Cell separation apparatus for bioreactor

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cell separation apparatus for a bioreactor. The cell separation apparatus may be disposed outside the bioreactor and in fluid connection with the bioreactor, the cell separation apparatus may be in a shape of a box body, the cell separation apparatus may include a liquid buffer device including a first liquid cavity disposed in the box body; a filter device including a filter channel and a filter membrane disposed in the box body, the filter membrane may be disposed above the filter channel; and a first liquid channel may be configured in the box body to facilitate a fluid communication between the first liquid cavity and the filter channel. A power system for filtering and microfluidic channels are integrated in the cell separation apparatus that is of a box shape, thereby reducing the volume and production cost thereof.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cell separation apparatus for a bioreactor, the cell separation apparatus being disposed outside the bioreactor and in fluid connection with the bioreactor, the cell separation apparatus being in a shape of a box body, the cell separation apparatus comprising;
 a liquid buffer device including a first liquid cavity disposed in the box body; and   a filter device including a filter channel and a filter membrane disposed in the box body, the filter membrane being disposed above the filter channel;   wherein a first liquid channel is configured in the box body to facilitate a fluid communication between the first liquid cavity and the filter channel.   
     
     
         2 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cell separation apparatus further comprises a power device fixed to the box body, and the first liquid cavity is in gaseous communication with the power device. 
     
     
         3 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the power device includes a syringe pump or an air cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the first liquid cavity is 0.01-0.8 bioreactor culture volume. 
     
     
         5 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the box body includes a stacked layer, and the stacked layer includes a first shell plate, a membrane layer, a support plate, and a second shell plate. 
     
     
         6 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first liquid cavity is fixed to an outer end surface of the stacked layer. 
     
     
         7 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first liquid channel is recessed from an inner surface of the first shell plate, and a top of the first liquid channel is covered and sealed by a sealing film in the membrane layer. 
     
     
         8 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a pressure sensor is configured in the first liquid channel to monitor a clogging state of the filter device. 
     
     
         9 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first liquid channel is configured on the first shell plate through at least one of machining, laser etching, or soft plastic injection molding. 
     
     
         10 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid buffer device further comprises a second liquid cavity disposed in the box body, a second liquid channel is configured in the box body to facilitate a fluid communication between the second liquid cavity and the filter channel. 
     
     
         11 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second liquid cavity is fixed to an outer end surface of the stacked layer. 
     
     
         12 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second liquid cavity is in gaseous communication with the power device. 
     
     
         13 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a third liquid channel is configured in the box body to facilitate a fluid communication between the first liquid cavity and the bioreactor, and a fourth liquid channel is configured in the box body to facilitate a fluid communication between the second liquid cavity and the bioreactor. 
     
     
         14 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first liquid channel, the second liquid channel, the third liquid channel, and the fourth liquid channel are recessed from an inner surface of the first shell, and a top of the first liquid channel, a top of the second liquid channel, a top of the third liquid channel, and a top of the fourth liquid channel are covered and sealed by a sealing film in the membrane layer. 
     
     
         15 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein one or more pressure sensors are configured in the first liquid channel and/or the third liquid channel to monitor a dogging state of the filter device. 
     
     
         16 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first liquid channel, the second liquid channel, the third liquid channel, and/or the fourth liquid channel are configured on the first shell plate through at least one of machining, laser etching, or soft plastic injection molding. 
     
     
         17 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the filter channel is recessed from an inner surface of the first shell plate, and a top of the filter channel is covered by the filter membrane in the membrane layer. 
     
     
         18 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein an arrangement pattern of the filter channel on the first shell plate is of a coiled shape. 
     
     
         19 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter channel is configured as a single filter channel, and an outlet of the single filter channel is closed or the single filter channel forms a closed loop. 
     
     
         20 . The cell separation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter channel is configured as a plurality of filter channels connected in parallel, and an outlet of each filter channel of the plurality of filter channels is closed or the each filter channel forms a closed loop.