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US 2026/0242708 A1Published application
Toroidal bioreactors and uses thereof
AssigneeToro Bio, Inc.
InventorUmberto SCARFOGLIERO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are v-shaped (or generally v-shaped) toroidal bioreactors that can be rotated about an axis. The shape of the container, as well as the ability to rotate it, gives the system the additional degrees of freedom needed for handling several operations commonly performed on cells, including growing, expanding, activating, transducing and manipulating cells in a closed system.
Claims52
A bioreactor comprising:
- a toroidal container having a cross-sectional profile comprising a top plate, a first side-wall, and a second side-wall;
- at least one fluid inlet configured to provide fluid communication between a stationary external fluid source and an interior of the toroidal container as the toroidal bioreactor rotates about its axis;
- and
- at least one fluid outlet configured to provide fluid communication between the interior of the toroidal container and a stationary exterior fluid reservoir as the toroidal bioreactor rotates about its axis.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- at least one toroidal container comprising:
- a cross-sectional profile comprising a top plate, a first side-wall, and a second side-wall, and
- at least one fluid inlet configured to provide fluid communication between a stationary external fluid source and an interior of the toroidal container as the toroidal bioreactor rotates about its axis;
- and
- at least one fluid outlet configured to provide fluid communication between the interior of the toroidal container and a stationary exterior fluid reservoir as the toroidal bioreactor rotates about its axis;
- and
- at least one drive mechanism comprising:
- a frame for mounting the toroidal container, wherein the frame is configured to allow the toroidal container to spin around a rotational axis;
- and
- at least one drive motor;
- wherein the drive mechanism is configured to control the angular velocity of the toroidal container as a function of time.
8 more elements
A method for culturing cells, the method comprising:
- introducing cells into a fluid contained within a bioreactor comprising:
- a toroidal container having a cross-sectional profile comprising a top plate, a first side-wall, and a second side-wall, and
- optionally, at least one micro cavity feature integrated with the first side-wall and configured to perform at least one of:
- (i) remove an aliquot of fluid contained within the toroidal container when a force is applied to a valve mechanism integrated with the at least one micro cavity feature;
- and/or
- (ii) deliver the fluid aliquot to a stationary external fluid sample container;
- aerating and/or agitating the fluid contained within the toroidal container by rotating the toroidal container about its axis at a specified angular velocity;
- and
- monitoring cell growth within the fluid by at least one of:
- performing high speed imaging of cells suspended in the fluid,
- performing high speed imaging of cells attached to an interior surface of the first side wall of the toroidal container, or
- performing high speed imaging of cells contained in the at least on micro-cavity feature;
- and
- sampling an aliquot of the fluid using the at least one micro cavity feature by increasing an angular velocity for rotation of the toroidal container so that it exceeds a specified minimum angular velocity threshold, and
- delivering the aliquot of the growth medium to a stationary external sample container for testing.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.