Automated method and apparatus for preparing bioprocess solutions

{
  "publication_number": "US11097237B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Automated method and apparatus for preparing bioprocess solutions",
  "abstract": "An automated method includes providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution and controlling, by a processing circuit, all automated system including at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, and a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, to automatically prepare the liquid bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient. Controlling the auto system may include performing a series of sequential mixing steps, the series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution. The method mixing include taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution, wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold. Each step may also include opening or closing, by the processing circuit, at least one of the plurality of valves.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An automated method, comprising: providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution; and controlling, by a processing circuit, an automated system comprising at least one mixing chamber having a lower port and an upper port for fluid to enter the at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, and a plurality of valves provided within the tubing and controlled by the processing circuit, to automatically prepare the bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient, wherein controlling the automated system comprises controlling, by the processing circuit, the automated system to perform a series of sequential mixing steps, the series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution and comprising: opening a first valve associated with the lower port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the lower port, and after a predetermined amount of elapsed time, closing the first valve and opening a second valve associated with the upper port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the upper port.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid bioprocess solution prepared is a cell culture media.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bioprocess solution is a buffer solution.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dry ingredient is powdered.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dry ingredient is granulated.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, further comprising taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution, wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold.",
    "7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of pressure, conductivity, a volume of water consumed during the preparation, flow rate, or elapsed time.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein each step comprises opening or closing, by the processing circuit, at least one of the plurality of valves to control fluid flow within the automated system.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated system further comprises two or more inlets to the tubing, each inlet configured to direct a flow of a fluid into the automated system.",
    "10. An automated method, comprising: providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution; providing an automated system comprising at least one mixing chamber having a lower port and an upper port for fluid to enter the at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, and one or more inlets to the tubing; coupling a purified water source to one of the one or more inlets; and controlling, by a processing circuit, the automated system to prepare a liquid bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient by: performing a series of sequential mixing steps, wherein the series of sequential mixing steps comprises, at least: opening a first valve associated with the lower port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the lower port, and after a predetermined amount of elapsed time, closing the first valve and opening a second valve associated with the upper port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the upper port; and taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution; wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, wherein the bioprocess solution is cell culture media.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, wherein the bioprocess solution is buffer solution.",
    "13. The method of claim 10, wherein the dry ingredient is powdered.",
    "14. The method of claim 10, wherein the dry ingredient is granulated.",
    "15. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more measurements comprise at least one of pressure, conductivity, a volume of water consumed during the preparation, flow rate or elapsed time.",
    "16. The method of claim 10, wherein the automated system comprises two or more inlets, the method further comprising: coupling a compressed air source to one of the two or more inlets; and opening the compressed air source to evacuate prepared liquid bioprocess solution from the automated system.",
    "17. The method of claim 10, wherein the automated system comprises at least a first mixing chamber containing the dry ingredient and a second mixing chamber containing an additive, and wherein at least one of the steps causes the additive to be mixed with purified water in the second mixing chamber before being added to the first mixing chamber."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments of the present technology generally relate to an automated method and apparatus for mixing at least or at least one fluid. More particularly, embodiments of the present technology relate to an automated method and apparatus specifically adapted for reconstituting dry ingredients in predetermined unit volume amounts into bioprocess solutions.\n\nA bioprocess is a process that uses living cells or their components to obtain desired products. Bioprocesses often require the use of various solutions. For example, the initial steps in a bioprocess may involve cell culturing, and cell culturing often requires the use of cell culture media to successfully cultivate new cells. Later steps in a bioprocess may then require the use of various buffer solutions as part of a product purification process.\n\nBioprocess solutions are often hydrated from dry ingredients immediately before use either in large stainless steel tanks or in single-use mixing devices. The typical process is time consuming, expensive and adds no direct value to the desired product.\n\nWhile the basic cell culture methods have not changed appreciably over the years, the volumes of cell cultures continue to increase dramatically, thereby changing the requirements for media preparation. Not only are more research laboratories, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies employing cell culture methods, but they are often doing so on a very large scale.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01F 21/30",
    "B01F 1/0038",
    "B01F 13/1016",
    "B01F 15/00136",
    "B01F 15/00149",
    "B01F 15/00162",
    "B01F 15/0022",
    "B01F 15/00227",
    "B01F 23/49",
    "B01F 23/808",
    "B01F 25/101",
    "B01F 25/102",
    "B01F 25/316",
    "B01F 3/088",
    "B01F 3/2261",
    "B01F 33/805",
    "B01F 33/811",
    "B01F 33/812",
    "B01F 35/2111",
    "B01F 35/21112",
    "B01F 35/2113",
    "B01F 35/2132",
    "B01F 35/2133",
    "B01F 35/22",
    "B01F 5/006",
    "B01F 5/0062",
    "B01F 5/0496",
    "C12M 27/00",
    "C12M 41/26",
    "C12M 45/02",
    "C12M 99/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01F 23/80",
    "C12M 1/02",
    "C12M 1/33",
    "C12M 1/34",
    "C12M 1/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Fujifilm Irvine Scientific Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Thomas Reid Fletcher",
    "David NEESE",
    "Wayne Mauro"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-06-25",
  "publication_date": "2021-08-24",
  "grant_date": "2021-08-24",
  "priority_date": "2017-06-30",
  "application_number": "US-201816017014-A",
  "family_id": "63047430",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
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    "US20170058244A1",
    "CN104212704A",
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}