# US 10,370,629 B2 · Variable diameter bioreactors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,629 B2 - Document ID: US10370629B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/629,886 - Filed: 2017-06-22 - Published: 2017-12-28 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-24 - Assignees: Lonza Ltd. - Applicants: Lonza Limited - Inventors: Michael Mietzner; Rajesh Beri; Edward Gunderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370629B2 ## CPC - C12M 23/02: {Form or structure of the vessel (large containers B65D88/00)} - C12M 23/14: {Bags} - C12M 23/28: {disposable or single use} - C12M 27/02: {Stirrer or mobile mixing elements} - C12M 27/20: {Baffles; Ribs; Ribbons; Auger vanes} - C12M 41/44: {of volume or liquid level} - C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)} - C12M 43/00: {Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus} - C12P 21/00: Preparation of peptides or proteins (single cell protein C12N1/00) - C12P 21/005: {Glycopeptides, glycoproteins} - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)} ## Abstract A variable diameter bioreactor vessel is provided that includes a first vessel section having a first diameter configured to hold a liquid media and biologic material, and a second vessel section having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter such that the liquid media can be increased from a first volume to a second volume within the vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable diameter bioreactor vessel configured for culturing of live cells or cellular biologic material, comprising: (a) a vessel configured to hold a liquid medium and the cells or biologic material; and (b) an agitator, wherein said vessel has a design such that the base of said vessel is narrower than the top of said vessel, wherein said vessel is such that the liquid medium and the cells or biologic material can be increased from a first volume to a second volume within the vessel, and wherein the agitator is made using a 3-D printer. ### Claim 2 A variable diameter bioreactor vessel configured for mammalian cell production, comprising: a vessel configured to hold a liquid medium and biologic material, wherein said vessel has a design such that the base of said vessel is narrower than the top of said vessel, wherein said vessel is such that the liquid medium and biologic material can be increased from a first volume to a second volume within the vessel, and wherein the first vessel has a cross-sectional shape that is non-circular. ### Claim 3 A variable diameter bioreactor vessel configured for mammalian cell production, comprising: a vessel configured to hold a liquid medium and biologic material, wherein said vessel has a design such that the base of said vessel is narrower than the top of said vessel, wherein said vessel is such that the liquid medium and biologic material can be increased from a first volume to a second volume within the vessel, and wherein the first vessel has a cross-sectional shape that is square. ### Claim 4 A variable diameter bioreactor system, comprising: (a) a bioreactor vessel having a first diameter and a second diameter such that the diameter of the vessel varies along a height of the vessel, at least from the height of the first diameter to the height of the second diameter; (b) at least one agitator disposed within the bioreactor vessel such that the agitator provides desired agitation at a given liquid height of the bioreactor vessel; (c) a control system operable to scale up the bioreactor vessel from a first volume to a second volume, (d) a sparger, (e) a probe port, (f) a fill port, (g) a condenser, (h) a vent filter, (i) a foam breaker plate, (j) a sample port, (k) a level probe, and (l) a load cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the bioreactor vessel is configured to be a production stage bioreactor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein there are two agitators. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 6, wherein one agitator is a hydrofoil impeller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the bioreactor vessel has an aspect ratio of greater than 0.3:1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the first diameter of the vessel is an initial inoculation stage vessel section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the second diameter of the vessel is a growth stage vessel section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the variable diameter bioreactor vessel is configured for mammalian cell production. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to scale up the bioreactor vessel in a batchwise manner. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, further comprising a disposable bag configured to be disposed within the bioreactor vessel such that the variable diameter bioreactor system is a single use bioreactor system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the system is configured for microcarrier cultures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The variable diameter bioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the system is configured for adherent cultures.