# US 7,745,210 B2 · Fluid flow diverter for cell culture vessel

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- Number: US 7,745,210 B2
- Document ID: US7745210B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/478,823
- Filed: 2006-06-30
- Published: 2008-01-03
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-30
- Assignees: Corning Incorporated
- Inventors: Gregory Roger Martin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745210B2

## CPC

- C12M 23/34: {Internal compartments or partitions}
- C12M 23/08: {Flask, bottle or test tube}
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}

## Abstract

A vessel for culturing of cells is disclosed. The vessel is capable of exhausting substantially all liquid material from the vessel's internal volume through an outlet port. A flange incorporated with the outlet port is utilized as a flow diverter for removing liquid media from internal surfaces of the vessel. The flange also engages the vessel body so that the flow of a liquid medium is directed outward from the internal surfaces of the vessel through the outlet port. The top surface, flange base, and planar surfaces of the flange further assist to redirect surface tension of the fluid toward the port.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cell growth vessel comprising:
a vessel body having one or more walls defining an internal volume for cell growth;
a port in at least one said wall of said vessel body, wherein said port defines a fluid outlet; and
at least one flange,
wherein said flange extends from an internal surface of said port to an internal surface of one or more walls; and,
wherein said flange comprises a top surface, two opposing surfaces and one or more transitional surfaces defining a three dimensional structure interconnecting said internal surface of said port with said internal surface of said one or more walls of said vessel body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said flange engages said vessel body on a bottom wall.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said flange further comprises a leading edge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cell growth vessel of claim 3, wherein said leading edge is arranged at an angle less than 180° with said bottom wall of said vessel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The cell growth vessel of claim 3, wherein said leading edge is arranged at an angle of 90° or less with said bottom wall of said vessel body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The cell growth vessel of claim 3, wherein said flange is broader where it attaches to said internal surfaces than at the leading edge or the top surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said flange comprises transitional surfaces continuous with an inner surface of a bottom wall of said vessel body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said flange provides a gradual incline into said port.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said port comprises a circular port.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The cell growth vessel of claim 9, wherein said port comprises a cylindrical neck portion extending from said vessel body and wherein said flange extends from said bottom wall of said vessel body into an inner circumferential portion of the circular port.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said flange is a partial wall at a base of said port.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel of claim 1, wherein said internal volume includes one or more cell growth surfaces.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The cell growth vessel according to claim 1, wherein vessel body further comprises a manifold structured and arranged to provide fluid communication between the port and one or more cell growth surfaces.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A cell growth vessel according to claim 13 wherein the manifold comprises an end wall.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A cell growth vessel according to claim 1, wherein said transitional surfaces comprises flat or curved surfaces connecting said flange to said internal surface of said port or said internal surface of said one or mor walls or a combination.