Abstract: Macrocarriers for growing cells in bioreactors having generally ball-shaped outer profiles, with approximately the same dimension from side-to-side in all planes through the center of the macrocarrier. A series of generally horizontal plates and vertical ribs defined by the macrocarriers form flat surfaces for desirable cell growth.

Abstract: A bioreactor includes a vessel containing a fluid to be mixed and at least one mixing device driven by a non-contaminating, indirect drive system. The mixing speed of the mixing device inside of the bioreactor may be controlled by the rotating speed of the magnets or the frequency of polarity changes of electromagnets outside the vessel acting upon magnets or ferrous material in or on the impeller wheel. The impeller wheel has a plurality of radially-oriented outer paddles with gaps therebetween that mixes fluid and culture cells around the vessel. A pair of curved axial flow vanes toward the middle of the impeller wheel washes the culture mix further.