Granted Patent B2

US 12,256,761 · App. 18/439,503 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Inventors: Matthew Leung (Richmond, VA); Michelle Warner (Redwood City, CA); Ryan Edward Vanderpol (Oakland, CA); Thomas Pei-Ja Hsiu (Palo Alto, CA); Kathleen Carswell (San Francisco, CA)

Assignee: Upside Foods, Inc.

A23L13/00C12M21/08C12M23/06C12M29/06C12M33/00C12N5/0602C12N5/0697A23V2002/00

Abstract

Claims (39)

1. A system for growing a cell-based meat product, comprising:

a bioreactor having:

a) an interior cavity,

b) cells,

c) an inlet, and

d) an outlet, wherein:

the inlet is positioned at a first elevation on the bioreactor;

the outlet is positioned at a second elevation on the bioreactor; and

the second elevation is lower than the first elevation; and

wherein the cells are from livestock, poultry, game, or aquatic animal species, are suitable for consumption, and are grown within the interior cavity of the bioreactor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bioreactor comprises one or more rigid substrates positioned between the inlet and the outlet.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising one or more substrates having an outer surface comprising one or more characteristics that improve adhesion of cells thereto, the one or more substrates being positioned between the inlet and the outlet.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more substrates are oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle relative to the inlet.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a fluid diffuser configured to distribute fluid entering the bioreactor from the inlet to the one or more substrates in a predetermined flow pattern.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the fluid diffuser comprises a plurality of openings configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more substrates comprise a planar substrate that is configured to support growth of the cell-based meat product on both a first side of the planar substrate and a second opposite side of the planar substrate.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the bioreactor is rotatable to allow cells to seed on both the first side of the planar substrate and the second opposite side of the planar substrate.

9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more substrates comprise a porous substrate.

10. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more substrates comprise a three-dimensional (3D) lattice of substrates.

11. The system of claim 3 , wherein the bioreactor is configured to direct fluid from the inlet to one or more substrates at a predetermined acute angle relative to the one or more substrates.

12. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a texture on the outer surface.

13. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a coating on the outer surface.

14. A system for growing a cell-based meat product, comprising:

a bioreactor having:

a) an interior cavity,

b) an inlet,

c) an outlet, and

d) one or more planar substrates,

wherein:

the inlet is positioned at a first elevation on the bioreactor;

the outlet is positioned at a second elevation on the bioreactor;

the second elevation is lower than the first elevation; and

the one or more planar substrates are configured to support growth of the cell-based meat product on both a first side and a second opposite side thereof.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more planar substrates are rigid.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more planar substrates comprise one or more characteristics that improve adhesion of cells thereto.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more planar substrates are oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle relative to the inlet.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more planar substrates are porous.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more planar substrates comprise a three-dimensional (3D) lattice of substrates.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the bioreactor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending from the inlet to the outlet.

Assignments (5)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (208)