Rotating bio-reactor cell culture apparatus

US4988623A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Ray P. Schwarz · Friendswood, US
• David A. Wolf, Sr. · Houston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 1988
• Grant date: Jan 29, 1991
• Expiry date: Jun 30, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2531/00
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A bio-reactor system wherein a tubular housing contains an internal circularly disposed set of blade members and a central tubular filter all mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis and each having independent rotational support and rotational drive mechanisms. The housing, blade members and filter preferably are driven at a constant slow speed for placing a fluid culture medium with discrete microbeads and cell cultures in a discrete spatial suspension in the housing. Replacement fluid medium is symmetrically input and fluid medium is symmetrically output from the housing where the input and the output are apart of a loop providing a constant or intermittent flow of fluid medium in a closed loop.