Patent ID: 7771945
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: B03D,C12N,C12Q

Abstract:
1. A continuous flow pharmaceutical grade apparatus for lysing bacterial cells comprising a fluid flow path comprising and in fluid communication with: a cell lysis buffer conduit and inlet for introduction of a cell lysis buffer into the fluid flow path; a gas introduction port comprising an aperture for introducing a controlled flow of gas into the fluid path; a cell suspension conduit and inlet for introducing a bacterial cell suspension into the fluid path; a first in-line mixer disposed in-line in the fluid flow path at a location after the cell lysis buffer inlet, the gas introduction port, and the cell suspension inlet, wherein the first in-line mixer is adapted for combining the bacterial cell suspension, cell lysis buffer and gas, thereby forming a cell lysate; a precipitation buffer conduit and inlet disposed in-line in the fluid flow path at a location after the first in-line mixer, and adapted for introducing a precipitation buffer into the cell lysate; a second in-line mixer disposed in-line in the fluid flow path at a location after the precipitation buffer inlet, and adapted for combining the cell lysate with the precipitation buffer thereby forming a precipitated lysate; and a lysate clarification tank in fluid communication with the fluid flow path and positioned and configured to receive and rest the precipitated lysate for flotation and separation of a precipitate phase from a clarified lysate phase by resting, coalescence and solidification of the precipitate phase.