Mixing bag with integral sparger and sensor receiver

A bioprocessing apparatus intended for receiving a fluid in need of agitation and sparging using a gas, comprising:

• a bag having a flexible sidewall creating an interior compartment capable of receiving and holding the fluid;
• an integral sparger connected to the bag and including a permeable material for forming bubbles from the gas supplied to the fluid when present in the bag;
• and
• a fluid-agitating element for agitating the fluid and assisting in distributing the bubbles throughout the fluid when present in the interior compartment,
• whereby the fluid-agitating element may be used to agitate the fluid while sparging is provided to the fluid by delivering the gas to the integral sparger to form bubbles distributed throughout the fluid by the fluid-agitating element in the course ofbioprocessing involving the fluid when present in the bag.

A disposable hioprocessing apparatus intended for receiving a fluid in need of agitation and sparging using a gas, comprising:

• a flexible bag having a sidewall forming an interior compartment capable of receiving and holding the fluid;
• an integral sparger comprising a rigid post projecting inwardly into the interior compartment of the bag, said post having a passage for receiving the gas that forms bubbles in the fluid when present in the interior compartment;
• and
• a fluid-agitating element associated with the post for agitating the fluid and assisting in distributing the bubbles throughout the fluid when present in the interior compartment,
• whereby the fluid-agitating element may be used to agitate the fluid while sparging is provided to the fluid by delivering the gas to the integral sparger to form bubbles distributed throughout the fluid by the fluid-agitating element in the course of bioprocessmg involving the fluid when present in the bag.