Disposable bioreactor

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle within the interior of the tank, the functional element comprising a material extraction conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the extraction of material from the interior of the tank;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier impermeable to any fluid of the volume;
• wherein the functional element is adapted to interact with the flexible sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle within the interior of the tank, the functional element comprising a material addition conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition of a material to the interior of the tank;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier impermeable to any fluid of the volume;
• wherein the functional element is adapted to interact with the flexible sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle within the interior of the tank, the functional element comprising
• (a) a material extraction conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the extraction of material from the interior of the tank;
• and
• (b) a material addition conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition of a material to the interior of the tank;
• wherein said material extraction conduit and said material addition conduit comprise a common conduit, and said functional element comprises said common conduit;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier impermeable to any fluid of the volume;
• wherein the functional element is adapted to interact with the flexible sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle within the interior of the tank, the functional element including any of:
• (a) at least one sensor in sensory communication with the interior of the tank;
• (b) a material extraction conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the extraction of material from the interior of the tank;
• (c) a material addition conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition of a material to the interior of the tank;
• and
• (d) a heat exchange element in thermal communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition or removal of thermal energy from the interior;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier impermeable to any fluid of the volume;
• wherein the functional element is adapted to interact with the flexible sleeve;
• and
• further comprising at least one of the following elements disposed within the flexible sleeve:
• an electrical conductor, a fluid conduit, the at least one sensor, and a wireless communication device.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle within the interior of the tank, the functional element including any of:
• (a) at least one sensor in sensory communication with the interior of the tank;
• (b) a material extraction conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the extraction of material from the interior of the tank;
• (c) a material addition conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition of a material to the interior of the tank;
• and
• (d) a heat exchange element in thermal communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition or removal of thermal energy from the interior;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier impermeable to any fluid of the volume;
• wherein the functional element is adapted to interact with the flexible sleeve;
• wherein any of the mixing paddle and the support rod defines an internal cavity, and wherein any of the following is disposed within the internal cavity:
• a gas supply conduit, the at least one sensor, at least one electrical conductor, the material extraction conduit, and the material addition conduit.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a pivotally mounted support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element interface adapted for coupling with a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle, wherein the functional element is in fluid communication or sensory communication with the interior, wherein the functional element interface comprises any of a fluid conduit, an electrical conductor, and a communication device;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve including at least a portion of the functional element interface, said sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, said sleeve comprising a material forming a barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle, and between the volume and the portion of the functional element interface within the sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a pivotally mounted support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element interface adapted for coupling with a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle, wherein the functional element is in fluid communication or sensory communication with the interior;
• wherein the functional element interface comprises a gas supply conduit and the functional element comprises a sparger, wherein the gas supply conduit is connectable with the sparger and is adapted to permit passage of gas into the interior of the tank;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve including at least a portion of the functional element interface, said sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, said sleeve comprising a material forming a barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle, and between the volume and the portion of the functional element interface within the sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a pivotally mounted support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element interface adapted for coupling with a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle, wherein the functional element is in fluid communication or sensory communication with the interior;
• wherein the functional element interface comprises at least one of
• (a) a first electrical conductor connectable with the functional element, said functional element comprising a sensor in sensory communication with the interior of the tank;
• and
• (b) a second electrical conductor connectable with the functional element, said functional element comprising an electrically-driven heat exchange element in thermal communication with the interior of the tank;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve including at least a portion of the functional element interface, said sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, said sleeve comprising a material forming a barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle, and between the volume and the portion of the functional element interface within the sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a pivotally mounted support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a functional element interface adapted for coupling with a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle, wherein the functional element comprises a sensor in sensory communication with the interior, and wherein the functional element interface comprises a wireless transmitter or receiver connectable with the functional element;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve including at least a portion of the functional element interface, said sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, said sleeve comprising a material forming a barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle, and between the volume and the portion of the functional element interface within the sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• a functional element arranged to travel with the mixing paddle within the interior of the tank, the functional element including any of:
• (a) at least one sensor in sensory communication with the interior of the tank;
• (b) a material extraction conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the extraction of material from the interior of the tank;
• (c) a material addition conduit in at least selective fluid communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition of a material to the interior of the tank;
• and
• (d) a heat exchange element in thermal communication with the interior of the tank and adapted to permit the addition or removal of thermal energy from the interior;
• and
• a sparger arranged to travel with the paddle for delivering a gas to the interior of the tank;
• wherein the tank comprises a flexible sleeve having an open end proximate to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, having at least one exterior wall, and defining a cavity containing the mixing paddle, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier impermeable to any fluid of the volume;
• wherein the functional element is adapted to interact with the flexible sleeve.

A material processing apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tank having an interior bounded by at least one interior wall, said tank comprising a flexible sleeve having an open end connected to a wall of the tank, having an end protruding into the interior, and having at least one exterior wall;
• a mixing paddle disposed and adapted to travel within the interior of the tank, the paddle being adapted to engage a support rod mechanically coupleable to receive kinetic energy from a kinetic energy source;
• and
• a first conduit;
• wherein the flexible sleeve defines a cavity containing the mixing paddle and at least a portion of the first conduit, with the at least one interior wall of the tank and the at least one exterior wall of the sleeve enclosing a volume, such that the sleeve serves as an isolation barrier between the volume and the mixing paddle.