Concentric Tube Bioreactor Assembly for Low-Shear Cell Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioreactors face limitations in maintaining optimal nutrient and oxygen levels, managing waste metabolites, and supporting diverse cell types for large-scale, consistent production of biological substances, particularly in animal and insect cells, while avoiding growth-inhibiting concentration gradients.
Innovation Solution
A bioreactor design incorporating a sparger-mixer-filter assembly that enables simultaneous sparging, mixing, and filtration operations without moving parts, utilizing a concentric tube structure with a permeable membrane to separate retentate and permeate, and a porous barrier for filtration, allowing for continuous processing and scalable operation from small to large scales.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional stirred-tank bioreactors are used for large-scale cell cultivation, then mixing and oxygenation can be achieved, but shear stress damages sensitive animal and insect cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical stirring impellers with a gas-driven sparging system. Gas bubbles rising through the broth create gentle mixing currents that eliminate shear stress on sensitive cells while maintaining effective mixing and oxygenation throughout the large-scale reactor volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses sparged gas flows to drive fluid circulation and mixing. The pneumatic introduction of gas creates hydrodynamic forces that circulate the broth and distribute nutrients and oxygen without requiring mechanical moving parts that generate harmful shear stress.
2Productivity
If large-scale bioreactors are used for production, then productivity increases, but concentration gradients of nutrients and waste metabolites develop that inhibit cell growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large reactor volume into multiple circulation zones created by distributed sparging points. Gas injection at multiple locations creates localized upwelling currents that collectively mix the entire large volume, preventing concentration gradients while maintaining the scalability needed for high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates dynamic circulation patterns through continuous gas sparging that adapts to the broth composition and flow conditions. The rising gas bubbles generate constantly changing flow fields that effectively distribute nutrients and remove waste metabolites throughout the large reactor volume, maintaining composition stability at scale.
3Reliability
If complex filtration systems are added to manage waste metabolites, then product quality improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sparging function with the filtration function in a single integrated assembly. The sparger-mixer-filter assembly uses the same gas-driven fluid circulation to achieve both mixing/oxygenation and filtration of waste metabolites, eliminating the need for separate complex filtration systems and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sparger-mixer-filter assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides oxygenation through gas sparging, creates mixing currents to prevent concentration gradients, and filters waste metabolites from the broth. This multi-functional design improves product quality without adding complex separate filtration systems.
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
Facilitates large-scale, flexible cell cultivation by maintaining optimal conditions and reducing shear stress, enhancing productivity and consistency in biological substance production through integrated aeration, agitation, and filtration processes.
Implementation Method 1
a sparger-mixer-filter assembly for cell cultivation
Implementation Method 2
a third tube that surrounds the second tube; wherein the third tube is in fluid communication with a sparger; and wherein the third tube transports a fluid that sparges a biological broth
Implementation Method 3
a membrane that separates the first tube from the second tube separates the biological broth into the permeate and the retentate
Implementation Method 4
a membrane that separates the first tube from the second tube separates the biological broth into the permeate and the retentate
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a bioreactor comprising a vessel comprising; a first tube for transporting retentate to a retentate receiving tank; a second tube that surrounds the first tube for transporting a permeate to a permeate receiving tank; and a third tube that surrounds the second tube; wherein the third tube is in fluid communication with a sparger; and wherein the third tube transports a fluid that sparges a biological broth disposed in the vessel and wherein a membrane that separates the first tube from the second tube separates the biological broth into the permeate and the retentate.