# US 2014/0193883 A1 · Gas exhaust filter device for a bioreactor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193883 A1 - Document ID: US20140193883A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/241,550 - Filed: 2012-08-29 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-31 - Assignees: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB - Inventors: Henrik K. Eriksson; Patric Fricking; L. Johan Carlsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193883A1 ## CPC - B01D 46/0039: {with flow guiding by feed or discharge devices} - B01D 46/521: {using folded, pleated material} - C12M 29/04: {Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis} - C12M 37/02: {Filters} - 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) - 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 gas exhaust filter device for a bioreactor with reduced blockage by condensed liquid is disclosed, which comprises a housing with a filter medium, a gas inlet and a gas outlet and also further comprises a plurality of ribs extending from at least one inner wall of the housing in a region between the gas inlet and the filter medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas exhaust filter device for a bioreactor, comprising a housing (2;12;22) with a filter medium (1), a gas inlet (3;13;23) and a gas outlet (4;14;24) and further comprising a plurality of ribs (5;15;25) extending from at least one inner wall of said housing (2;12;22) in a region between the gas inlet (3;13;23) and the filter medium (1). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 1, wherein said ribs extend between two opposite inner walls of said housing, delimiting a plurality of channels (6;16;26) between the bottom inlet and the filter medium (1). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 2, wherein said channels (6;16;26) are tortuous, such as with an average tortuosity>1.1. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 1, wherein said ribs are arranged in a continuous or discontinuous zigzag pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 1, wherein the housing (2;12;22) is single-walled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 1, wherein the filter medium (1) is pleated with the pleats (7) extending in a plane at an angle of 60-90 degrees, such as 80-90 degrees, relative to a straight line between said gas inlet (3;13;23) and said gas outlet (4;14;24). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 6, wherein the pleat angle (9) is 20-120 degrees, such as 30-100 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 6, wherein a plurality of pleats are supported by pleat support rods (10;20) extending from at least one wall of the housing (12;22). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 1, wherein the filter medium is hydrophobic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gas exhaust filter device of claim 1, further comprising at least one Peltier element clamped to an outer wall of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A bioreactor (30) equipped with the gas exhaust filter device (31) of claim 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bioreactor of claim 11, comprising a flexible bag (32), such as a flexible bag mounted on a movable platform (33). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method for cultivation of cells in a bioreactor according to claim 11. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein moisture condenses on the plurality of ribs during cultivation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cell culture volume is less than 100 L, such as between 0.5 L and 20 L. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein no cooling liquid is applied to said gas exhaust filter device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the gas exhaust filter device is positioned with the gas outlet (4;14;24) above the gas inlet (3;13;23) and with a straight line between said gas inlet and said gas outlet at less than about 30 degrees relative to a vertical plane.