Bioreactor and bioreactor system for cell and tissue growth

A bioreactor (10, 10′, 10″, 100) adapted for rotation, the bioreactor (10, 100) comprising:

• a vessel (12) including:
• a first end (24) and a second end (26) which define a central axis (28) of the vessel (12) extending along a first direction, e.g. a length direction, of the vessel (12) from said first (24) to said second end (26),
• at least one wall (18, 18′, 20) running along the first direction of the vessel (12);
• at least one media conduit (22, 22′) defining a volume for receiving fresh media;
• an inner chamber defined by at least a part of a space confined within said at least one wall (18, 18′, 20) and comprising a fresh media chamber (14) and a spent media chamber (16);
• said at least one media conduit (22, 22′) being or comprising a cell culture chamber (30) in fluid communication with said spent media chamber (16) and said fresh media chamber (14);
• a movable wall (38) configured, within said inner chamber, to separate said fresh media chamber (14) from said spent media chamber (16), within said inner chamber.

A bioreactor system (88) for growing a cell culture or tissue, the system (88) comprising:

• a bioreactor (10, 100) adapted for rotation, said bioreactor (10, 100) comprising a vessel (12) comprising:
• a first end (24) and a second end (26) which define a central axis (28) of the vessel (12) extending along a first direction, e.g. a length direction, of the vessel (12) from said first (24) to said second end (26), at least one wall (18, 18′, 20) running along the first direction of the vessel (12), at least one media conduit (22, 22′) defining a volume for receiving fresh or spent media, preferably fresh media;
• an inner chamber defined by at least a part of a space confined within said at least one wall (18, 18′, 20) and comprising a fresh media chamber (14) and a spent media chamber (16);
• a cell culture chamber (30) in fluid communication with said at least one media conduit (22, 22′) and said fresh (14) or spent media chamber (16), preferably said spent media chamber (16);
• and
• a movable wall (38), configured, within said inner chamber, to separate said fresh media chamber (14) from said spent media chamber (16) within said inner chamber;
• wherein said movable wall (38) is connected to a displacement element (40) in the form of a piston (40), for displacing the movable wall (38) axially along the first direction of the vessel (12);
• the bioreactor system (88) further comprising:
• retaining rollers (92, 94) configured to support and/or enable rotation of the bioreactor (10, 100);
• a drive element (96) such as drive wheel (96) for rotating the bioreactor (10, 100);
• a retaining block (98) for supporting the piston (40), said piston (40) being connected to said movable wall (38) via a piston shaft (42);
• a drive unit (500) for moving said retaining block (98) and thereby displacing the piston (40).

A bioreactor (10′) adapted for rotation, the bioreactor (10′) comprising:

• a vessel (12) including:
• a first end (24) and a second end (26) which define a central axis (28) of the vessel (12) extending along a first direction, e.g. a length direction, of the vessel (12) from said first (24) to said second end (26), at least one wall (18, 18′, 20) running along the first direction of the vessel (12), at least one media conduit (22, 22′) defining a volume for receiving fresh or spent media;
• an inner chamber defined by at least a part of a space confined within said at least one wall (18, 18′, 20) and comprising a fresh media chamber (14) and a spent media chamber (16);
• a cell culture chamber (30) in fluid communication with said at least one media conduit (22, 22′) and said fresh (14) and/or spent media chamber (16);
• and
• a movable wall (38) configured, within said inner chamber, to separate said fresh media chamber (14) from said spent media chamber (16) within said inner chamber,
• wherein the bioreactor (10′) further comprises a humidification system (62, 62′, 66, 68, 72) comprising
• one or more liquid or moisturising reservoirs or elements (62, 62′),
• an evaporation chamber (68, 72), e.g. an evaporation labyrinth (68) and a filter (72), the filter (72) forming one of the walls of the cell culture chamber (30), and
• and a liquid or moisturizing transport element (66), e.g. a wick (66), configured to transport liquid or moisture from the one or more liquid or moisturising reservoirs or elements (62, 62′) to the evaporation chamber (68, 72).