Abstract: Disclosed is an impeller for mixing a fluid wherein the impeller is fashioned so as to substantially reduce areas of fluid acceleration and deceleration around a hub region of the impeller during fluid mixing. Additionally, a bioreactor system having microcarriers, kit of parts and cell culturing method are also provided. The impeller has a generally circularly shaped hub having a downwardly directed progressively tapered volume which has plurality of periods formed therein corresponding to the number of increasingly arced blades. Each of the increasingly arced blades flare outwards to a distal end region of the impeller and have an increasing radius to said arc towards a peripheral edge region of said hub. The flare to the increasingly arced blades defines a larger circumference than that of said hub, thereby imparting a generally frusto-conical shape to the impeller. A method mixing a fluid using the impeller disclosed herein is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impeller for mixing a fluid wherein the impeller is fashioned so as to substantially reduce areas of fluid acceleration and deceleration around a hub region of the impeller during fluid mixing. Additionally, a bioreactor system having microcarriers, kit of parts and cell culturing method are also provided. The impeller has a generally circularly shaped hub having a downwardly directed progressively tapered volume which has plurality of periods formed therein corresponding to the number of increasingly arced blades. Each of the increasingly arced blades flare outwards to a distal end region of the impeller and have an increasing radius to said arc towards a peripheral edge region of said hub. The flare to the increasingly arced blades defines a larger circumference than that of said hub, thereby imparting a generally frusto-conical shape to the impeller. A method mixing a fluid using the impeller disclosed herein is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a mixing impeller for full immersion in a liquid to mix the liquid. The impeller has a central, longitudinally-extending axis of rotation, and includes a unitary body having a circular area disposed radially about the axis of rotation. A plurality of similar coplanar radial extensions extend from the circular area and are spaced equally about the area defining similar radial discharge slots between adjacent pairs of the extensions. A plurality of blades are cantilevered from the extension and extend axially and outwardly from the extensions, such that the body expands generally conically from the circular area along the lengths of the blades.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mixing impeller including a plurality of blades circumferentially mounted to a frame around the mixing impeller with adjacent blades being opened from one another. The blades are secured to the frame in a manner such that at least part of each blade extends outwardly of the frame to guide discharge of fluid passing through the impeller away from the frame and substantially eliminate any turbulence that the frame might otherwise create. In addition, the frame has a rearwardly inwardly tapering configuration with each of the blades having the same inward rearward taper as that of the frame. This combination of features substantially reduces turbulance of the outward flow of liquid from the impeller relative to conventional impeller designs.