Magnetic Linear Actuator for Hermetic Bioprocessing Agitation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current agitation systems for single-use vessels in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries face limitations, including cross-contamination concerns with traditional methods, scalability issues, and membrane clogging during continuous bioprocessing, particularly with standard filtration techniques.

Innovation Solution

A hermetically sealed actuating device that uses magnetic flux to drive an agitator within a housing, eliminating the need for mechanical coupling and allowing for scalable use across various vessel types and volumes, including flexible and rigid containers, with integrated sampling and filtration capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical coupling of shaft to bag surface is used for agitation, then agitation function is achieved, but scalability is limited and mechanical integrity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidmechanical integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical coupling systems with magnetic coupling. A permanent magnet is embedded in the shaft, and an electromagnetic coil generates magnetic flux through the housing walls to drive the shaft. This eliminates mechanical connections between the actuator and shaft, preventing mechanical integrity issues while enabling scalability across different vessel sizes and types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnetic flux as an intermediary between the electromagnetic coil and the shaft. The magnetic field acts as a non-contact mediator that transmits rotational force without physical connection, solving both the mechanical integrity and scalability problems simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If standard lateral flow filtration is used for continuous bioprocessing, then product removal is achieved, but membrane clogging occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous processing capabilityVSAvoidmembrane clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs reciprocating motion of the shaft that creates periodic turbulent and laminar flow patterns. This periodic action prevents continuous clogging by periodically disrupting the accumulation of cellular debris on the membrane surface, enabling sustained continuous bioprocessing without frequent filter changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The reciprocating shaft generates mechanical vibrations that propagate through the fluid, creating turbulent flow conditions that prevent particulate matter from settling and clogging the membrane filter, thereby maintaining reliable continuous filtration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Reliability

If hermetically sealed housing with magnetic flux is used for actuation, then cross-contamination is eliminated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterile barrier integrityVSAvoidactuator design

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical drive systems that would require shaft seals with a magnetic coupling system. The electromagnetic coil generates magnetic flux that acts through the hermetic housing walls to rotate the shaft without penetrating the sterile barrier, thus maintaining sterile integrity while the added magnetic components represent manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution provides efficient agitation, sampling, and filtration without cross-contamination, enabling scalable applications from microliter to kiloliter volumes, reducing membrane clogging through controlled turbulent and laminar flow, and enhancing process efficiency in continuous bioprocessing.

Implementation Method 1

Application of a voltage to the electromagnetic coil creates a magnetic flux received by the at least one magnetic element, causing the at least one magnetic element and piston to move in a first linear direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentUS10092888B2Linear reciprocating actuator

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 GENESIS TECH

AI summary

A linear reciprocating actuator for mixing, agitating, separation, continuous sampling and/or harvesting or filtration, gas mixing, and various other applications. The actuator may have a housing closed on one end, and attached to a vessel in a hermetically-sealed manner such that it is part of the fluidic envelope of the vessel. An agitation device may be attached to a shaft which is partially surrounded by the housing, or the agitation device may surround the housing where the housing protrudes into the vessel. The actuator enables agitation of the contents of a hermetically-sealed vessel without mechanical coupling from outside the fluidic envelope of the process. The agitation device is solely acted upon by a magnetic field, is contained entirely within the fluidic envelope of the process, and is not attached to the vessel in any way. The magnetic flux which drives the agitation device passes through the housing.