Creation of shear in a reactor

• Main Authors: VELLA GEORGE J, BENOIT BRIAN O, JOHNSON TIMOTHY J, AUMOND BERNARDO D, RODGERS SETH T, ZARUR ANDREY J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.12.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING, DISPERSING; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SPIRITS; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

An apparatus for performing a biological or biochemical reaction that, in certain embodiments, has the ability to apply shear stress to a component of a liquid sample and includes a biological or biochemical reactor comprising a container having a volume of less than about 2 mL and containing a liquid sample, and a shear-generating element, the shear-generating element being contained within the apparatus and constructed and arranged so that the entire shear-generating element moves along a selected path of motion intersecting a first location within the apparatus and a second location within the apparatus, with or without rotational movement is described. A method of applying shear stress to a component of a liquid sample that includes moving a liquid or gaseous shear-generating element within an apparatus along a selected path of motion to create a reproducible and controllable level of shear stress at a selected location within the liquid sample is also disclosed.