Granted Patent B2

US 12,691,394 · App. 18/393,393 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Inventor: Charles R. Rhodes (Preston, UT)

Assignee: Life Technologies Corp.

B01D29/27C12M23/14C12M23/28C12M25/16C12M29/04C12M33/14C12M47/02B01D35/027

Abstract

Claims (18)

1 . A method for filtering microcarrier beads from a liquid solution comprising cells, the method comprising:

delivering the liquid solution with the microcarrier beads into a main compartment of a filter bag assembly, the filter bag assembly comprising:

a flexible bag bounding the main compartment;

a filter sheet disposed within the main compartment of the flexible bag and dividing the main compartment into a first compartment and a second compartment, the filter sheet at least partially secured within the flexible bag by a seal line upwardly spaced from a bottom edge of the flexible bag;

receiving the liquid solution in the first compartment through an inlet port coupled to the first compartment, the inlet port further coupled to a bioreactor through a first fluid line;

passing the liquid solution from the first compartment to the second compartment through the filter sheet; and

collecting the liquid solution without the microcarrier beads through an outlet port coupled to the second compartment of the filter bag assembly, the microcarrier beads configured to be stopped by the seal line.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising expanding the filter sheet while collecting the microcarrier beads within the first compartment.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising forming a plurality of creases on the filter sheet while collecting the microcarrier beads within the first compartment.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter sheet does not extend a full length of the flexible bag.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter sheet does not extend a full length and a full width of the flexible bag.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising collecting the liquid solution without the microcarrier beads within the second compartment of the filter bag assembly prior to collecting the liquid solution without the microcarrier beads through the outlet port coupled to the second compartment of the filter bag assembly.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter sheet is resiliently stretchable.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter sheet comprises polyester (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), or polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter sheet has a thickness that is at least or less than 3.0 mm.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter sheet comprises pores having a size between 30.0 microns to 100.0 microns.

11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the microcarrier beads comprise spherically shaped beads having a size that is at least or less than 300.0 microns.

12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filter bag assembly is disposed at an angle when filtering the microcarrier beads from the liquid solution comprising cells.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (259)