Gas spargers and related container systems
AssigneeLife Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael E. Goodwin, Nephi D. Jones, Jeremy K. Larsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container system includes a collapsible bag having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber, the chamber being adapted to hold a fluid. A sparger is disposed within the chamber of the bag, the sparger bounding a compartment and having an inside edge that encircles an opening passing through the sparger. At least a portion of the sparger is gas permeable. A tubular member is coupled to the sparger and is in communication with the compartment. A shaft passes into the chamber of the bag and through the opening of the sparger. A mixing element is secured to the shaft and is disposed within the chamber of the bag.
Claims20
A sparger comprising:
- a base having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface that extend between an inside edge and an outside edge, the inside edge encircling an opening that passes through the base;
- a sparging sheet secured to the base so that a compartment is formed between the base and the sparging sheet that encircles the opening passing through the base, at least a portion of the sparging sheet being gas permeable;
- and
- a tubular member coupled with the base or the sparging sheet so as to be in communication with the compartment.
A container system comprising:
- a bag comprised of one or more sheets of flexible polymeric material, the bag having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber, the chamber being adapted to hold a fluid;
- a sparger disposed within the chamber of the bag, the sparger bounding a compartment and having an inside edge that encircles an opening passing through the sparger, at least a portion of the sparger being gas permeable;
- and
- a tubular member coupled to the sparger and being in communication with the compartment.
A method for sparging a liquid with a gas, the method comprising:
- dispensing a liquid into a chamber of a container, a sparger being disposed within the chamber of the container and having an opening passing therethrough;
- delivering a gas into a compartment of the sparger so that the gas passes out through the sparger and into the liquid in the chamber;
- and
- moving a mixer passing through the opening in the sparger so as to mix the gas and the liquid within the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.