the drive unit 50.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the external structure 10 has lift air supply holes 27. The lift air supply holes 27 are provided to penetrate vertically through the cylindrical body 20 of the external structure 10 below the enlarged region R2 in the annular flow path. Multiple lift air supply holes 27 are formed at intervals in the second direction D2. Multiple lift air supply holes 27 may also be formed at intervals in the first direction D1.

[0047] The air pump 55 is located outside the external structure 10. The air pump 55 generates lift air A2. The generated lift air A2 is supplied into the annular channel through the lift air supply hole 27. In the annular channel, the lift air A2 consists of bubbles with a larger diameter than the culture air A1, which is microbubbles.

[0048] In the second embodiment, the internal structure 40 employs a cylindrical body 41a as a fixed object instead of the rotating body 41 of the first embodiment. The cylindrical body 41a is cylindrical with an eccentric axis O2 and has a cylindrical outer surface 43 that has a uniform shape in the first direction D1 with respect to the eccentric axis O2. Both ends of the cylindrical body 41a are fixed to a pair of end faces of the external structure 10.

[0049] <Effects and Effects> According to the stirring device 1 of the second embodiment described above, when the stirring device 1 is in operation, lift air A2 is supplied into the annular flow path by the air pump 55. Since the lift air supply hole 27 is formed below the expanded region R2, the lift air A2 rises up the expanded region R2. This lift air A2 applies an external force to the culture medium C, causing the culture medium C in the annular flow path to flow in the same stirring direction as in the first embodiment.

[0050] As a result, similar to the first embodiment, a height difference can be created between the liquid surface L2 of the expanded region R2 and the surface of the contracted region R1. Therefore, the stirring device 1 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0051] In the second embodiment of the stirring device 1, it is not necessary to provide a movable part within the external structure 10 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, maintenance can be made easier.

[0052] <Third Embodiment> Next, a culture system of the third embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 5. In the third embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0053] The culture system comprises multiple (two in this embodiment) stirring devices 1 of the first embodiment and connecting pipes 60.

[0054] The external structures 10 of each stirring device 1 are spaced apart in the first direction D1 and have their respective central axes O1 coaxially arranged. Alternatively, multiple external structures 10 may be in contact with each other from the first direction D1. Inside each external structure 10, a rotating body 41 is provided as an internal structure 40. A single motor 51, acting as a drive unit 50, is not provided for each rotating body 41; rather, only one motor 51 is provided. That is, one motor 51 is shared as the drive unit 50 that rotates each rotating body 41.

[0055] <Connecting pipe 60> The connecting pipe 60 connects the annular flow paths of each stirring device 1 to one another. The connecting pipe 60 has a pair of riser pipes 61 and a connecting pipe 62.

[0056] The riser pipe 61 is a pipe that extends in the vertical direction D3. The lower end of the riser pipe 61 penetrates the inside and outside of the external structure and is connected to the annular flow path of each agitator 1. The connection point of the riser pipe 61 to the annular flow path is located below the liquid discharge pipe in the enlarged region R2. The connecting pipe 62 connects the upper ends of the riser pipes 61 to each other in the first direction D1. Through such connecting piping 60, the annular flow paths of each agitator 1 are in communication with one another.

[0057] <Effects and Effects> With the culture system configured as described above, the culture medium C can be transferred between the annular channels of each stirring device 1. For example, the culture medium C, which has completed the first stage of cultivation in one stirring device 1, can be transferred to another stirring device 1 via the connecting pipe 60. This allows for the second stage of culture medium C to be performed by adding a culture medium C with different components in the other stirring device 1.

[0058] When transferring the culture medium C between the stirring devices 1 via the connecting pipe 60, for example, air or other gases at different pressures are supplied to the annular flow path of each stirring device 1. The gas may be supplied through the air supply hole 23 or through a separately formed supply hole. This allows the culture medium C to be transferred from a high-pressure annular channel to a low-pressure annular channel via the connecting pipe 60. In this process, the volume of culture medium C being transferred can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in each annular channel.

[0059] Alternatively, the upper end of the connecting pipe 60 may be positioned above the liquid discharge hole 26, and the connecting pipe 62 may be positioned above the liquid discharge hole 26 as well. In this case, if the pressure of air or other gas applied to the annular flow path is released, the liquid level of the culture medium C in the connecting pipe 60 will be lower than that of the connecting pipe 62. Therefore, backflow of the culture medium C can be avoided.

[0060] Furthermore, the stirring device 1 of the second embodiment may be used as the stirring device 1 that constitutes the culture system. In this case as well, the air pump 55 as the drive unit 50 may be shared among multiple stirring devices 1. Alternatively, the culture system may be constructed by bringing together the stirring devices 1 of the first embodiment and the stirring devices 1 of the second embodiment.

[0061] (Other embodiments) Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and may include design changes and the like that do not depart from the gist of this disclosure.

[0062] For example, while using the rotating body 41 of the first embodiment as the internal structure 40, both the electric motor 51 of the first embodiment and the air pump 55 of the second embodiment may be used as the drive unit 50. This allows external forces to be applied to the culture medium C in the annular flow path by both the rotating body 41 and the lifting air A2. As a result, the culture medium C can be made to flow more smoothly in the stirring direction.

[0063] The cylindrical outer surface 43 of the internal structure 40 does not need to be uniform in the direction of the eccentric axis O2. The outer surface of the internal structure 40 is not limited to a cylindrical outer surface 43, and various shapes can be adopted.

[0064] The outer surface 21 of the internal structure 40 does not have to be a perfect circle in shape perpendicular to the eccentric axis O2; for example, it may be an ellipse or a polygon. The inner surface of the external structure 10 does not have to be a perfect circle in shape perpendicular to the axis; for example, it may be an ellipse or a polygon.

[0065] Even in these cases, by positioning the internal structure 40 so as to be off-center horizontally to one side relative to the external structure 10, a reduced region R1 and an expanded region R2 can be formed in the annular flow channel. Furthermore, by positioning the internal structure 40 so as to be offset upward relative to the external structure 10, the capacity of the culture medium C within the annular channel can be increased.

[0066] The internal structure 40 does not need to be positioned offset upward from the external structure 10; in other words, the eccentric axis O2 may be at the same height as the central axis O1.

[0067] <Note> The stirring device 1 and stirring system 100 described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0068] (1) The stirring device 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a hollow external structure 10 and an internal structure 40 which is arranged to extend in a first horizontal direction D1 within the external structure 10 and partitions an annular channel containing culture medium C and air between itself and the inner circumferential surface of the external structure 10, wherein the annular channel has a reduced region R1 which is the region on one side of the internal structure 40 in a second horizontal direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1 and an expanded region R2 which is the region on the other side of the internal structure 40 in the second direction D2 and has a larger channel cross-sectional area than the reduced region R1, and further comprises a drive unit 50 which applies an external force to the culture medium C in the annular channel so that the culture medium C flows from the expanded region R2 over the top 44a of the internal structure 40 toward the reduced region R1.

[0069] This causes the liquid level L2 in the expanded region R2 to be higher than the liquid level L1 in the contracted region R1, causing the culture medium C to flow from the expanded region R2 to the contracted region R1. During this process, the culture medium C entrains air, promoting mixing of the culture medium C and air.

[0070] (2) The stirring device 1 according to the second embodiment is the stirring device 1 of (1) further comprising an air supply unit that supplies air to the reduced region R1 and an air discharge unit that discharges air from a region in the annular flow path above the internal structure 40.

[0071] This allows for a longer contact time between the air and the culture medium C.

[0072] (3) The stirring device 1 according to the third embodiment is the stirring device 1 of (1) or (2), further comprising a liquid supply hole 25 for supplying culture medium C to the reduced region R1, and a liquid discharge hole 26 for discharging the culture medium C from the region above the internal structure 40 in the expanded region R2.

[0073] This allows for a longer contact time between the culture medium C and the air.

[0074] (4) The stirring device 1 according to the fourth embodiment is any of the stirring devices 1 of (1) to (3), wherein the internal structure 40 is a rotating body 41 that can rotate around an eccentric axis O2 extending in the first direction D1, and the drive unit is an electric motor 51 that rotates the rotating body 41.

[0075] This allows for the appropriate driving force to be applied to the culture medium C in the annular channel.

[0076] (5) In the fifth embodiment of the stirring device 1, the electric motor 51 is provided outside the external structure 10, and the internal structure 40 and the electric motor 51 are connected by a magnetic coupling, thereby transmitting the driving force of the electric motor 51 to the internal structure 40.

[0077] This improves the airtightness of the external structure 10.

[0078] (6) In the sixth embodiment of the stirring device 1, the rotating body 41 is cylindrical with respect to the eccentric axis O2.

[0079] This allows for a reduction in the driving force compared to the case where the rotating body 41 is a solid cylinder.

[0080] (7) The stirring device 1 according to the seventh embodiment is any one of the stirring devices 1 from (1) to (3), wherein the flow mechanism is an air pump 55 that supplies air upward from the lower part of the expanded region R2.

[0081] This allows for the appropriate driving force to be applied to the culture medium C in the annular channel.

[0082] (8) The stirring device 1 according to the eighth embodiment is any of the stirring devices 1 from (1) to (7) in which the internal structure 40 has a cylindrical outer surface 43 centered on an eccentric axis O2 extending in the first direction D1.

[0083] This reduces the shear force applied from the internal structure 40 to the culture medium C in the annular channel, thereby improving the survival rate of cells in the culture medium C.

[0084] (9) The stirring device 1 according to the ninth embodiment is any of the stirring devices 1 from (1) to (8) whose external structure 10 has a cylindrical inner surface 22 centered on a central axis O1 extending in the first direction D1.

[0085] This also reduces the shear force applied from the internal structure 40 to the culture medium C in the annular channel, thereby improving the survival rate of cells in the culture medium C.

[0086] (10) The stirring device 1 according to the ninth embodiment is any of the stirring devices 1 from (1) to (9) in which the eccentric axis O2 is arranged eccentrically to one side of the second direction D2 with respect to the central axis O1.

[0087] This allows for the appropriate formation of the reduced region R1 and the expanded region R2.

[0088] (11) The stirring device 1 according to the eleventh embodiment is any of the stirring devices 1 from (1) to (10) in which the eccentric axis O2 is arranged eccentrically upward with respect to the central axis O1.

[0089] This allows the liquid levels L1 and L2 of culture medium C to be raised, thereby improving culture efficiency.

[0090] (12) The stirring device 1 according to the twelfth embodiment is any of the stirring devices 1 from (1) to (11) in which the liquid levels L1 and L2 of the culture medium C when the drive unit 50 is driven are located higher in the expanding region R2 than in the contracting region R1.

[0091] This allows the culture medium C to flow from the expanded region R2 to the reduced region R1.

[0092] (13) The stirring system 100 according to the thirteenth embodiment comprises a plurality of stirring devices 1 of any of (1) to (12), and a connecting pipe 62 that connects the annular flow channels of the plurality of stirring devices 1, wherein the connecting pipe 62 extends upward from each connection point of the annular flow channel.

[0093] This allows the culture medium C to be passed back and forth between multiple stirring devices 1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 1 Stirring device 10 External structures 20 Cylindrical bodies 21 Outer surface 22 Inner surface of cylinder 23 Air supply holes 24 air vents 25 Liquid supply hole 26 Liquid drain hole 27 Air supply holes for lift 30 End plate 40 Internal structure 41. Solids of revolution 41a Cylinder 42 Rotating Cylinder 43 Cylindrical outer surface 44a Top 44b bottom 45 Core 50 Drive unit 51 Electric motor 51a Motor body 51b Output shaft 55 Air Pump 60 connecting pipes 61 riser pipe 62 connecting pipes 100 stirring system R1 reduced area R2 Enlarged Area L1 liquid level L2 liquid level A1 Culture air A2 Air for lift C Culture solution D1 First direction D2 Second direction D3 up and down direction O1 Central Axis O2 Eccentric axis

Claims

1. The external structure is hollow, An internal structure is positioned within the external structure so as to extend in a first direction which is horizontal, thereby partitioning an annular channel for containing culture medium and air between itself and the inner circumferential surface of the external structure, Equipped with, The aforementioned annular channel is A reduced region is a region on one side of the second direction, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first direction of the internal structure, An expanded region of the internal structure on the other side of the second direction, having a larger flow path cross-sectional area than the reduced region, It has, A stirring device further comprising a drive unit that applies an external force to the culture medium in the annular channel so that the culture medium moves from the expanding region over the top of the internal structure toward the shrinking region.

2. An air supply port for supplying air to the reduced area, An air discharge section that discharges air from a region above the internal structure in the annular flow path, The stirring device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. A liquid supply port for supplying the culture medium to the reduced region, A liquid discharge hole for discharging the culture medium from the region above the enlarged region in the annular channel, The stirring device according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. The internal structure is a rotating body that can rotate about an eccentric axis extending in the first direction, The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor for rotating the rotating body.

5. The aforementioned electric motor is installed outside the external structure, The stirring device according to claim 4, wherein the internal structure and the electric motor are connected by a magnetic coupling, thereby transmitting the driving force of the electric motor to the internal structure.

6. The stirring device according to claim 4, wherein the rotating body is cylindrical with respect to the eccentric axis.

7. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes an air pump that supplies air from below to above the enlarged region.

8. The stirring device according to claim 4, wherein the drive unit includes an air pump that supplies air from below to above the enlarged area.

9. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the internal structure has a cylindrical outer surface centered on an eccentric axis extending in the first direction.

10. The stirring device according to claim 9, wherein the external structure has a cylindrical inner circumferential surface centered on a central axis extending in the first direction.

11. The stirring device according to claim 10, wherein the eccentric axis is arranged eccentrically to one side in the second direction with respect to the central axis.

12. The stirring device according to claim 11, wherein the eccentric axis is arranged eccentrically above the central axis.

13. The stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the liquid level of the culture medium during operation of the drive unit is higher in the expanding region than in the contracting region.

14. A plurality of stirring devices according to claim 1, A connecting pipe that connects the annular channels of multiple stirring devices, Equipped with, The connecting pipe is an agitation system that extends upward from each connection point to the annular flow path.

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