BIOREACTOR WITH SENSOR ELEMENT

The present disclosure provides a bioreactor for cell culturing. The bioreactor comprises a container comprising a base and a side wall defining an internal volume for a cell suspension. The container is rotatable during use about a rotational axis. The bioreactor also includes a sensor element disposed on an internal surface for interaction with a sensor receiver positioned externally of the container and operable to detect a characteristic of the cell suspension. The sensor element is offset from the rotational axis of the bioreactor and arranged to align with the sensor receiver in at least two rotational positions of the bioreactor during use. Optionally the sensor element comprises a plurality of discrete portions at least one comprises an annular sector. Preferably the bioreactor comprises a second sensor element, which comprises an oxygen- or pH-sensitive coating. The bioreactor further comprises a compressible side wall and an interface plate, comprising one or more ports. Also disclosed is a bioreactor system comprising the bioreactor and housing adapted to support the bioreactor allowing it to rotate relative to the housing about the rotational axis and a method of culturing cells in the bioreactor system.