Bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system

• US 20020146816A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techshot, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Techshot, Inc.
• Inventors: Deuser, Mark S., Vellinger, John C., Wells, Mark E., Barton, Kenneth W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,198,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/289.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/10 Rotating vessel
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/04 Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/14 with filters, sieves or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/809 Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers

Abstract

A bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system is provided for the automated cultivation and processing of living cells remotely both on earth and in low gravity which utilizes a generally cylindrical reactor vessel that may be optionally rotated about its cylindrical axis while allowing the entrance of fresh or recycled fluid and the removal, optionally, of spent medium, medium to be recycled or filtered or unfiltered medium for the collection of samples. The bioreactor vessel includes a cylindrical wall, two cover plates, two rotary unions, fill ports, and a polymeric filter. A method of exchanging gases between the culture medium and ambient gases is fabricated from a user-selected length of permeable tubing and a peristaltic pump. A polymeric fresh-medium storage bag and peristaltic pump is used for batch feeding, perfusion or sample collection. An enclosure and manifold representing an additional level of chemical containment and a series of pinch valves for the periodic collection of samples of suspended cells or cell-free medium is disposed therein together with a humidity control system consisting of a polymeric porous matrix and a fan. A computer program with graphical user interface for automatically and/or robotically controlling all functions especially including rotation of the reactor vessel, feeding fresh medium, perfusing the reactor vessel, timed collection of samples of fluid from the reactor, selecting between collecting cells or cell-free supernatant. A sealed compartment for sample-collection bags provides a level of chemical containment for safety. A sealed external housing is used for all components of the device except the power supply and computer. An external loop and electronic video microscope provides real-time and recorded and/or transmitted observation of cells in the suspension. All polymeric components are made of low-flammability, non-toxic, heat-resistant polymers such as polycarbonate, polysulfone, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or silicone.

Claims

1. A bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system, comprising:

a reactor vessel that may be optionally rotated about its axis while allowing the entrance of fresh or recycled fluid and the removal, optionally, of spent medium, medium to be recycled or filtered or unfiltered medium for the collection of samples, said cylindrical reactor vessel consisting of at least a cylindrical wall, two cover plates, two rotary unions, fill ports, a polymeric filter;

means for exchanging gases between the culture medium and ambient gases comprising a user-selected length of permeable tubing and a peristaltic pump;

a polymeric fresh-medium storage bag and peristaltic pump for batch feeding, perfusion or sample collection;

an enclosure and manifold representing an additional level of chemical containment and a series of pinch valves for the periodic collection of samples of suspended cells or cell-free medium;

means for controlling the humidity comprising a humidity control system consisting of a polymeric porous matrix and a fan;

a computer program with graphical user interface for automatically and/or robotically controlling all functions especially including rotation of the reactor vessel, feeding fresh medium, perfusing the reactor vessel, timed collection samples of fluid from the reactor, selecting between collecting cells or cell-free supernatant;

a sealed compartment for sample-collection bags providing a level of chemical containment for safety;

a sealed external housing for all components of the device except power supply and computer; and

wherein all polymeric components are made of low-flammability, non-toxic, heat-resistant polymers such as polycarbonate, polysulfone, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or silicone.

2. The bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system of claim 1 including a rotary multiple sample collector with capability for collecting cells on filters, fixing the cells and collecting the cells.

3. The bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system of claim 2, said rotary sample collector comprising of a rotating inlet into a compartment with a filter, means to remove waste liquid from an input cell suspension, means for collecting cells in chambers in liquid suspension, and means to store fixed cells for later recovery and examination.