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

Claim 22:
23. Apparatus comprising:
a single use structure configured for use in a centrifuge system including multi-use rotatable centrifuge bowl, wherein the structure is configured to be removably positioned in the rotatable centrifuge 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 cylindrical 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 cylindrical core,

a vertically extending feed tube,
a vertically extending centrate discharge tube,
a vertically extending concentrate discharge tube,
wherein the upper disc shape portion and the outer wall are rotatable within the bowl about a vertical axis,
wherein during rotation of the bowl, the upper disc shape portion and the outer wall rotate relative to each of the feed tube, the centrate discharge tube, and the concentrate discharge tube,
a centrate centripetal pump, wherein the centrate centripetal pump is
axially aligned with the cylindrical 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 during rotation of the bowl, the upper disc shape portion and the outer wall rotate relative to the centrate centripetal pump,
a concentrate centripetal pump, wherein the concentrate pump is
axially aligned with the cylindrical core,
disposed axially about the feed tube,
positioned vertically above the centrate pump,
in fluid communication with the concentrate discharge tube, and
positioned in a concentrate centripetal pump chamber,
wherein the concentrate centripetal pump chamber is in fluid communication with the separation chamber through a substantially annular concentrate opening, and

wherein during rotation of the bowl, the upper disc shape portion and the outer wall rotate relative to the concentrate centripetal pump,
a continuous annular concentrate dam, wherein the annular concentrate dam
extends in the separation chamber,
extends downward below the substantially annular concentrate opening, and
is disposed radially inward of the substantially annular concentrate opening.