Cell culture media dispenser
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing precise aliquots of cell culture media from a flexible container having a flexible dispense tube and a maximum volume V, comprising:
- a) a housing;
b) a programmable controller;
c) a load cell fixed to said housing and functionally transmitting a load cell output signal to said controller;
d) a support which releasably suspends the container from the load cell;
e) a control valve functionally connected to said controller, said control valve regulating the flow of media through the dispense tube; and
, wherein said controller measures the volume of media dispensed from the container by continuously calculating the change in weight of the container using the load cell output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method of dispensing precise aliquots of cell culture media from a bulk, sterile, flexible container. The apparatus has load cell, a control valve, and a programmable controller. The container suspends from the load cell within the housing. The load cell continuously transmits to the controller an output signal, which represents the force, i.e., weight, of the bag on the load cell. The controller regulates the flow of media from the container by selectively activating the control valve. The controller precisely measures the volume of fluid media dispensed from the container by continuously calculating the change in weight of the container using the load cell output signal.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing precise aliquots of cell culture media from a flexible container having a flexible dispense tube and a maximum volume V, comprising:
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a) a housing;
b) a programmable controller;
c) a load cell fixed to said housing and functionally transmitting a load cell output signal to said controller;
d) a support which releasably suspends the container from the load cell;
e) a control valve functionally connected to said controller, said control valve regulating the flow of media through the dispense tube; and
,wherein said controller measures the volume of media dispensed from the container by continuously calculating the change in weight of the container using the load cell output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of dispensing precise aliquots of cell culture media from a sterile media container having a flexible dispense tube at the bottom end, comprising:
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a) suspending the container from a load cell;
b) weighing the container;
c) calculating the target weight of the container after the aliquot is dispensed;
d) initiating media dispense from the container;
e) continuously monitoring the current weight of the container;
f) terminating media dispense from the container once the current container weight equals the target weight. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of feeding cell cultures in a laminar flow hood, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a flexible bag of cell culture media, said bag having a storage reservoir, an outlet at the bottom end, and a flexible dispense tube connected to the outlet;
b) providing a cell culture media dispenser having;
i) a housing;
ii) a programmable controller;
iii) a load cell fixed to said housing and functionally transmitting a load cell output signal to said controller;
iv) a support which releasably suspends the container from the load cell; and
,v) control valve functionally connected to said controller, said control valve regulating the flow of media through the dispense tube;
wherein said controller measures the volume of media dispensed from the container by continuously calculating the change in weight of the container using the load cell output signal;
c) loading the bag of cell culture media on the load cell;
d) connecting the dispense tube of the bag to the control valve;
e) connecting the free end of the dispense tube to a disposable pipet;
f) programming the controller with the volume of the aliquot; and
,g) activating the controller to dispense precise aliquots of cell culture media.
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Specification