# US 12,180,452 B2 · Bioreactor comprising a filter pocket, and method for producing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,452 B2 - Document ID: US12180452B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/421,601 - Filed: 2019-12-19 - Published: 2022-04-21 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-09 - Assignees: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH - Applicants: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH - Inventors: Arne Bluma; Franziska Faulstich; Fabian Tunzini; Rachel Delessert; Darius Tuor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180452B2 ## CPC - C12M 23/34: {Internal compartments or partitions} - C12M 29/10: {Perfusion} - B01D 61/147: {Microfiltration} - B01D 63/081: {Manufacturing thereof} - B01D 71/68: Polysulfones; Polyethersulfones - C12M 23/14: {Bags} - C12M 23/26: {flexible (flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505)} - C12M 23/28: {disposable or single use} - C12M 25/02: {Membranes; Filters (filters or filtration in general B01D24/00-B01D41/00)} - C12M 29/04: {Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis} - B01D 2313/146: on the permeate side - 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} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A bioreactor for cultivating microorganisms and cells of animal or plant origin includes a filter pocket which is arranged on the inner surface of a flexible wall of the bioreactor and which is delimited on the outside by the wall of the bioreactor and on the inside by a filter pocket wall. The inside filter pocket wall is formed at least partially by a filter medium. A spacer is arranged in the filter pocket between the wall of the bioreactor and the filter medium. The spacer has at least one through opening. A connecting portion of the filter medium protrudes through the through opening and is directly connected to the wall of the bioreactor. A method of manufacturing a filter pocket in a bioreactor for cultivating microorganisms and cells of animal or plant origin is also provided herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bioreactor for cultivating microorganisms and cells of animal or plant origin, comprising a filter pocket which is arranged on an inner surface of a flexible wall of the bioreactor and which is delimited on an outside by the wall of the bioreactor and on an inside by a filter pocket wall, wherein the filter pocket wall is formed at least partially by a filter medium, and wherein a spacer is arranged in the filter pocket between the flexible wall of the bioreactor and the filter medium, wherein the spacer has at least one through opening and wherein a connecting portion of the filter medium protrudes through the through opening and is directly connected to the wall of the bioreactor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through openings, which are arranged so as to be regularly distributed over the spacer, is provided, and a plurality of connecting portions of the filter medium protrude through the through opening and are directly connected to the wall of the bioreactor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the filter pocket is free of completely er partially separated chambers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the bioreactor is at least partially formed of polyethylene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is at least partially formed of polyethylene terephthalate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the filter medium is a microfiltration membrane which is at least partially formed of polyethersulfone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bioreactor according to claim 6, wherein at least one of two sides of the microfiltration membrane is connected to a porous planar structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bioreactor according to claim 7, wherein the porous planar structure is a polypropylene/polyethylene-polyethylene terephthalate-polypropylene/polyethylene laminate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein a connecting piece to which a hose line can be coupled is inserted into the filter medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the bioreactor has a maximum total volume of at least 50 liters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bioreactor according to claim 10, wherein the maximum total volume is at least 100 liters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The bioreactor according to claim 10, wherein the maximum total volume is at least 200 liters. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the direct connection between the connecting portion of the filter medium and the wall of the bioreactor is a bonding or spot welding connection, wherein the spacer does not form part of the direct connection. ### Claim 14 A method of manufacturing a filter pocket in a bioreactor for cultivating microorganisms and cells of animal or plant origin, comprising the following steps: providing a flexible wall for forming a bioreactor, a spacer, and a filter pocket wall formed at least partially by a filter medium, wherein the filter pocket wall has a greater superficial extent than the spacer; forming at least one through opening in the spacer which completely penetrates the spacer; placing the spacer on an inner surface of the flexible wall of the bioreactor; placing the filter pocket wall on the spacer; circumferentially fixing an edge of the filter pocket projecting beyond the spacer to the wall of the bioreactor; passing a connecting portion of the filter medium through the through opening; and fixing the connecting portion of the filter medium directly to the wall of the bioreactor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the fixing of the at least one connecting portion of the filter medium to the wall of the bioreactor is performed by spot welding. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the fixing of the at least one connecting portion of the filter medium to the wall of the bioreactor is performed by bonding.