Bioreactor with feed and harvest flow through filter assembly
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a bioreactor and a method for operating a bioreactor which comprises a chamber ( 100 ) capable of receiving a liquid media, and a filter assembly ( 200 ) comprising a perfusion filter ( 210; 212; 214 ). The filter assembly ( 200 ) is disposed in the chamber ( 100 ) and the filter assembly ( 200 ) is free to move within the chamber ( 100 ). The filter assembly ( 200 ) comprises means for coupling a harvesting flow through said filter ( 210; 212; 214 ) and means for coupling a feed flow through said filter in an opposite direction compared to the harvesting flow. Through this arrangement, the clogging prevention of the perfusion filter can be improved.
1. A bioreactor comprising:
a chamber capable of receiving a liquid media; and
a filter assembly disposed in and free to move about the chamber;
wherein the filter assembly is configured to:
(i) receive a feed flow through a feed flow tube passing through a pathway formed between a first perfusion filter and a second perfusion filter of the filter assembly, the feed flow being pumped into the bioreactor by means of a feed pump; and
(ii) produce a harvesting flow through the first and second perfusion filters and through a filtration tube in an opposite direction of the feed flow, the harvesting flow being pumped from the bioreactor by means of a harvest pump.
2. The bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible tube attached to the filter assembly, the flexible tube being configured to couple to the filter assembly.
3. The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises means for coupling the feed flow and the harvesting flow, respectively.
4. The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises means for coupling the feed flow and the harvesting flow in a coaxial manner.
5. The bioreactor of claim 4 , wherein the feed flow is arranged coaxially around the harvesting flow.
6. The bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises at least two perfusion filters.
7. The bioreactor of claim 6 , wherein the feed flow is directed to flow between the at least two perfusion filters.
8. A method of operating a bioreactor including a chamber capable of receiving a liquid media and a filter assembly disposed in and free to move about the chamber, the method comprising:
receiving a feed flow through a feed flow tube passing through a pathway formed between a first perfusion filter and a second perfusion filter of the filter assembly, the feed flow being pumped into the bioreactor by means of a feed pump; and
producing a harvesting flow through the first and second perfusion filters and through a filtration tube in an opposite direction of the feed flow, the harvesting flow being pumped from the bioreactor by means of a harvest pump.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
first removing the harvesting flow from the bioreactor; and
subsequently feeding to the bioreactor a volume of the feed flow substantially equal to a volume of the removed harvesting flow.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing the harvesting flow and the feed flow in periodic intervals.