EP-4735577-A2 - SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR FLUID TRANSFER WITHIN AN AUTOMATED CELL PROCESSING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for automated fluid transfer. In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a system for fluid transfer between a fluid device and a cartridge for cell processing. The system comprises a first portion comprising an instrument head coupled to a gantry, the instrument head comprising a pneumatic actuator, a peristaltic pump, and a gripping feature for receiving the fluid device. The peristaltic pump may be configured to engage compressible fluidic tubing of a fluid pump module of the fluid device to transfer the fluid between the fluid device and the cartridge. The system further comprises a second portion comprising a docking station for receiving the cartridge. In some variations, movement of the pneumatic actuator relative to the fluid pump module causes occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module by the peristaltic pump.

Inventors

• THAKKAR, Bharat S.
• WEBER, MATTHIAS

Assignees

• Cellares Corporation

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240628

Claims (20)

1. 1. A system for fluid transfer between a fluid device and a cartridge for cell processing, the system comprising: a first portion comprising an instrument head coupled to a gantry, the instrument head comprising a pneumatic actuator, a peristaltic pump, and a gripping feature for receiving the fluid device, the peristaltic pump being configured to engage compressible fluidic tubing of a fluid pump module of the fluid device to transfer the fluid between the fluid device and the cartridge; and a second portion comprising a docking station for receiving the cartridge, wherein movement of the pneumatic actuator relative to the fluid pump module causes occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module by the peristaltic pump.
2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein movement of the pneumatic actuator comprises translation of the peristaltic pump relative to the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module, thereby adjusting the amount of occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing.
3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein translation of the peristaltic pump relative to the compressible fluidic tubing modifies a distance between bearings of the peristaltic pump and a track of the fluid pump module.
4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein movement of the pneumatic actuator towards the fluid pump module increases the amount of occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing.
5. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic actuator is coupled to the peristaltic pump via a bracket.
6. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the peristaltic pump comprises multiple rollers for engaging the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module.
7. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument head is movable via the gantry in at least two dimensions.
8. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises a platform.
9. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the platform of the docking station comprises a bioreactor module engagement feature configured to engage a corresponding bioreactor module of the cartridge.
10. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the platform is a floating platform configured to raise the cartridge into contact with the first portion of the system.
11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the contact between the cartridge and a clamping surface of the docking station secures the cartridge.
12. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the platform of the docking station further comprises a load cell for measuring a mass of a transferred fluid.
13. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument head further comprises a cap actuator.
14. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the cartridge and the fluid device further comprise a sterile liquid transfer port.
15. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument head further comprises sensors for locating the sterile liquid transfer port of the cartridge.
16. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises two or more sterile liquid transfer ports.
17. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument head further comprises one or more sensors for controlling a fluid transfer flow rate.
18. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument head further comprises one or more cameras.
19. 19. A system for fluid transfer between a fluid device and a cartridge for cell processing, the system comprising: a first portion comprising an instrument head coupled to and movable via a gantry, the instrument head comprising one or more sensors and a gripping feature for receiving the fluid device, the fluid device comprising a sterile liquid transfer port for transferring the fluid; and a second portion comprising a docking station for receiving the cartridge, the cartridge comprising at least one sterile liquid transfer port, wherein the sterile liquid transfer port of the fluid device is aligned with a corresponding one of the at least one sterile liquid transfer port of the cartridge using the one or more sensors of the instrument head.
20. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors are optical sensors.

Description

SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR FLUID TRANSFER WITHIN AN AUTOMATED CELL PROCESSING SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/524,596 filed June 30, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates to fluid transfer within a cell processing system. BACKGROUND [0003] Cell therapy, where cells from a patient or donor are collected, processed ex vivo, and then returned to the same or different patient, has been revolutionary. However, cell therapy manufacturing is a complex, often labor-intensive process that is difficult to “scale-up” and is prone to human error and contamination. Recent efforts have been made toward automating manufacturing of cell therapies. While advances have been made regarding, for example, the ability to automate movements of cells between manufacturing steps, there remain numerous inefficiencies throughout cell therapy manufacturing. For example, the transfer of fluids between cell therapy steps and reagent storage devices continues to be a human touch point and an entryway for error and contamination. Given the importance of sterility in the transferring of fluids to collect samples, replenish culture media, and the like, additional systems, devices, and methods for fluid transfer within a cell processing system are desirable. SUMMARY [0004] The present disclosure relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for fluid transfer between a fluid device and a cartridge for cell processing. In general, the systems disclosed herein for fluid transfer between the fluid device and the cartridge for cell processing may include a first portion including an instrument head coupled to a gantry and a second portion including a docking station for receiving the cartridge. The instrument head may be movable via the gantry in at least two directions and may include an actuator, a pump, and a gripping feature for receiving the fluid device, wherein the pump may be configured to engage compressible fluidic tubing of a fluid pump module of the fluid device to transfer the fluid between the fluid device and the cartridge. In some variation, the actuator may be a pneumatic actuator and the pump may be a peristaltic pump. In some variations, the instrument head may further include a cap actuator. In some variations, each of the cartridge and the fluid device may further include a sterile liquid transfer port or one or more sterile liquid transfer ports. In some variations, the instrument head may further include sensors, such as cameras, for locating the sterile liquid transfer port of the cartridge. In some variations, the instrument head may further include one or more sensors for controlling a fluid transfer flow rate. Movement of the pneumatic actuator relative to the fluid pump module may cause occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module by the peristaltic pump. In some variations, movement of the pneumatic actuator may include translation of the peristaltic pump relative to the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module, thereby adjusting the amount of occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing. The translation of the peristaltic pump relative to the compressible fluidic tubing may modify a distance between bearings of the peristaltic pump and a track of the fluid pump module. In this way, movement of the pneumatic actuator towards the fluid pump module may increase the amount of occlusion of the compressible fluidic tubing. In some variations, the pneumatic actuator may be coupled to the peristaltic pump via a bracket. In some variations, the peristaltic pump may include multiple rollers for engaging the compressible fluidic tubing of the fluid pump module. In some variations, the instrument head may be movable via the gantry in at least two dimensions. In some variations, the docking station may further include a platform. In some variations, the platform of the docking station may include a bioreactor module engagement feature configured to engage with a corresponding bioreactor module of the cartridge. The platform may be a floating platform configured to raise the cartridge into contact with a clamping surface of the docking station, thereby securing the cartridge. In some variations, the platform of the docking station further includes a load cell for measuring a mass of a transferred fluid. [0005] Systems for fluid as described herein may include one or more sensors and a gripping feature for receiving the fluid device, and the fluid device may include a sterile liquid transfer port for transferring the fluid. Likewise, the cartridge may include at least one sterile liquid transfer port. The sterile liquid transfer port of the fluid device may be aligned with a corresponding one of the at least one sterile liquid transfer port of the cartridge us