Bioreactor Filter Tethering for Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing perfusion bioreactors face issues with filter clogging, fouling, and damage due to improper placement and movement during rocking motion, which affects gaseous exchange and filtration efficiency, and can lead to 'bubbling' of media.
Innovation Solution
A bioreactor filter system with tethers that function as floating constraints, allowing the filter to move freely while preventing twisting or turning, maintaining immersion in the liquid medium and preventing contact with the bioreactor walls, thus enhancing filtration and gaseous exchange and preventing bubbling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter is fixed to the inner surface of the bioreactor wall, then the filter is protected from twisting or sticking to the walls, but the filter easily gets clogged and fouled
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is made freely movable on the liquid surface during rocking motion, allowing it to move with the waves rather than being fixed. This dynamic positioning prevents the filter from being stuck to the walls while the cross-flow effect from the holding device prevents clogging and fouling
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the filter is constructed to move freely on the liquid surface, then the filter is prevented from clogging due to erosion by turbulence, but the filter can twist and turn damaging it and may stick to inner walls
Solution Approach 1:
A filter holding device is introduced as an intermediary between the filter and the bioreactor wall. This device provides a controlled space between the filter and the wall, allowing the filter to move freely for clogging prevention while the holding device structure prevents excessive twisting and sticking to the walls
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the filter is floating on the surface of the cell culture medium, then the filter moves with rocking motion preventing clogging, but the prefusion process may fail due to bubbling of the media
Solution Approach 1:
The filter holding device acts as an intermediary that positions the filter at an optimal depth. It allows the filter to move with the rocking motion for clogging prevention while maintaining sufficient immersion in the liquid medium to prevent air bubbling during the prefusion process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tethered filter system effectively prevents clogging and fouling, ensures continuous exposure to the medium, and maintains efficient gaseous exchange and filtration, reducing the risk of filter damage and media bubbling.
Implementation Method 1
the filter is constructed to move freely on the liquid cell culture medium during the rocking motion of the bioreactor
Implementation Method 2
Perfusion bioreactors typically contain a filter which filters out the spent cell culture medium and toxic cell metabolites that inhibit cell growth out of the bioreactor while retaining the healthy and viable cells within the bioreactor
Implementation Method 3
Rocking of the platform induces wave like motion in the cell culture medium which causes the cells to move around constantly
Implementation Method 4
Any cells or debris deposited on the filter is eroded by the tangential flow of the cell culture media with respect to the filter
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a bioreactor 10 for cell culture and expansion, comprising a bioreactor chamber 17, a filter 13 disposed within the chamber 17 and at least one tether 14 loosely tethering the filter to the bioreactor chamber. In an embodiment, the tether(s) allow the filter 13 to move from side to side and/or up and down within the chamber 17, preferably without touching an inner surface of the bioreactor chamber 17. Alternatives show, two, three or four tethers, but one or more tethers can be used.