Bioreactor bags
Bioreactor bags formed from sheet materials are disclosed. The bioreactor bags include an opening which is openable and recloseable in a fluid tight manner for providing an opening for insertion of solid materials into the bag.
1. A bioreactor bag formed from sheet materials,
wherein the sheet materials define a heat-sealed seam at a periphery of the bioreactor bag,
wherein the bioreactor bag defines a projecting lip comprising a recloseable section defining a resealable fluid-tight opening at the periphery of the bag into the bag configured to allow insertion of a solid material into the bag,
wherein the seam extends in opposing directions from opposing ends of the recloseable section along the periphery of the bag on a same side of the bag as the recloseable section,
wherein the projecting lip comprises a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first panel comprises a first portion, and wherein the second panel comprises a second portion resealable with the first portion, and
wherein the lip extends in a direction transverse to the seam.
2. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , wherein the sheet materials comprise two sheets sealed together to form the seam at the periphery of the bag.
3. The bioreactor bag of claim 2 , wherein the periphery of the bag defines a polygon.
4. The bioreactor bag of claim 3 , wherein the opening is disposed at a side of the polygon.
5. The bioreactor bag of claim 4 , wherein the projecting lip defines the opening.
6. The bioreactor bag of claim 3 , wherein the polygon is a rectangle.
7. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first panel defines a projecting rib extending along the lip, and wherein the second portion of the second panel defines a receiving channel extending along the lip, wherein the projecting rib is configured to resealably engage with the receiving channel.
8. The bioreactor bag of claim 7 , wherein the lip further comprises a sliding closure configured to slide along the projecting rib and receiving channel.
9. The bioreactor bag of claim 6 , wherein one or both of the first portion or the second portion comprises a fluid-tight resealable adhesive layer.
10. The bioreactor bag of claim 7 , wherein one or both of the first portion or the second portion comprises a fluid-tight resealable adhesive layer.
11. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , wherein the sheet materials comprise a flexible polymer.
12. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp extending along the opening, and covering the opening.
13. The bioreactor bag of claim 12 , wherein the clamp defines a C-shaped transverse cross-section.
14. The bioreactor bag of claim 12 , further comprising an inner rod extending along an interior of the clamp, wherein the clamp and the inner rod mechanically restrict the opening.
15. The bioreactor bag of claim 14 , wherein the sheet materials adjacent the opening are secured between the clamp and the inner rod.
16. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , further comprising a valve fluidically coupled to an interior of the bag.
17. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , further comprising a feed/drain port fluidically coupled to an interior of the bag.
18. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly fluidically coupled to an interior of the bag.
19. The bioreactor bag of claim 1 , further comprising a sample line fluidically coupled to an interior of the bag.