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

Claim 21:
22. 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,
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 core,
disposed coaxially about the feed tube,
in fluid communication with the centrate discharge tube, and
positioned in a centrate pump chamber,
wherein the centrate 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 centripetal pump is
axially aligned with the cylindrical core,
disposed coaxially about the feed tube,
positioned vertically above the centrate centripetal pump,
in fluid communication with the concentrate discharge tube, and
positioned in a concentrate centripetal pump chamber,
wherein in the concentrate 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 concentrate centripetal pump,
wherein the concentrate centripetal pump chamber is bounded vertically by
a lower circular axially centered concentrate centripetal pump chamber surface,
wherein the lower concentrate centripetal pump chamber surface includes an axially centered lower concentrate centripetal pump chamber opening, wherein the feed tube and the vertically extending centrate discharge tube extend through the lower concentrate centripetal pump chamber opening,

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

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