Automated cell management system for growth and manipulation of cultured cells
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising an automated system for management of cell cultures, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a biochamber for providing controlled environmental conditions in which cells may be cultured and manipulated;
a storage array for accommodating a plurality of cell culture devices, wherein a cell culture device comprises a housing to which is secured at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane, and wherein a cell culture device further comprises one or more chambers for culturing cells;
a loading station for introducing cell culture devices into the biochamber;
a handling device for handling and moving one or more cell culture devices within the biochamber;
a means for harvesting a cell culture component from a cell culture device, wherein the cell culture component is selected from the group consisting of cultured cells, cell culture medium, and a combination thereof; and
one or more processing stations for performing a process selected from the group consisting of aspirating a substance from a cell culture device, introducing a substance into the cell culture device, and a combination thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated cell management system which can be programmed to perform and control various operations of the essential phases of cell culturing, of cell culture manipulation, and of cell culture evaluation. The automated cell management system comprises a housing, a storage array for accommodating a plurality of cell culture devices, a loading station, a means for harvesting one or more components from a cell culture device, and one or more processing stations. The automated cell management system may further comprise mechanism for tracking each cell culture device, a plurality of reservoirs, a centrifuge, a microprocessor, one or more evaluation stations, one or more means for sterilization, and a combination thereof.
223 Citations
68 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising an automated system for management of cell cultures, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a biochamber for providing controlled environmental conditions in which cells may be cultured and manipulated;
a storage array for accommodating a plurality of cell culture devices, wherein a cell culture device comprises a housing to which is secured at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane, and wherein a cell culture device further comprises one or more chambers for culturing cells;
a loading station for introducing cell culture devices into the biochamber;
a handling device for handling and moving one or more cell culture devices within the biochamber;
a means for harvesting a cell culture component from a cell culture device, wherein the cell culture component is selected from the group consisting of cultured cells, cell culture medium, and a combination thereof; and
one or more processing stations for performing a process selected from the group consisting of aspirating a substance from a cell culture device, introducing a substance into the cell culture device, and a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An apparatus comprising an automated system for management of cell cultures, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a biochamber for providing controlled environmental conditions in which cells may be cultured and manipulated, wherein the housing further comprises one or more sealable accesses which is openable to access the biochamber, and closable to form a closed environment within the biochamber;
a storage array for accommodating a plurality of cell culture devices, wherein a cell culture device comprises a housing to which is secured at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane and further comprises one or more chambers for culturing cells, and wherein the storage array comprises a plurality of positions with each position being adapted to receive and hold a cell culture device;
a loading station for introducing cell culture devices into the biochamber;
a handling device for handling and moving one or more cell culture devices within the biochamber;
a means for harvesting a cell culture component from a cell culture device, wherein the cell culture component is selected from the group consisting of cultured cells, cell culture medium, and a combination thereof;
one or more processing stations for performing a process selected from the group consisting of aspirating a substance from a cell culture device, introducing a substance into the cell culture device, and a combination thereof;
a plurality of reservoirs; and
a microprocessor for controlling functions and programmable operations of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification