A method of mixing a fluid includes at least partially unfolding a collapsible bag bounding a compartment, the collapsible bag containing in the compartment at least a portion of an elongated drive line or drive shaft and an impeller secured to the drive line or drive shaft, the impeller including a plurality of impeller blades that are pivotable relative to the drive line or drive shaft, at least one of the plurality of impeller blades being in a collapsed position. A fluid is delivered into the compartment of the collapsible bag. The drive line or drive shaft is then rotated so as to rotate the impeller within the compartment and mix the fluid therein, the at least one of the plurality of impeller blades pivoting from the collapsed position to an expanded position as the impeller is rotated within the compartment.

The present set of embodiments relate to a bioproduction system, method, and apparatus for creating a scalable bioreactor system. Specifically, the present set of embodiments enable the determination of bioreaction performance characteristics of a commercial scale by matching operational parameters between a small test scale bioreaction to that of a commercial scale bioreaction. The system and methods do not rely on simply making bioreactor apparatuses across scales the same dimensionally which would not account for differences in fluid dynamic properties between very small to very large volumes, but requires tuning of a variety of systems (mixing assembly, sparger system, and headspace airflow system) in conjunction with one another to achieve predictive outcomes.

A bioproduction mixing system includes a flexible compartment having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, a center axis passing through the flexible compartment between the first end and the second end. A helical assembly is disposed within the flexible compartment and is suspended between the first end and the second end, the helical assembly being offset from the center axis of the flexible compartment.

A method of installing a flexible bioprocess container in a bioprocessing system having a rigid housing with an interior compartment and extending between a top and an opposing base. The method includes coupling a first surface of the flexible bioprocess container to a moveable platform positioned within the interior compartment of the rigid housing; coupling a second surface of the flexible bioprocess container to the base of the rigid housing; and moving the movable platform relative to the rigid housing and toward the top of the rigid housing so as to at least partially expand the flexible bioprocess container within the interior compartment of the rigid housing.

The stirring device, in particular for a fluid-mixing bioreactor, comprises a drive shaft including a rod, an agitating element and a sleeve of tubular shape. The sleeve forms a coupling sleeve receiving the shaft therethrough and is directly rotationally coupled to the rod. The agitating element, which has a hub with an annular side wall delimiting an inner space and an impeller assembly comprising blades, is indirectly rotationally coupled to the rod via the sleeve that is engaged in the inner space. One of an inner surface of the wall and an outer surface of the sleeve is a guiding surface with progressively reduced cross section. Axial movement between the hub and the sleeve is prevented in a locked configuration of a sleeve fastening arrangement. Hub-sleeve contact areas can be axially distributed.

A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface bounding a compartment; a retainer coupled to the second end of the flexible bag, the retainer having a retention cavity formed thereon that communicates with the compartment of the flexible bag; and an elongated member having a first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the flexible bag and an opposing second end freely disposed within the retention cavity of the retainer so that the second end of the elongated member can rotate within the retention cavity relative to the retainer.

A method of installing a flexible bioprocess container in a bioprocessing system having a rigid housing with an interior compartment and extending between a top and an opposing base. The method includes coupling a first surface of the flexible bioprocess container to a moveable platform positioned within the interior compartment of the rigid housing; coupling a second surface of the flexible bioprocess container to the base of the rigid housing; and moving the movable platform relative to the rigid housing and toward the top of the rigid housing so as to at least partially expand the flexible bioprocess container within the interior compartment of the rigid housing.

The disclosure relates to a shaft support for supporting a lower portion of a rotatable shaft of an agitator configured to be installed in a tank, the shaft support comprising a support ring with an inwardly facing bearing surface configured to form a slide bearing journaling a lower portion of the rotatable shaft, wherein the bearing surface has a non-circular shape in a plane having a normal parallel to the shaft axis.