Bioprocess mixer

Abstract

A bioprocess mixer (1), which comprises: —a support vessel (2) with at least one side wall (3, 4, 5, 6) and a bottom wall (7), where the walls define a support vessel inner volume (8), and at least a first (9) and a second (10) magnetic impeller drive unit; and —a flexible bag (11, 111) adapted to fit inside the support vessel inner volume, where the bag has at least one bag side wall (12, 112, 13, 113, 14, 15), a bag bottom wall (16, 116) and a bag top wall (17, 117) defining a bag inner volume (18), and at least a first (19) and a second (20) magnetic impeller rotatably attached to a bag wall in the bag inner volume.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bioprocess mixer, comprising:
 a support vessel comprising at least one side wall and a bottom wall, said walls defining a support vessel inner volume, and at least a first and a second magnetic impeller drive unit; and 
 a flexible bag adapted to fit inside said support vessel inner volume, said bag having at least one bag side wall, a bag bottom wall and a bag top wall defining a bag inner volume, with at least a first and a second magnetic impeller rotatably attached to one or more bag wall in said bag inner volume, 
 wherein said support vessel inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of at least 1.5 for facilitating movement of the bioprocess mixer, 
 wherein said support vessel inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-2 for facilitating movement of the bioprocess mixer and stability, 
 wherein said at least first and second magnetic impellers each have a base from which at least four impeller blades extend, 
 wherein said at least first and second magnetic impellers each comprise a ribbed extension piece extending from the base away from the at least four impeller blades, 
 wherein the at least four impeller blades includes diametrically opposed blade pairs, and 
 wherein each of the at least four impeller blades is angled. 
 
     
     
       2. The bioprocess mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least first and second magnetic impeller drive units are mounted in or below said bottom wall and said at least first and second magnetic impellers are rotatably attached to said bag bottom wall in said bag inner volume. 
     
     
       3. The bioprocess mixer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support vessel comprises four side walls and a bottom wall defining a generally cuboid support vessel inner volume having a length, a width (w) and a height (h); and 
 the flexible bag has a generally cuboid shape, with a bag inner volume defined by four bag side walls, a bag bottom wall and a bag top wall. 
 
     
     
       4. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said support vessel inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of 1.5-3. 
     
     
       5. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said support vessel inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-1.3. 
     
     
       6. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said support vessel inner volume and/or bag inner volume is at least 1.5 m 3 . 
     
     
       7. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said support vessel is double-mantled and comprises inlet and outlet ports for a temperature-control fluid. 
     
     
       8. The mixer of  claim 1 , which is mounted on casters with floor locks. 
     
     
       9. The mixer of  claim 1 , which is supported by load cells. 
     
     
       10. The mixer of  claim 1  with external suspended steps mounted on the support vessel. 
     
     
       11. The mixer of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, electrically or electromagnetically connected to said at least first and second magnetic impeller drive units and optionally to said load cells and/or to a supply of heat-control fluid. 
     
     
       12. The mixer of  claim 11 , wherein rotation directions and rotation speeds of said at least first and second magnetic impeller drive units can be individually controlled by said control unit. 
     
     
       13. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible bag has at least one port in said bag top wall. 
     
     
       14. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least first and second magnetic impellers each are rotatably attached to said bag bottom wall such that the distance from said impeller blades to said bag bottom wall is at least 7 cm. 
     
     
       15. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least first and second magnetic impellers each are rotatably attached to a bag wall such that the shortest distance from said impeller blades to a bag wall is at least 7 cm. 
     
     
       16. The mixer of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors adapted to measure one or more properties in a liquid confined in the bag inner volume. 
     
     
       17. The mixer of  claim 1 , wherein said bag comprises an interior wall, dividing the bag inner volume into at least two separate mixer compartments. 
     
     
       18. A bioreactor, comprising the mixer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       19. The bioreactor of  claim 18 , wherein said bag comprises at least one gas inlet port and at least one gas outlet port. 
     
     
       20. A support vessel for a bioprocess mixer or a bioreactor, comprising at least one side wall and a bottom wall, said walls defining a support vessel inner volume, and in or below said bottom wall comprising at least a first and a second magnetic impeller drive unit
 wherein said support vessel inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of at least 1.5, and 
 wherein said support vessel inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-2. 
 
     
     
       21. The support vessel of  claim 20 , comprising four side walls and a bottom wall defining a generally cuboid support vessel inner volume having a length, a width and a height. 
     
     
       22. The support vessel of  claim 20 , wherein said support vessel inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of 1.5-3. 
     
     
       23. The support vessel of  claim 20 , wherein said support vessel inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-1.3. 
     
     
       24. The support vessel of  claim 20 , wherein said support vessel inner volume is at least 1.5 m 3 . 
     
     
       25. The support vessel of  claim 20 , which is double-mantled and comprises inlet and outlet ports for a temperature-control fluid. 
     
     
       26. The support vessel of  claim 20 , which is mounted on casters with floor locks. 
     
     
       27. The support vessel of  claim 20 , which is supported by load cells. 
     
     
       28. The support vessel of  claim 20 , comprising external suspended steps. 
     
     
       29. The support vessel of  claim 20 , further comprising a control unit, electrically or electromagnetically connected to said at least first and second magnetic impeller drive units and optionally to said load cells and/or to a supply of heat-control fluid. 
     
     
       30. The support vessel of  claim 29 , wherein rotation directions and rotation speeds of said at least first and second magnetic impeller drive units can be individually controlled by said control unit. 
     
     
       31. A method of preparing a liquid mixture, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing the mixer of  claim 1 ; 
 b) adding at least one liquid and at least one further component to said bag inner volume; and 
 c) mixing the at least one liquid and the at least one further component under agitation provided by the first and second magnetic impellers. 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein at least one further component comprises a solid substance, such as a powder or a granulate. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein said liquid mixture is a solution of at least said solid substance. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein said liquid mixture comprises an aqueous buffer. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein during step c) at least one property of the liquid mixture, such as conductivity and/or pH, is monitored to determine if the mixture is homogeneous. 
     
     
       36. A method of cultivating cells, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing the bioreactor of  claim 18 ; 
 b) adding a culture medium and cells to said bag inner volume; and 
 c) cultivating cells in said bioreactor under agitation provided by said at least first and second magnetic impellers. 
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36 , wherein in step c) a gas is conveyed into said bag inner volume via one or more gas inlet ports and exhaust gas is conveyed out of said bag inner volume via one or more gas outlet ports. 
     
     
       38. A flexible bag for a bioprocess mixer comprising, the flexible bag being adapted to fit inside a support vessel of the bioprocess mixer, the flexible bag comprising:
 four bag side walls, a bag bottom wall, and a bag top wall defining a bag inner volume having a length, a width, and a height; and   at least a first and a second magnetic impeller rotatably attached to one or more bag wall in said bag inner volume,   wherein the flexible bag has a generally cuboidal shape,   wherein said bag inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of at least 1.5, and   wherein said bag inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-2.   
     
     
       39. The flexible bag of claim 38, wherein said bag inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of 1.5-3. 
     
     
       40. The flexible bag of claim 38, wherein said bag inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-1.3. 
     
     
       41. The flexible bag of claim 38, wherein said bag inner volume is at least 1.5 m 3 . 
     
     
       42. The flexible bag of claim 38, further comprising an interior wall dividing the bag inner volume into at least two separate mixer compartments. 
     
     
       43. The flexible bag of claim 38, wherein said bag comprises at least one gas inlet port and at least one gas outlet port. 
     
     
       44. The flexible bag of claim 38, wherein said at least first and second magnetic impellers each have a base from which at least four impeller blades extend. 
     
     
       45. The flexible bag of claim 44, wherein said at least first and second magnetic impellers each comprise a ribbed extension piece extending from the base away from the at least four impeller blades. 
     
     
       46. The flexible bag of claim 45, wherein the at least four impeller blades includes diametrically opposed blade pairs. 
     
     
       47. The flexible bag of claim 45, wherein each of the at least four impeller blades is angled. 
     
     
       48. A bioprocess mixer comprising a support vessel, wherein the support vessel comprises the flexible bag of claim 38 disposed within the support vessel, wherein the support vessel comprises at least one side wall and a bottom wall, said walls defining a support vessel inner volume, wherein said support vessel inner volume has a length-to-width ratio of at least 1.5, and wherein said support vessel inner volume has a height-to-width ratio of 0.7-2. 
     
     
       49. The mixer of claim 48, further comprising one or more sensors adapted to measure one or more properties in a liquid confined in the bag inner volume. 
     
     
       50. A bioreactor, comprising the mixer of claim 48. 
     
     
       51. A method of preparing a liquid mixture, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing the mixer of claim 48;   b) adding at least one liquid and at least one further component to said bag inner volume; and   c) mixing the at least one liquid and the at least one further component under agitation provided by the first and second magnetic impellers.   
     
     
       52. The method of claim 51, wherein at least one further component comprises a solid substance, such as a powder or a granulate. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 52, wherein said liquid mixture is a solution of at least said solid substance. 
     
     
       54. The method of claim 52, wherein said liquid mixture comprises an aqueous buffer. 
     
     
       55. The method of claim 51, wherein during step c) at least one property of the liquid mixture, such as conductivity and/or pH, is monitored to determine if the mixture is homogeneous. 
     
     
       56. A method of cultivating cells, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing the bioreactor of claim 50;   b) adding a culture medium and cells to said bag inner volume; and   c) cultivating cells in said bioreactor under agitation provided by said at least first and second magnetic impellers.   
     
     
       57. The method of claim 56, wherein in step c) a gas is conveyed into said bag inner volume via one or more gas inlet ports and exhaust gas is conveyed out of said bag inner volume via one or more gas outlet ports.