Granted Patent B2

US 12,649,131 · App. 18/788,769 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Cody Yarborough (Cleburne, TX); Ronald Gohdes (Granbury, TX)

Assignee: Lifecycle Biotechnologies, LP

B01F29/40111B01F29/30B01F29/40221B01F29/81B01F31/22B01F35/531B01F35/55C12M27/06C12M27/10C12M27/16B01F2101/44

Abstract

Claims (98)

1 . A mixing vessel, comprising:

a rigid outer housing formed of a single unitary material and comprising:

a bottom portion including a closed bottom end;

a top portion opposite the bottom portion and including a cylindrical neck defining an opening configured to be sealed with a closure; and

a middle portion including a cylindrical wall integrally formed with, and extending between, the bottom portion and the top portion;

wherein the rigid outer housing tapers within at least a portion of the top portion such that a diameter of the middle portion is greater than a diameter of the top portion;

a reaction chamber within the rigid outer housing;

wherein the mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials contained within the reaction chamber in response to an externally applied force; and

an internal mixing structure comprising:

a first raised surface; and

a second raised surface;

wherein the internal mixing structure completely traverses the circumference of the cylindrical wall between the top portion and the bottom portion;

wherein the first and second raised surfaces are uniformly distributed around a circumference of the cylindrical wall;

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces is integrally formed with, and extends from, the cylindrical wall into the reaction chamber;

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces has a first end portion proximate the top portion, a second end portion proximate the bottom portion, and a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

wherein each respective first end portion is axially spaced apart from each respective second end portion.

2 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 ,

wherein the respective first and second end portions of each of the first and second raised surfaces extend horizontally along the circumference of the cylindrical wall; and

wherein each respective middle portion of each of the first and second raised surfaces extends along the cylindrical wall and has a pitch angle of between 15 degrees and 70 degrees relative to the closed bottom end.

3 . The mixing vessel of claim 2 ,

wherein the respective first and second end portions of each of the first and second raised surfaces extend from the respective middle portion in opposite directions.

4 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 , further comprising:

a handle having a tubular hollow body extending from the rigid outer housing, the tubular hollow body comprising a first open end and a second open end;

wherein each of the first and second open ends of the tubular hollow body are in fluid communication with the reaction chamber; and

wherein the second open end is spaced apart from the first open end along the rigid outer housing.

5 . The mixing vessel of claim 4 ,

wherein at least a portion of the tubular hollow body extends externally relative to the rigid outer housing.

6 . The mixing vessel of claim 4 ,

wherein the first open end of the tubular hollow body extends in a plane that is substantially parallel to an axial extension of the rigid outer housing; and

wherein the second open end of the tubular hollow body extends in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axial extension of the rigid outer housing.

7 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 , further comprising:

a notch integrally formed with, and extending from, the cylindrical wall into the reaction chamber.

8 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 , further comprising:

a notch integrally formed with, and extending from, the bottom portion of the rigid outer housing into the reaction chamber.

9 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces extends from 360 degrees to 540 degrees around a circumference of the cylindrical wall.

10 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 ,

wherein a diameter of the cylindrical wall is greater than a diameter of the neck.

11 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 ,

wherein the diameter of the middle portion is greater than a diameter of the bottom portion.

12 . The mixing vessel of claim 1 , further comprising:

cells in a liquid medium located within the reaction chamber.

13 . A biological production system, comprising:

a mixing vessel, comprising:

a rigid outer housing formed of a single unitary material and comprising:

a bottom portion including a closed bottom end;

a top portion opposite the bottom portion and including a cylindrical neck defining an opening configured to be sealed with a closure; and

a middle portion including a cylindrical wall integrally formed with, and extending between, the bottom portion and the top portion;

wherein the rigid outer housing tapers within at least a portion of the top portion such that a diameter of the middle portion is greater than a diameter of the top portion;

a reaction chamber within the rigid outer housing;

wherein the mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials contained within the reaction chamber in response to an externally applied force; and

an internal mixing structure comprising:

a first raised surface; and

a second raised surface;

wherein the internal mixing structure completely traverses the circumference of the cylindrical wall between the top portion and the bottom portion;

wherein the first and second raised surfaces are uniformly distributed around a circumference of the cylindrical wall;

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces is integrally formed with, and extends from, the cylindrical wall into the reaction chamber;

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces has a first end portion proximate the top portion, a second end portion proximate the bottom portion, and a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

wherein each respective first end portion is axially spaced apart from each respective second end portion;

a closure configured to seal the opening; and

an agitation device;

wherein the mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials contained within the reaction chamber in response to an externally applied force from the agitation device.

14 . The biological production system of claim 13 ,

wherein the mixing vessel further comprises cells in a liquid medium located within the reaction chamber.

15 . The biological production system of claim 13 ,

wherein the mixing vessel further comprises a notch extending from the closed bottom end axially into the reaction chamber.

16 . The biological production system of claim 15 ,

wherein the notch facilitates engagement of the mixing vessel with the agitation device; and

wherein the agitation device is a turntable.

17 . The biological production system of claim 13 ,

wherein the respective first and second end portions of each of the first and second raised surfaces of the mixing vessel extend horizontally along the circumference of the cylindrical wall; and

wherein each respective middle portion of each of the first and second raised surfaces extends along the cylindrical wall and has a pitch angle of between 15 degrees and 70 degrees relative to the closed bottom end.

18 . The biological production system of claim 13 ,

wherein the mixing vessel further comprises a handle having a tubular hollow body extending from the rigid outer housing, the tubular hollow body comprising a first open end and a second open end;

wherein each of the first and second open ends of the tubular hollow body are in fluid communication with the reaction chamber; and

wherein the second open end is spaced apart from the first open end along the rigid outer housing.

19 . A method of mixing cells, the method comprising:

providing a mixing vessel comprising:

a rigid outer housing formed of a single unitary material and comprising:

a bottom portion including a closed bottom end;

a top portion opposite the bottom portion and including a cylindrical neck defining an opening configured to be sealed with a closure; and

a middle portion including a cylindrical wall integrally formed with, and extending between, the bottom portion and the top portion;

wherein the rigid outer housing tapers within at least a portion of the top portion such that a diameter of the middle portion is greater than a diameter of the top portion;

a reaction chamber within the rigid outer housing;

wherein the mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials contained within the reaction chamber in response to an externally applied force; and

an internal mixing structure comprising:

a first raised surface; and

a second raised surface;

wherein the internal mixing structure completely traverses the circumference of the cylindrical wall between the top portion and the bottom portion;

wherein the first and second raised surfaces are uniformly distributed around a circumference of the cylindrical wall;

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces is integrally formed with, and extends from, the cylindrical wall into the reaction chamber;

wherein each of the first and second raised surfaces has a first end portion proximate the top portion, a second end portion proximate the bottom portion, and a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

wherein each respective first end portion is axially spaced apart from each respective second end portion;

depositing cells in a liquid medium into the reaction chamber; and

agitating the mixing vessel using an agitation device.

20 . The method of mixing cells of claim 19 ,

wherein the respective first and second end portions of each of the first and second raised surfaces of the mixing vessel extend horizontally along the circumference of the cylindrical wall; and

wherein each respective middle portion of each of the first and second raised surfaces extends along the cylindrical wall and has a pitch angle of between 15 degrees and 70 degrees relative to the closed bottom end.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (119)