A bioreactor configured to contain a volume of liquid is provided. The bioreactor includes a collapsible bag able to contain the volume of liquid, a support structure surrounding and containing the collapsible bag, a first sparger connected to the collapsible bag, the first sparger having a first aperture size, and a second sparger connected to the collapsible bag, the second sparger having a second aperture size that is different from the first aperture size.

A system for processing a biological fluid that includes a bioreactor, wherein the bioreactor includes a window, at least one port for allowing delivery of a processing aid; a control system, a sensor; a transmitter for transmitting the signal; a signal converter; a controller for receiving the signal; and a valve for delivering the processing aid to the port, wherein the sensor senses a process condition, transmits the signal, and the signal is compared with a reference signal and wherein a process action is optionally taken based on the comparison.

Provided is a culture bag accommodating a culture fluid, the culture bag is capable of suppressing foaming in the culture fluid when oscillating the culture fluid to perform a culture, and performing a culture with high efficiency. The culture bag includes a culture space accommodating a culture fluid, the culture space being an endless space to allow the culture fluid to circulate therein, in which the culture bag has an inner surface that comes into contact with the culture fluid to be accommodated therein, the inner surface including, at least in part thereof, a first surface formed of a fine structure and a second surface formed of a structure different from that of the first structure.

A sterile foam breaking system, (14, 42, 52) includes a foam collector (20) having an opening (26), configured to be disposed in a source (12) which generates foam. The sterile foam breaking system (14, 42, 52) further includes a non-coated type suction unit (23) coupled to the foam collector (20). The non-contact type suction unit (23) is configured to transfer the foam via the opening (26) of the foam collector (20) and break a portion of the foam to generate a first quantity of liquid droplets. The sterile foam breaking system (14, 42, 52) additionally includes a foam breaking unit (28, 44, 54) coupled to the non-contact type suction unit (23). The foam breaking unit (28, 44, 54) is configured to receive remaining portion of the foam and the first quantity of liquid droplets and break the remaining portion of the foam to generate a second quantity of liquid droplets.

An apparatus for managing gas bubbles in a bioprocessing system includes a body portion having a underside surface, and an opening in the body portion. The body portion is configured for placement within a bioreactor vessel such that the underside surface of the body portion is disposed in a liquid within the bioreactor vessel. The underside surface of the body portion is configured to divert rising gas bubbles in the liquid towards the opening.

A bioreactor configured to contain a volume of liquid is provided. The bioreactor includes a collapsible bag able to contain the volume of liquid, a first sparger connected to the collapsible bag, and a second sparger connected to the collapsible bag.

A computer implemented method for detecting foam on the surface of a liquid medium contained in a vessel is described. The method including the steps of receiving a sample image of at least a portion of the vessel comprising the liquid-gas interface and classifying the sample image between a first class and at least one second class, associated with different amounts of foam on the surface of the liquid. The classifying is performed by a deep neural network classifier that has been trained using a plurality of training images of at least a portion of a vessel comprising a liquid-gas interface. The plurality of training images may comprise at least some images that differ from each other by one or more of: the location of the liquid-gas interface on the image, the polar and/or azimuthal angle at which the liquid-gas interface is viewed on the image, and the light intensity or colour temperature of the one or more light sources that illuminated the imaged portion of the vessel when the image was acquired. Related methods for controlling a bioprocess, for providing a tool, and related systems and computer software products are also described.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for foam control. A method of foam control for a fermentation system comprises: obtaining image data from an imaging device located at the fermentation system; and processing said sensor data using a trained machine learning algorithm to generate an output that indicates presence of foam or level of foaming.

A foam sensor device is used for monitoring foam within a vessel. The sensor (e.g. accelerometer) is encapsulated inside a water-tight, sterilizable, shell, which floats on a liquid contained. In one example, the foam sensor device includes an accelerometer for detecting and measuring rotation and movement of the foam sensor device and generates movement data based on the detected movement. During a learning or calibration process, sensor data (e.g., movement data) from the foam sensor device is analyzed and classified using machine learning and/or signal processing methods to extract features indicative of different possible foam statuses, including varying levels of foam, or no foam and generate models for the different statuses. During normal operation, the foam sensor device transmits sensor data to an analyzer containing the pre-calibrated models, which determines whether there is foam or not. Based on the foam status, a pump controller adds anti-foam solution.

A fermentation reactor is shown with a loop-part and a top tank, the loop-part having a downflow part, connected to an upflow part via a U-part, wherein the top tank includes: (i) a first outlet connecting the top tank to the downflow part of the loop-part and allowing a fermentation liquid present in the top tank to flow from the top tank into the loop-part; (ii) a first inlet connecting the top tank to the upflow part of the loop-part, allowing fermentation liquid present in the loop-part to flow from the loop part into the top tank; and (iii) a vent tube for discharging effluent gasses from the top tank; wherein the top tank further includes a visual inspection means.