Bioreactor system

An apparatus for maintaining and culturing cells in vitro therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a first permeable tube arranged in said housing for supplying a liquid medium, said first permeable tube being arranged in said housing along a first path therein which has a first predetermined length, said first permeable tube having first and second ports at respective ends thereof and positioned and arranged so as to communicate with the exterior of said housing, said first path being substantially randomly disposed within the housing;
• a second permeable tube arranged in said housing for receiving the liquid medium supplied by said first permeable tube and containing a product produced by the cells, said second permeable tube being arranged in said housing along a second path having a second predetermined length, said second path being maintained throughout said second predetermined length of said second path in close proximity to substantially the entire first predetermined length of said first path by being intertwined therewith so as to provide a varying distance between said first and second paths throughout said first and second predetermined lengths, and having first and second ports at respective ends thereof and positioned and arranged so as to communicate with the exterior of said housing, whereby a convective flow of the liquid medium is maintained in a region in the vicinity of said first and second paths;
• and
• enclosure means for providing a fluid-tight closure for said housing, said first permeable tube and said second permeable tube being disposed within said fluid-tight closure of said enclosure means.