Mixing and thawing device

Abstract

A mixing and thawing device (1) has a rocker drive (2) and a bag holder (3) for holding a bag (7). The bag holder (3) has a base part (8) and a lid part (9) that enclose a holding space (10) for the bag (7). A heating element (11) is arranged in the base part (8). Thus, the holding space (10) is designed as a heat-insulating closed chamber. Interconnected intermediate spaces (14, 15) are arranged between the bag (7) and the base part (8) and between the bag (7) and the lid part (9). One or more flow generators (16) are provided to generate a circulating fluid flow (17).

Claims

1. A mixing and thawing device (1), comprising: a rocker drive (2) having a substructure (4) and a rocker plate (5) that is configured for pivoting relative to the substructure (4) about a rocker axis (6) at a programmable frequency and a programmable angle; a bag holder (3) having a base part (8) and a lid part (9) that enclose a holding space (10) for holding a bag (7), the holding space (10) being a heat-insulating closed chamber, the base part (8) of the bag holder (3) being fastened securely to the rocker plate (5); a heating element (11) being arranged in the base part (8) a first intermediate space (14) arranged between the bag (7) and the base part (8); a second intermediate space (15) arranged between the bag (7) and the lid part (9) and in fluidic communication with the first intermediate space; and at least one flow generator (16) for generating a circulating fluid flow (17) through the first and second intermediate spaces (14, 15) and on opposite sides of the bag (7).

2. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one flow generator is a fan and the fluid flow is an air stream.

3. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, further comprising a lower part (12) arranged in the holding space (10) adjacent to the base part (8) and an upper part (13) arranged in the holding space (10) adjacent to the lid part (9).

4. The mixing and thawing device of claim 3, wherein the lower part (12) and the upper part (13) form a protective housing for the bag (7).

5. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, wherein the base part (8) has one or more condensate outlets (18).

6. The mixing and thawing device of claim 3, wherein the bag (7) is fastened between the lower part (12) and the upper part (13) to prevent slippage.

7. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, wherein the lid part (9) is removable from the base part (8).

8. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, further comprising a heat-conducting gel pad (19) arranged on the heating element (11) and facing the bag (7).

9. The mixing and thawing device of claim 8, wherein the gel pad (19) is flexible.

10. The mixing and thawing device of claim 8, wherein the heat-conducting gel pad regulates a temperature of the heating element.

11. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more temperature sensor arranged within the bag holder (3).

12. The mixing and thawing device of claim 1, further comprising a control and regulation device arranged within the rocker drive (2) for controlling and regulating a thawing and/or mixing that can be performed using the mixing and thawing device (1).

13. The mixing and thawing device of claim 12, wherein the control and regulation device is operable to operate the rocker drive (2) selectively for carrying out the mixing without heating or temperature-controlling the bag (7).

14. The mixing and thawing device of claim 3, wherein the lower part (12) and/or the upper part (13) are bowl-shaped.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 a lateral, partially cross-sectional view of a mixing and thawing device.

(2) FIG. 2 a frontal, partially cross-sectional view of the mixing and thawing device from FIG. 1, from Direction II.

(3) FIG. 3 a lateral, partially cross-sectional view of an additional mixing and thawing device with a heat-conductive gel pad in the bag holder.

(4) FIG. 4 a frontal, partially cross-sectional view of the mixing and thawing device from FIG. 3, from Direction IV.

(5) FIG. 5 a spatial representation of the mixing and thawing device from FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 a lateral, partially cross-sectional view of an additional mixing and thawing device with condensate outlets in the bag holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) A mixing and thawing device 1 essentially comprises a rocker drive 2 and a bag holder 3.

(8) The rocker drive 2 comprises, in a manner known, a substructure 4 and a rocker plate 5 that is capable of pivoting about a rocker axis 6 at a programmable frequency and programmable angle.

(9) The bag holder 3 for holding a bioreactor designed as a bag 7 with flexible walls has a base part 8 and a lid part 9 that enclose a holding space 10 for the bag 7. The base part 8 of the bag holder 3 is securely fastened to the rocker plate 5.

(10) A heating pad 11 is arranged within the base part 8 and can also be designed as a flat temperature-controlled plate.

(11) The holding space 10 is designed as a heat-insulating, closed chamber in which the bag 7 is arranged between a bowl-shaped lower part 12 adjacent to the base part 8 and a bowl-shaped upper part 13 adjacent to the lid part 9. A first intermediate space 14 is located between the lower part 12 and the base part 8 while a second intermediate space 15 is located between the upper part 13 and the lid part 9. The intermediate spaces 14, 15 are connected to one another such that a circulating flow 17 (e.g., air stream) can be produced by the flow generator(s) 16 (e.g., fans) (see FIG. 1).

(12) According to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 6, the base part 8 has one or more condensate outlets 18.

(13) According to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, a gel pad 19 with good heat conduction is arranged on the heating pad 11, facing the bag 7. The gel bag 19 is flexible.

(14) The mixing and thawing device 1 has one or more temperature sensors 20 within the bag holder 3.

(15) A control and regulation device (21) for controlling and regulating a thawing and/or mixing process to be executed using the mixing and thawing device 1 is arranged within the rocker drive 2, i.e., in its substructure 4.

(16) To insert the bag 7 into the bag holder 3, the lid part 9 with the upper part 13 is removed from the base part 8 with the lower part 12. The bag 7 is then inserted into the base part 8 with the lower part 12 and the upper part 13, and the lid part 9 is placed onto the base part 8 and locked.

(17) Afterwards, a thawing process, and subsequently a mixing process, can be performed.

(18) It is evidently also possible to perform a mixing process directly and without a prior thawing process.

(19) Of course, the embodiments discussed in the specific description and shown in the figures are merely illustrative exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In light of this disclosure, a person skilled in the art is given a wide range of possible variations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(20) 1 Mixing and thawing device 2 Rocker drive 3 Bag holder 4 Substructure of 2 5 Rocker plate of 2 6 Rocker axis of 2 7 Bag 8 Base part of 3 9 Lid part of 3 10 Holding space of 3 11 Heating element 12 Lower part 13 Upper part 14 First intermediate space of 8 15 Second intermediate space of 9 16 Flow generator 17 Fluid flow 18 Condensate outlet 19 Gel pad