US 12,083,540 B2
Method for separating cell culture mixture
Peter Thorwid, Sundbyberg (SE); and Kasper Höglund, Rönninge (SE)
Assigned to ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB, Lund (SE)
Appl. No. 17/296,766
Filed by ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB, Lund (SE)
PCT Filed Dec. 9, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/084146
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 25, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/120363, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18211243 (EP), filed on Dec. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0023888 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B04B 9/12 (2006.01); B04B 1/08 (2006.01); B04B 7/14 (2006.01); B04B 11/02 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12N 5/071 (2010.01)
CPC B04B 9/12 (2013.01) [B04B 1/08 (2013.01); B04B 7/14 (2013.01); B04B 11/02 (2013.01); C12M 47/02 (2013.01); C12N 5/0682 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for separating a cell culture mixture comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a centrifugal separator comprising:
a stationary frame;
a rotatable assembly; and a drive unit for rotating the rotatable assembly relative the frame around an axis of rotation,
wherein the rotatable assembly comprises a rotor casing enclosing a separation space in which a stack of separation discs is arranged to rotate around a vertical axis of rotation, said rotor casing further comprising:
an inlet for supply of said cell culture mixture to said separation space;
a first outlet for discharge of a separated liquid phase and a second outlet for discharge of a separated cell phase, said cell phase having a density that is higher than said liquid phase,
wherein said inlet is arranged at a first axial end of said rotor casing and arranged so that the cell culture mixture to be separated enters said rotor casing at the rotational axis, and
wherein said second outlet is arranged at a second axial end of said rotor casing opposite said first axial end and arranged so that said separated cell phase is discharged at the rotational axis;
(b) supplying said cell culture mixture to be separated to said inlet; and
(c) discharging the cell phase via said second outlet and the liquid phase via said first outlet.