IP Library Granted Patent US 11,097,237
Granted Patent B2
US 11,097,237 · App. 16/017,014 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

Automated method and apparatus for preparing bioprocess solutions

Inventors: Thomas Reid Fletcher (Newport Beach, CA); David Neese (Escondido, CA); Wayne Mauro (Lake Forest, CA)
Assignee: FUJIFILM IRVINE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
B01F15/00149B01F1/0038B01F3/088B01F3/2261B01F5/006B01F5/0062B01F5/0496B01F13/1016B01F15/0022B01F15/00136B01F15/00162B01F15/00227C12M27/00C12M41/26C12M45/02C12M99/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,097,237
App. No.
16/017,014
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automated method includes providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution and controlling, by a processing circuit, all automated system including at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, and a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, to automatically prepare the liquid bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient. Controlling the auto system may include performing a series of sequential mixing steps, the series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution. The method mixing include taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution, wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold. Each step may also include opening or closing, by the processing circuit, at least one of the plurality of valves.

Claims (33)

1. An automated method, comprising:

providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution; and

controlling, by a processing circuit, an automated system comprising at least one mixing chamber having a lower port and an upper port for fluid to enter the at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, and a plurality of valves provided within the tubing and controlled by the processing circuit, to automatically prepare the bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient,

wherein controlling the automated system comprises controlling, by the processing circuit, the automated system to perform a series of sequential mixing steps, the series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution and comprising:

opening a first valve associated with the lower port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the lower port, and

after a predetermined amount of elapsed time, closing the first valve and opening a second valve associated with the upper port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the upper port.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid bioprocess solution prepared is a cell culture media.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bioprocess solution is a buffer solution.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dry ingredient is powdered.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dry ingredient is granulated.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution, wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of pressure, conductivity, a volume of water consumed during the preparation, flow rate, or elapsed time.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each step comprises opening or closing, by the processing circuit, at least one of the plurality of valves to control fluid flow within the automated system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated system further comprises two or more inlets to the tubing, each inlet configured to direct a flow of a fluid into the automated system.

10. An automated method, comprising:

providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution;

providing an automated system comprising at least one mixing chamber having a lower port and an upper port for fluid to enter the at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, and one or more inlets to the tubing;

coupling a purified water source to one of the one or more inlets; and

controlling, by a processing circuit, the automated system to prepare a liquid bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient by:

performing a series of sequential mixing steps, wherein the series of sequential mixing steps comprises, at least:

opening a first valve associated with the lower port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the lower port, and

after a predetermined amount of elapsed time, closing the first valve and opening a second valve associated with the upper port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the upper port; and

taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution;

wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the bioprocess solution is cell culture media.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bioprocess solution is buffer solution.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry ingredient is powdered.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry ingredient is granulated.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of pressure, conductivity, a volume of water consumed during the preparation, flow rate or elapsed time.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the automated system comprises two or more inlets, the method further comprising:

coupling a compressed air source to one of the two or more inlets; and

opening the compressed air source to evacuate prepared liquid bioprocess solution from the automated system.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the automated system comprises at least a first mixing chamber containing the dry ingredient and a second mixing chamber containing an additive, and wherein at least one of the steps causes the additive to be mixed with purified water in the second mixing chamber before being added to the first mixing chamber.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: FUJIFILM IRVINE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
To: FUJIFILM BIOSCIENCES INC.
Reel/Frame 073950/0786 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2019
From: NEESE, DAVID; MAURO, WAYNE
To: FUJIFILM IRVINE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 051335/0399 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2019
From: IRVINE SCIENTIFIC SALES COMPANY, INC.
To: FUJIFILM IRVINE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 050032/0613 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2018
From: FLETCHER, THOMAS REID
To: IRVINE SCIENTIFIC SALES COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046224/0486 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62527878 · Jun 30, 2017
Related Publication 20190001290A1 · Jan 3, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,485,366