Patent ID: 11878311
Assignee: PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  C | IPC B

Claim 20:
21. Apparatus comprising:
a single use structure configured for use in a centrifuge system including a multi-use rotatable centrifuge bowl, wherein the structure is configured to be removably positioned in the bowl and to separate within an interior area of the structure, cells in a cell culture batch into concentrate and centrate,
the structure in an operative position, including
an upper disc shape portion,
a lower portion,
a cylindrical core intermediate of the upper portion and the lower portion,
a separation chamber in radially surrounding relation of the core,
an outer wall, wherein the outer wall
extends in fluid tight operative relation with the upper disc shape portion and bounds the separation chamber, and
extends in surrounding relation of the core,

a vertically extending feed tube,
a vertically extending centrate discharge tube,
wherein the upper disc shape portion and the outer wall are rotatable within the bowl about a vertical axis,
a centrate centripetal pump, wherein the centrate centripetal pump is
axially aligned with the core,
disposed coaxially about the feed tube,
in fluid communication with the centrate discharge tube, and
positioned in a centrate centripetal pump chamber,
wherein the centrate centripetal pump chamber is in fluid communication with the separation chamber,
wherein the centrate centripetal pump chamber is bounded vertically by
a lower circular axially centered centrate centripetal pump chamber surface,
wherein the lower centrate centripetal pump chamber surface includes an axially centered lower centrate centripetal pump chamber opening, wherein the feed tube extends through the lower centrate centripetal pump chamber opening,

an upper axially centered circular centrate centripetal pump chamber surface,
wherein the upper centrate centripetal pump chamber surface includes an axially centered upper centrate centripetal pump chamber opening, wherein the feed tube and the vertically extending centrate discharge tube extend through the upper centrate centripetal pump chamber opening,

wherein the centrate centripetal pump includes a substantially annular centrate pump opening, wherein centrate from the centrate centripetal pump chamber enters the centrate centripetal pump through the substantially annular centrate pump opening, wherein the substantially annular centrate opening is radially disposed from the axis a centrate pump opening distance,
wherein the lower centrate centripetal pump chamber surface includes a plurality of angularly spaced, radially and upward extending lower centrate chamber vanes,
wherein the lower centrate vanes extend radially outward from the axis a lower centrate vane distance, wherein the lower centrate vane distance is less than the centrate pump opening distance,

wherein the upper centrate centripetal pump chamber surface includes a plurality of angularly spaced, radially and downward extending upper centrate chamber vanes,
wherein the upper centrate chamber vanes extend radially outward from the axis an upper centrate vane distance, wherein the upper centrate vane distance is less than the centrate pump opening distance,

wherein during rotation of the rotatable centrifuge bowl, the upper disc shape portion and the outer wall rotate relative to each of the feed tube, the centrate discharge tube and the centrate centripetal pump.