# US 2008/0186802 A1 · Systems and methods for mixing bioprocessing materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186802 A1 - Document ID: US20080186802A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/026,054 - Filed: 2008-02-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Inventors: Henry Robert BUNGAY; James Steele BUNGAY; John Graul SIGSBY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186802A1 ## CPC - B01F 31/55: the materials to be mixed being contained in a flexible bag submitted to periodical deformation - B01F 33/81: Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles - B01F 33/813: {mixing simultaneously in two or more mixing receptacles} - B01F 35/2115: {Temperature} - B01F 35/213: of the properties of the mixtures, e.g. temperature, density or colour - B01F 35/2131: {Colour or luminescence} - C12M 23/14: {Bags} - C12M 23/26: {flexible (flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505)} - C12M 27/02: {Stirrer or mobile mixing elements} - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - 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} ## Abstract A system for mixing a bioprocessing fluid includes a container receiving the bioprocessing fluid and a support member supporting the container in an interior of a housing. A first channel is bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm with the first channel receiving the container. A first mixing arm and a second mixing arm are located in the interior. The first mixing arm is connected to the second mixing arm by a connecting member. The first mixing arm is located in the first channel and the second mixing arm is located in a second channel. The connecting member is movable to cause the first mixing arm to contact a first outer surface of the container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for mixing a bioprocessing fluid comprising: a container receiving the bioprocessing fluid; a support member supporting said container in an interior of a housing; a first channel bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm, said first channel receiving said container; a second channel bounded by a third stationary arm and a fourth stationary arm and, said second channel configured to receive a second container; a first mixing arm and a second mixing arm located in said interior, said first mixing arm connected to said second mixing arm by a connecting member, said first mixing arm located in said first channel and said second mixing arm located in said second channel; said connecting member movable to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said first stationary arm to contact a first outer surface of said container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid and to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said second stationary arm to inhibit contact between said first mixing arm and said first outer surface; and said second mixing arm moving toward said third stationary arm when said first mixing arm moves toward said first stationary arm and said second mixing arm moving toward said fourth stationary arm when said first mixing arm moves toward said second stationary arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first mixing arm is movably connected to said connecting member to allow a selective adjustment of a location of said first mixing arm in said first channel along said connecting member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first mixing arm is movably connected to said to connecting member to allow a selective adjustment of a location of said first mixing arm in said channel, said adjustment being in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal direction of said connecting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a driving mechanism coupled to said connecting member to reciprocate said connecting member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first mixing arm comprises a sensor for determining at least one of a temperature and a turbidity of the bioprocessing fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said connecting member extends longitudinally substantially perpendicularly relative to longitudinal dimensions of said first arm and said second arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a plate having a plurality of grooves configured to receive a plurality of containers, said container received in a groove of said plurality of grooves and suspended in said channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein said support member comprises vertical legs supporting said plate and said support member separable from said housing to allow said support member to support the plurality of containers outside said interior. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first mixing arm comprises a heating element for heating the bioprocessing fluid received in the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said second stationary arm and said third stationary arm comprise a same stationary arm. ### Claim 11 A system for mixing a bioprocessing fluid comprising: a support member configured to support a container configured to receive the bioprocessing fluid in a channel in an interior of a housing, said interior bounded by walls of said housing; a first mixing arm and a second mixing arm located in said interior, said first mixing arm connected to said second mixing arm by a connecting member; said channel bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm and configured to receive the container, said first mixing arm located in said channel; said support member selectively connectable to said walls of said housing to selectively adjust a height of said support member to allow containers of different heights to be received in said channel; and said connecting member movable to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said first stationary arm to contact a first outer surface of the container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid and to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said second stationary arm to inhibit contact between said first mixing arm and said first outer surface when the container is received in said channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein said support member comprises a plate having a plurality of grooves configured to receive a plurality of containers to suspend the container in said channel. ### Claim 13 A system for mixing a bioprocessing fluid comprising: a support member configured to support a container configured to receive the bioprocessing fluid in a channel in an interior of a housing, said interior bounded by walls of said housing; a first mixing arm and a second mixing arm located in said interior, said first mixing arm connected to said second mixing arm by a connecting member; said channel bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm and configured to receive the container, said first mixing arm located in said channel; said support member comprising a plate having a plurality of grooves configured to receive a plurality of containers and to suspend a container in said channel, said support member comprising vertical legs to support said plate, said support member configured to be received between said walls in said interior and said support member separable from said interior to support the plurality of containers outside said interior; and said connecting member movable to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said first stationary arm to contact a first outer surface of the container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid and to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said second stationary arm to inhibit contact between said first mixing arm and said first outer surface when the container is received in said channel and said support member is received in said interior. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein said channel is a first channel of a plurality of channels and said plurality of grooves is vertically aligned with said plurality of channels to support a plurality of containers in said plurality of channels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 further comprising a container having a conduit and a bag portion, said conduit connected to said bag portion at a thickened portion, said container received in a groove of said plurality of grooves such that said thickened portion is received above said plate and said container is supported by said thickened portion on said plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 further comprising a container having a conduit and a bag portion, said conduit connected to said bag portion at a thickened portion, said thickened portion received in a groove of said plurality of grooves such that said container is supported by said thickened portion in said groove. ### Claim 17 A method for mixing a bioprocessing fluid, the method comprising: receiving bioprocessing fluid in a container; supporting the container via a support member in a first channel in an interior of a housing, the first channel bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm; bounding a second channel by a third stationary arm and a fourth stationary arm, the second channel configured to receive a second container; locating a first mixing arm and a second mixing arm in the interior, the first mixing arm connected to the second mixing arm by a connecting member, the first mixing arm located in the first channel and the second mixing arm located in the second channel; moving the connecting member to cause the first mixing arm to move toward the first stationary arm to contact a first outer surface of the container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid held in the container; moving the connecting member to cause the first mixing arm to move towards the second stationary arm to inhibit contact between the first mixing arm and the first outer surface; moving the second mixing arm toward the third stationary arm when the first mixing arm moves toward the first stationary arm; and moving the second mixing arm toward the first stationary arm when the first mixing moves toward the second stationary arm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving the container in a groove of the support member to support the container in the channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising removing the support member from the interior of the housing and suspending the container by the support member on a plurality of legs outside said interior. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising selectively adjusting a height of the support member to allow a second container to be received in the channel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising selectively adjusting a height of the first mixing arm relative to the connecting member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising selectively adjusting a distance between the first mixing arm and the first stationary arm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the second stationary arm and the third stationary arm comprise a same stationary arm. ### Claim 24 A system for mixing a bioprocessing fluid comprising: a first container and a second container receiving the bioprocessing fluid; a support member to fasten said first container and said second container in an interior of a housing; a first channel bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm, said first channel receiving said first container and said second container; a second channel bounded by said second stationary arm and a third stationary arm, said second channel configured to receive a third container and a fourth container; a first movable mixing arm between said first stationary arm and said second stationary arm; said first mixing arm movable toward said first stationary arm to contact a first outer surface of said first container to deform a shape of said first container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid and said first mixing arm movable in a reverse direction to move away from said first container and to contact said second container to deform said second container; a second movable mixing arm between said second stationary arm and said third stationary arm; and said second movable mixing arm movable toward said second stationary arm to contact a third outer surface of said third container to cause a mixing of the bioprocessing fluid and said second mixing arm movable in a reverse direction to move away from said third container and to contact said fourth container to deform said fourth container. ### Claim 25 A system for mixing a bioprocessing fluid comprising: a container receiving the bioprocessing fluid; a support member supporting said container in an interior of a housing; a first channel bounded by a first stationary arm and a second stationary arm, said first channel receiving said container; a second channel bounded by a third stationary arm and a fourth stationary arm and said second channel configured to receive a second container; a first mixing arm and a second mixing arm located in said interior, said first mixing arm located in said first channel and said second mixing arm located in said second channel; said first mixing arm movably connected to said housing to allow said first mixing arm to move toward said first stationary arm to contact a first outer surface of said container to cause mixing of the bioprocessing fluid and to allow said first mixing arm to move toward said second stationary arm to inhibit contact between said first mixing arm and said first outer surface; and said second mixing arm movably connected to said housing to allow said second mixing arm to move toward said third stationary arm and to allow said second mixing arm to move toward said fourth stationary arm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 further comprising at least one driver connected to said first mixing arm and configured to cause said first mixing arm to move toward said first stationary arm and to move away from said first stationary arm toward said second stationary arm. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein said second stationary arm and said third stationary arm comprise a same stationary arm. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein said first mixing arm is pivotally connected to said housing.