US4382685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for stirring particles in suspension such as microcarriers for anchorage-dependent living cells in a liquid culture medium
Assignee: Techne Cambridge Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-06-25
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Granted: 1983-05-10
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Expires: 2001-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Stirring apparatus for stirring particles in a liquid medium comprising a cylindrical stirring vessel having a stirring rod extending within the vessel to stir its contents. The rod has a bulbous tip which describes an orbital path in the vessel to sweep out an annular trough or channel formed in the bottom of the vessel. The annular trough or channel is contoured in section to follow the flow lines set up in the medium by secondary motion stirring effects. In this way accumulation of particles due to the secondary motion, which would otherwise occur at the corners and center of the bottom of the vessel, is avoided. The apparatus is advantageously useful in cell culture research particularly for stirring microcarriers in a liquid culture medium because it becomes possible to maintain the microcarriers in uniform suspension at lower stirring speeds than heretofore possible thus avoiding damage to the growing cells and improving overall cell yield.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Pearson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:31
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/08; B; B01; B01F; B01F27/00; B01F27/80; B01F27/95; B01F31/00; B01F31/42; B01F33/00; B01F33/45; B01F33/453; B01F33/4537; C12M25/00; C12M25/16; C12M27/00; C12M27/02; C12M27/18; C12M27/20; B01F27/23; B01F27/232; B01F27/2324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for stirring micro-carriers in a liquid culture medium to allow living cells to grow thereon, comprising: (a) a cylindrical vessel having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, (b) means for imparting to liquid culture medium in said vessel a primary generally horizontal circulatory movement about the axis of said vessel and a secondary, generally vertical circulatory movement comprising stirrer means mounted to extend into the vessel with an end adjacent to and spaced from the bottom of the vessel, and moved in an orbital path in said vessel generally concentric with said walls, and (c) means for causing substantially all of the liquid culture medium in the vessel to be moved by said stirrer means comprising an upstanding portion extending upwardly from the vessel bottom and spaced from said side walls thereby forming a trough in the bottom portion of said vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for stirring micro-carriers in a liquid culture medium to allow living cells to grow thereon, comprising: (a) a cylindrical vessel having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, (b) means for imparting to liquid culture medium in said vessel a primary generally horizontal circulatory movement about the axis of said vessel and a secondary, generally vertical circulatory movement comprising stirrer means mounted to extend into the vessel with an end adjacent to and spaced from the bottom of the vessel, and moved in an orbital path in said vessel generally concentric with said walls, and (c) means for causing substantially all of the liquid culture medium in the vessel to be moved by said stirrer means comprising an upstanding portion extending upwardly from the vessel bottom and spaced from said side walls thereby forming a trough in the bottom portion of said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said last mentioned means defining an annular trough in said vessel concentric with said walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said annular trough is between said conical portion and the walls of said vessel, said trough being radiused at the minimum, at it's corners respectively between said wall and said base of the vessel, and between the interior surface of the conical portion and the bottom of the vessel, and at the maximum the whole extent of it's interior surface between the wall of the vessel and the interior surface of said conical portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the radiused dimensions of said trough are within the range 1/4 to 1/10 of the diameter of the vessel, and the height of the conical portion being within the range 5/8 to 1/6 of the diameter of said vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said upstanding portion extending upwardly from the vessel bottom being conical with an apex above the bottom, and having its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the vessel walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base diameter of said conical portion is within the range 1/1.5 to 1/5 the diameter of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said conical portion has a rounded apex.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stirrer means is an elongate rod having a bulbous tip positioned to move in said trough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dimensions of said bulbous tip are within the range 1/2 to 1/20 the diameter of the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said stirrer means mounted with said end out of engagement with said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for stirring the contents of a vessel as claimed in claim 10 further including means for supporting the stirrer within the vessel comprising a mounting member which sits on the rim of an open neck of said vessel, said mounting member having a projection depending internally of the vessel, a flexible link between the projection and the other end of said stirrer to enable the free end of the stirrer to orbit while the stirrer remains irrotational around its own axis, and a closure cap for said open neck retaining said mounting member in position on said rim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for stirring micro-carriers in a liquid culture medium to allow living cells to grow thereon comprising: (a) container means for a liquid comprising a bottom and wall means extending upward therefrom, (b) means for imparting to the liquid culture medium a primary, generally horizontal circulatory movement about the axis of the container means and a secondary, generally vertical circulatory movement, comprising stirrer means mounted to extend into the container means with an end adjacent to and spaced from the bottom, and moved in a closed path in said vessel, and (c) means for causing substantially all of the liquid culture medium in the container means to be moved by said stirrer means comprising an upstanding portion extending upwardly from the bottom of the container and spaced from said wall means, thereby forming a trough in the bottom portion of the container means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for stirring micro-carriers in a liquid culture medium to allow living cells to grow thereon comprising: (a) container means for a liquid comprising a bottom and wall means extending upward therefrom, (b) means for imparting to the liquid culture medium a primary, generally horizontal circulatory movement about the axis of the container means and a secondary, generally vertical circulatory movement, comprising stirrer means mounted to extend into the container means with an end adjacent to and spaced from the bottom, and moved in a closed path in said vessel, and (c) means for causing substantially all of the liquid culture medium in the container means to be moved by said stirrer means comprising an upstanding portion extending upwardly from the bottom of the container and spaced from said wall means, thereby forming a trough in the bottom portion of the container means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, said upstanding portion extending upwardly from the bottom of the container means substantially at the center thereof, and radiused corners between said bottom and said wall means and between said bottom and said upstanding portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said stirrer means is an elongate rod provided with a bulbous tip to move in said trough.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14, said portion being substantially conical.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, said portion terminating in an apex.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the radiused dimensions of said trough are within the range 1/4 to 1/10 of the diameter of the vessel, and the height of the conical portion being within the range 1/3 to 1/6 of the diameter of said vessel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said stirrer means is an elongate rod having a bulbous tip positioned to move in said trough.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the dimensions of said bulbous tip are within the range 1/2 to 1/20 the diameter of the vessel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, said upstanding portion extending upwardly from the bottom of the container means substantially at the center thereof, said annular trough in the bottom portion of said container means wholly radiused between the interior surface of said portion and the wall means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said stirrer means is an elongate rod provided with a bulbous tip to move in said trough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21, said portion being substantially conical.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, said portion terminating in an apex.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the radiused dimensions of said trough are within the range 1/4 to 1/10 of the diameter of the vessel, and the height of the conical portion being within the range 1/3 to 1/6 of the diameter of said vessel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said stirrer means is an elongate rod having a bulbous tip positioned to move in said trough.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the dimensions of said bulbous tip are within the range 1/2 to 1/20 the diameter of the vessel.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of stirring a liquid culture medium comprising providing a stirring vessel with provision for blocking off the corners and centre of the base of the vessel to provide an annular trough therein shaped to prevent accumulation of particles under the action of secondary motion stirring effects within the vessel, adding to the vessel liquid culture medium, introducing an elongate stirrer into said medium with it's free end spaced from the bottom of the vessel, and stirring the medium by imparting to the stirrer an orbital path with the free end moving in the trough thereby to impel the medium to circulate in the stirring vessel without accumulation.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of stirring a liquid culture medium comprising providing a stirring vessel with provision for blocking off the corners and centre of the base of the vessel to provide an annular trough therein shaped to prevent accumulation of particles under the action of secondary motion stirring effects within the vessel, adding to the vessel liquid culture medium, introducing an elongate stirrer into said medium with it's free end spaced from the bottom of the vessel, and stirring the medium by imparting to the stirrer an orbital path with the free end moving in the trough thereby to impel the medium to circulate in the stirring vessel without accumulation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the medium is stirred at a rotational speed within the range 30 rpm to 70 rpm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said stirrer free end is moved in an orbital path out of contact with said vessel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the step of providing a stirring vessel comprises providing a stirring vessel with an annular trough.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein there is added to the vessel a predetermined mixture of microcarriers and said liquid culture medium, wherein the stirring is of the mixture of the liquid culture medium and microcarriers, and wherein the medium and the microcarriers are impelled to circulate in the stirring vessel without accumulation of the microcarriers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method is claimed in claim 27, said step of stirring said medium comprising intermittent stirring.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the stirrer is accelerated slowly from rest to achieve a desired steady state stirring speed, and then decelerated slowly to zero after a predetermined time of stirring at said steady state speed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the stirrer is accelerated slowly from rest to achieve a desired steady state stirring speed, and then decelerated slowly to zero after a predetermined time of stirring at said steady state speed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-09 | 1986-11-08 | 1987-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-09 | 1990-11-08 | 1991-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-09 | 1994-11-08 | 1995-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |