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EP-4735572-A1 - MODULAR SYSTEM FOR BIOPROCESS MONITORING AND METHOD THEREOF

EP4735572A1EP 4735572 A1EP4735572 A1EP 4735572A1EP-4735572-A1

Abstract

A modular system (100) is provided for bioprocess monitoring. The modular system comprises a container (101) comprising a culture medium (102), at least one sensor (103) configured to be in contact with the culture medium (102), a first connector (104) operably coupled to the at least one sensor (103), and a sealing system (105) encompassing the first connector (104); and a read-out module (106) comprising a second connector (107) and a read-out circuit (108) operably coupled to the second connector (107). In this regard, the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) are configured to be attached in a detachable manner.

Inventors

  • VERBRUGGEN, Bert
  • HENRY, OLIVIER
  • PAEPS, Filip

Assignees

  • Imec VZW

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240624

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A modular system (100, 200, 300, 400) for bioprocess monitoring, comprising: a container (101) comprising a culture medium (102) , at least one sensor (103) configured to be in contact with the culture medium (102) , a first connector (104) operably coupled to the at least one sensor (103) , and a sealing system (105) encompassing the first connector (104) ; and a read-out module (106) comprising a second connector (107) and a read-out circuit (108) operably coupled to the second connector (107) , wherein the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) are configured to be attached in a detachable manner.
  2. 2. The modular system according to claim 1, wherein the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) are configured to facilitate an electrical connection between the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) .
  3. 3. The modular system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) are configured to facilitate both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) .
  4. 4. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first connector (104) comprises at least one male-type connector and the second connector (107) comprises at least one female-type connector, and/or wherein the first connector (104) comprises at least one female-type connector and the second connector (107) comprises at least one male-type connector.
  5. 5. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sealing system (105) is configured to isolate the first connector (104) from the culture medium (102) .
  6. 6. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sealing system (105) is configured to encompass a portion of the read-out module (112) inside of the container (101) , and to isolate the first connector (104) and the portion of the read-out module (112) from the culture medium (102) .
  7. 7. The modular system according to claim 6, wherein the portion of the read-out module (112) comprises at least the read-out circuit (108) .
  8. 8. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the modular system further comprises a fitting arrangement (111) configured to align the first connector (104) and the second connector (107) .
  9. 9. The modular system according to claim 8, wherein the fitting arrangement (111) comprises at least one alignment marker (211) and/or at least one alignment guide (111 ) .
  10. 10. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container (101) is a cell-culture vessel, preferably a bioreactor vessel (101A) .
  11. 11. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container (101) is a cell-culture bag, preferably a bioreactor bag (101B) .
  12. 12. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container (101) is a cell-culture tube or a flow-cell (101C) .
  13. 13. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one sensor (103) is an electrochemical sensor, and/or wherein the at least one sensor (103) is configured to measure at least one of a physical parameter, a chemical parameter, and a biochemical parameter of the culture medium.
  14. 14. The modular system according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the container (101) is sterilizable.
  15. 15. A method (500) for facilitating a modular system for bioprocess monitoring, comprising: providing (501) a container comprising a culture medium, at least one sensor in contact with the culture medium, a first connector operably coupled to the at least one sensor, and a sealing system encompassing the first connector; and providing (502) a read-out module comprising a second connector and a read-out circuit operably coupled to the second connector, wherein the first connector and the second connector are attached in a detachable manner.

Description

IMEC VZW 1 Modular system for bioprocess monitoring and method thereof The invention relates to modular sensor systems for measuring, monitoring or controlling parameters during a bioprocess, especially in sterilizable containers. Generally, in order to achieve reproducible results and to fabricate reliable products within bioreactors and other cell culture environment, bioprocess occurring within the containers should be controlled and monitored, which may be performed through a set of sensors. Furthermore, in order to prevent contaminations and to maintain the quality of the products, the containers need to be sterilized. However, the sterilization process must not affect the sensor system functionalities . For example, the document US 2019/0309255 Al discloses a bioreactor with a sensor port for exchanging different sensors without exposing the interior of the bioreactor. However, the measurements of US 2019/0309255 Al are limited to transflection measurements, which may suffer from a reduced accuracy due to the additional noise caused from the distance between the sensors and the content of the bioreactor . Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a modular system and a method to facilitate the modular system for measuring, monitoring or controlling parameters during a bioprocess with an improved accuracy while maintaining the sterile conditions of the bioprocess monitoring, and further to reuse some o f the components to minimi ze the impact on cost and sustainability . The obj ect is solved by the features of the first independent claim for the modular system and by the features of the second independent claim for the method . The dependent claims contain further developments . According to a first aspect o f the invention, a modular system is provided for bioproces s monitoring . The modular system comprises a container compris ing a culture medium, at least one sensor configured to be in contact with the culture medium, a first connector operably coupled to the at least one sensor, and a sealing system encompassing the first connector; and a read-out module compris ing a second connector and a read-out circuit operably coupled to the second connector . In thi s regard, the first connector and the second connector are conf igured to be attached in a detachable manner . In other words , the read-out module may be detachably attached to the container via the first connector and the second connector, especially to make a connection between the first connector and the second connector during the operation . Furthermore, the at least one sensor may be in direct contact with the culture medium within the container . Advantageous ly, the measurement accuracy can be improved . Moreover, at least the read-out module can be reused many times over , thereby minimiz ing the impact on cost and sustainability . Preferably, the first connector and the second connector are configured to facilitate an electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector . In other words , the first connector and the second connector may j oint together electrically . Preferably, the first connector and the second connector are configured to facilitate both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the f irst connector and the second connector . In other words , the first connector and the second connector may j oint together mechanically and electrical ly . Advantageous ly, the mechanical connection and/or the electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector can be formed without posing a risk in terms o f sterility issue to the container . Preferably, the first connector comprises at least one maletype connector and the second connector comprises at least one female-type connector . Alternatively, the first connector comprises at least one female-type connector and the second connector comprises at least one male-type connector . For example , the first connector and/or the second connector may additionally comprise a snapping mechani sm activated at the insertion . Preferably, the sealing system is conf igured to i solate the first connector from the culture medium . Thi s may advantageous ly ensure that the environment remains sterile . Preferably, the sealing system is configured to encompass a portion of the read-out module inside of the container, and to isolate the first connector and the portion of the read-out module from the culture medium. In this regard, the portion of the read-out module comprises at least the read-out circuit. This may advantageously prevent the culture medium from reaching the electronics, and may further form a barrier between the sterile and the non- sterile environment. Preferably, the modular system further comprises a fitting arrangement configured to align the first connector and the second connector. In this regard, the fitting arrangement comprises at least one alignment marker and/or at least one alignment gu