Control Systems For A Fluid Mixing Apparatus

Abstract

A bioproduction mixer control system includes a mixing compartment having a biological fluid and a mixing element; a sensor in communication with the mixing compartment, the sensor configured to detect an environmental condition within the mixing compartment; and an integrated control unit. The integrated control unit includes a memory for storing the environmental condition, sensor information relating to the sensor, and process workflow information; a user interface comprising a display depicting a bioproduction workspace, wherein the bioproduction workspace comprises a process workflow title and a plurality of bioprocess modules; and a central processing unit in electronic communication with the sensor, memory and user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bioproduction mixer control system comprising:
 a mixing compartment comprising a biological fluid and a mixing element;   a sensor in communication with the mixing compartment, the sensor configured to detect an environmental condition within the mixing compartment; and   an integrated control unit comprising:
 a memory for storing the environmental condition, sensor information relating to the sensor, and process workflow information; 
 a user interface comprising a display depicting a bioproduction workspace, wherein the bioproduction workspace comprises a process workflow title and a plurality of bioprocess modules; and 
 a central processing unit in electronic communication with the sensor, memory and user interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is in physical, electrochemical, optical, or fluidic communication with the compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a load cell, a pressure sensor, or a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of bioprocess modules comprises at least one liquid fill module configured to display a pressure reading from the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the environmental condition comprises a temperature, pressure, conductivity, pH, or mass of the biological fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein an operational range of the environmental condition is stored in the memory. 
     
     
         7 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the integrated control unit is configured to receive the environmental condition from the sensor and control a speed of the mixing element only if a value of the environmental condition is outside of the operational range. 
     
     
         8 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information comprises sensor identification information. 
     
     
         9 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the integrated control unit is configured to receive the environmental condition value from the sensor and control a speed of the mixing element based on a value of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         10 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the mixing compartment and a heating or a cooling element in contact with the mixing compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 10 , wherein the integrated control unit is configured to receive the environmental condition from the sensor and control power to the pump only if a value of the environmental condition is outside of an operational range of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         12 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 10 , wherein the integrated control unit is configured to receive the environmental condition from the sensor and control power to the heating or cooling element only if a value of the environmental condition is outside of an operational range of the environmental condition. 
     
     
         13 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of bioprocess modules comprises at least one acid module configured to display and control power to the pump for introducing acid to the biological fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 10 , wherein the depicted bioproduction workspace comprises an interlock details screen indicating a disablement or enablement of the mixing element or pump. 
     
     
         15 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 14 , wherein the interlock details screen comprises an action entry, a duration entry, a tolerance entry, or a control setpoint entry. 
     
     
         16 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bioprocess modules comprise at least one agitation module configured to display and control a rotational speed of the mixing element. 
     
     
         17 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bioprocess modules comprise at least one pH module configured to display and control a pH of the biological fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bioprocess modules comprises at least one harvest module configured to display a mass and volume of the biological fluid within the mixing compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bioprocess modules comprises at least one mass module configured to display a mass of the biological fluid within the mixing compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the depicted bioproduction workspace comprises an alarm details screen indicating alarms within the process workflow. 
     
     
         21 . The bioproduction mixer control system recited in  claim 20 , wherein the alarm details screen comprises an alarm legend, an alarm status, an alarm severity, or an alarm time.