System for Oxygenating a Biological Culture

Abstract

A system for oxygenating a biological culture includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween; a tubular member projecting into the compartment of the container and terminating at a terminal end; a gas supply coupled with the tubular member and being configured to blow gas through the tubular member; and a mixing element disposed within compartment of the container at a location between the terminal end of the tubular member and the bottom wall of the container, the mixing element being configured to mix the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for oxygenating a biological culture comprising:
 a) a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the compartment having an upper end disposed toward to the top wall and an opposing lower end disposed toward the bottom wall;   b) a tubular member projecting into the compartment of the container and terminating at a terminal end;   c) a gas supply coupled with the tubular member and being configured to blow gas through the tubular member; and   d) a mixing element disposed within compartment of the container at a location between the terminal end of the tubular member and the bottom wall of the container, the mixing element being configured to mix the liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein terminal end of the tubular member is disposed within the upper end of the compartment and the mixing element is disposed within the lower end of the compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein terminal end of the tubular member is spaced apart from the mixing element. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member passes through the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member passes through the top wall of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mixing element comprises an impeller. 
     
     
         7 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag comprised of one or more sheets of polymeric film. 
     
     
         8 . The system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a flexible tube and a nozzle disposed at an end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A system for oxygenating a biological culture comprising:
 a) a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween;   b) a liquid disposed within the compartment of the container and having a top surface disposed below the top wall of the container;   c) a tubular member projecting into the compartment of the container and terminating at a terminal end, the terminal end being disposed between the top wall of the container and the top surface of the liquid;   d) a gas supply coupled with the tubular member and being configured to blow gas through the tubular member; and   e) a mixing element disposed within compartment of the container, the mixing element being configured to mix the liquid.   
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member passes through the sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member passes through the top wall of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the mixing element comprises an impeller. 
     
     
         13 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag comprised of one or more sheets of polymeric film. 
     
     
         14 . The system recited in  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member comprises a flexible tube and a nozzle disposed at an end thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a gas sparger coupled with the container and communicating with the liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the liquid comprises a culture that includes cells and medium. 
     
     
         17 . A system for oxygenating a biological culture comprising:
 a) a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween;   b) a liquid disposed within the compartment of the container and having a top surface disposed below the top wall of the container;   c) a tubular member projecting into the compartment of the container and terminating at a terminal end, the terminal end being disposed between the top wall of the container and the top surface of the liquid;   d) a gas blowing through the tubular member so that the gas passes over at least a portion of the top surface of the liquid; and   e) means for mixing the liquid within the compartment.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the means for mixing the liquid comprises an impeller disposed within the compartment of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the tubular member passes through the sidewall or the top wall of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The system recited in  claim 17 , wherein the container comprises a flexible bag comprised of one or more sheets of polymeric film.