Bioreactor and related method

A bioreactor comprising:

• a housing including,
• a wall substantially cylindrical in shape having an interior surface and an exterior surface and with perforations extending therethrough, and
• a membrane of elastic material tightly surrounding the exterior surface;
• a plurality of fibers disposed within the housing, each fiber substantially cylindrical in shape having an inner surface and an outer surface and with pores extending through the inner surface and outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a lumen of each fiber, the lumens define an intrafiber compartment, and the outer surfaces and the housing define an extrafiber compartment;
• an inflow port, coupled with the intrafiber compartment, for admitting a perfusate to flow into the intrafiber compartment, wherein the perfusate migrates to the extrafiber compartment via the pores;
• an outflow port, coupled with the intrafiber compartment, for discharging the perfusate from the intrafiber compartment;
• and
• a flow restrictor, coupled to the outflow port, for variably restricting the discharge of the perfusate from the intrafiber compartment;
• wherein,
• during restriction of the discharge, the perfusate passes through the pores of the plurality of fibers, the volume of perfusate in the extrafiber compartment increases causing the perfusate in the extrafiber compartment to distend the membrane, and
• during loosening of the restriction of the discharge, the membrane contracts to reverse the flow of the perfusate through the pores.

A bioreactor comprising:

• a housing including,
• a wall substantially cylindrical in shape having an interior surface and an exterior surface and with perforations extending therethrough, and
• a membrane of elastic material tightly surrounding the exterior surface;
• a plurality of fibers disposed within the housing, each fiber substantially cylindrical in shape having an inner surface and an outer surface and with pores extending through the inner surface and outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a lumen of each fiber, the lumens define an intrafiber compartment, and the outer surfaces and the housing define an extrafiber compartment;
• an inflow port, coupled with the intrafiber compartment, for admitting a perfusate to flow into the intrafiber compartment, wherein the perfusate migrates to the extrafiber compartment via the pores;
• an outflow port, coupled with the intrafiber compartment, for discharging the perfusate from the intrafiber compartment;
• and
• a pump, coupled to the inflow port, for variably increasing the flow of the perfusate into the intrafiber compartment;
• wherein,
• during increase in flow of the perfusate, the perfusate passes through the pores in the plurality of fibers, the volume of perfusate in the extrafiber compartment increases causing the perfusate in the extrafiber compartment to distend the membrane, and
• during decrease in flow of the perfusate, the membrane contracts to reverse the flow of the perfusate through the pores.

A method of perfusion in a bioreactor including a housing having a wall substantially cylindrical in shape with an interior surface and an exterior surface and a plurality of hollow, porous fibers disposed within the housing, the lumens of the fibers define an intrafiber compartment, and the exterior of the fibers and the housing define an extrafiber compartment, the method comprising:

• providing perforations extending through the interior surface and the exterior surface of the wall;
• tightly surrounding the exterior surface with a membrane of elastic material;
• and
• variably restricting the discharge of a perfusate from the intrafiber compartment.

A method of perfusion in a bioreactor including a housing having a wall substantially cylindrical in shape with an interior surface and an exterior surface and a plurality of hollow, porous fibers disposed within the housing, the lumens of the fibers define an intrafiber compartment, and the exterior of the fibers and the housing define an extrafiber compartment, the method comprising:

• providing perforations extending through the interior surface and the exterior surface of the wall;
• tightly surrounding the exterior surface with a membrane of elastic material;
• and
• variably increasing the flow of a perfusate into the intrafiber compartment.