US 12,306,081 B2Granted

Apparatuses and methods for formation of particles

AssigneeSigilon Therapeutics, Inc.

InventorsMichael Beauregard, Faith C. David-Hegerich, John Patrick Golden, Joseph Gordon, Erika Ellen Johnston, Robert James Miller, Justin David Morse, Peter Calvin Costello

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Abstract

Described herein are apparatuses and methods for conditioning particles. In some embodiments, the apparatuses and methods are configured for first-in-first-out transit of particles through a chamber containing a conditioning fluid. In some embodiments, the apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure enable the manufacture of particle preparations containing large quantities of particles (e.g., cell-containing particles) with more consistent and improved properties relative to alternative manual processes.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An apparatus for making conditioned particles comprising:

a) a particle dispensing unit comprising a first orifice from which particles are dispensed;
b) a conditioning chamber comprising an exit portal, wherein the conditioning chamber is configured to hold a first fluid to present a receiving surface of the first fluid, and to receive the particles from the particle dispensing unit;
c) an exchange unit in fluid connection with the exit portal of the conditioning chamber in which the particles are separated from a conditioning fluid;
and
d) a property selected from i) to x):
i) the apparatus is configured to separate particles from one another based on an attribute of the particles,
ia) the apparatus is configured to separate a particle of a first class from a particle of a second class after particle dispensation but prior to the dispensed particles impinging on the receiving surface of the first fluid disposed in the conditioning chamber, and comprises a capture element disposed between the orifice and the receiving surface and configured and to hinder, the second class particle from impinging on the receiving surface of the first fluid;
or
ib) the apparatus comprises a filter element for fractionation of conditioned particles in the exchange unit;
ii) a component of the apparatus is configured to receive a signal and responsive to the signal modulate the process parameter or the particle parameter;
iia) the apparatus is configured such that responsive to the signal a field through which the particle passes is modulated;
iib) the apparatus is configured to sense a distance from the orifice to the receiving surface of the first fluid in the conditioning chamber and to change to a desired distance;
iii) the apparatus includes one or more sensors for sensing a parameter;
iv) the first orifice and the receiving surface are disposed within a housing wherein the housing comprises a port in connection with a source of displacement entity;
v) the conditioning chamber comprises, in fluid connection, a portion configured to present the receiving surface and an exit portal, configured such that a received particle flows through the conditioning chamber and through the exit portal;
vi) the apparatus comprises a source of the first fluid in fluid connection with a first-fluid inlet port on the conditioning chamber and the apparatus is configured so as to allow introduction of the first fluid through the first-fluid inlet port into the conditioning chamber
vii) a portion, or all, of the conditioning chamber beneath the receiving surface is configured to provide a substantially linear path;
viii) the apparatus comprises the exchange unit in fluid connection with the exit portal of the conditioning chamber in which conditioned particles are separated from the first fluid by introduction of a second fluid;
and
x) the apparatus is configured such that the orifice and the receiving surface of the first fluid, are disposed within a housing that can maintain sterility.

17 more elements

A method of making a plurality of conditioned particles comprising:

pumping at least two particle forming fluids to a dispensing port;
causing each particle to move from the dispensing port towards a receiving surface of a first conditioning fluid in a conditioning chamber;
at least one of:
i) separating particles from one another based on a property of the particles,
ia) separating a particle of a first class from a particle of a second class after particle dispensation but prior to the dispensed particles impinging on the receiving surface of the first conditioning fluid disposed in the conditioning chamber, and comprises a capture element disposed between the dispensing port and the receiving surface and configured and to hinder a second class particle from impinging on the receiving surface of the first conditioning fluid;
or
ib) filtering particles received by the conditioning fluid;
ii) receiving a signal and responsive to the signal modulating a process parameter or a particle parameter,
iia) responsive to the signal modulating a field through which the particles pass;
iib) sensing a distance from the dispensing port to the receiving surface of the conditioning fluid in the conditioning chamber;
iii.) sensing a parameter;
iv) modulating a distance between the receiving surface of the first conditioning fluid and the dispensing port by modulating a volume of a displacement entity in the conditioning chamber;
v) directing flow of a received particle;
vi) introducing a first fluid through a first fluid inlet port into the conditioning chamber;
vii) providing a substantially linear path for conditioned particles transiting the conditioning chamber such that a residence time of conditioned particles in the conditioning chamber are substantially similar;
viii) separating conditioned particles from the first conditioning fluid in an exchange unit;
ix) providing a plurality of exchange units connected in series;
or
x) maintaining sterility of the dispensing port, and the receiving surface of the conditioning fluid.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/782,368Filed 4 Dec 2020 · us provisional application
Priority: 4 Dec 2019
Published: US 2023/0008121 A112 Jan 2023
Granted: 20 May 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G01N 1/31
Staining; Impregnating ; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like…:…
B01D 43/00
Separating particles from liquids, or liquids from solids, otherwise than by sedimentation
B01J 2/02
Processes or devices for granulating materials , e.g. fertilisers in general; Rendering particulate materials free flowing in general, e.g.…
B01J 2/04
By dividing the liquid material into drops, e.g. by spraying, and solidifying the drops: in a gaseous medium