PRESSURE AND CIRCULATION CULTURE APPARATUS AND PRESSURE AND CIRCULATION CULTURE SYSTEM

• US 20120156768A1
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Purpose Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Purpose Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kinouchi, Ibuki, Takai, Hidetada, Watanabe, Setuo, Satou, Mituharu, Murata, Toshimi
• Granted Patent: US 9,752,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/289.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/08 for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/48 Holding appliances; Racks; Supports holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/00 Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/14 Pressurized fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/04 Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli

Abstract

The pressure and circulation culture apparatus includes a holder (culture chamber part), a pressure transmission part and a culture solution circulation line (culture circuit). The holder is a means that reserves culture solution and that holds a cultured object. The pressure transmission part is a means that communicates with the holder and transmits an external pressure to the culture solution. The culture solution circulation line is a means that is connected to the holder via the pressure transmission part, and circulates the culture solution through the holder via the pressure transmission part. Such a structure is included, and an external pressure is made to operate on the culture solution via the pressure transmission part to allow pressure on the cultured object in the holder and circulation of the culture solution in the holder.

Claims

1. A pressure and circulation culture apparatus comprising:

a holder that reserves culture solution and that holds a cultured object;

a pressure transmission part that communicates with the holder and transmits an external pressure to the culture solution; and

a culture solution circulation line that is connected to the holder via the pressure transmission part, and circulates the culture solution through the holder via the pressure transmission part,

wherein the external pressure is made to operate on the culture solution via the pressure transmission part to allow pressure on the cultured object in the holder and circulation of the culture solution in the holder.

2. The pressure and circulation culture apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure generation source that is connected to the pressure transmission part via a pressure circuit,

wherein the external pressure generated by the pressure generation source is supplied to the pressure transmission part by the pressure circuit.

3. The pressure and circulation culture apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first valve that is disposed in the culture solution circulation line, and shuts off the circulation of the culture solution at an upstream side of the pressure transmission part; and

a second valve that is disposed in the culture solution circulation line, and shuts off the circulation of the culture solution at a downstream side of the holder,

wherein the cultured object in the holder receives the external pressure, which is made to operate on the pressure transmission part, via the culture solution, and

the culture solution is drawn into the holder and the pressure transmission part due to the external pressure with the first valve in a released state and the second valve in a shut-off state, and is made to flow out of the holder and the pressure transmission part with the first valve in the shut-off state and the second valve in the released state.

4. The pressure and circulation culture apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a culture unit main body, and wherein the culture unit main body includes the holder and the pressure transmission part.

5. The pressure and circulation culture apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the pressure transmission part includes a culture solution reservoir part that reserves the culture solution, and an external pressure operation part that is disposed in the culture solution reservoir part via a pressure transmission film and that makes the external pressure operate, the pressure transmission part transmitting the external pressure to the culture solution by reciprocation of the pressure transmission film due to the external pressure.

6. A pressure and circulation culture system comprising:

a plurality of culture units each of which includes;

a holder that reserves culture solution and that holds a cultured object;

a pressure transmission part that communicates with the holder and transmits an external pressure to the culture solution; and

a culture solution circulation line that is connected to the holder via the pressure transmission part, and circulates the culture solution through the holder via the pressure transmission part; and

a pressure drive part that generates the external pressure which is given to the pressure transmission part of each of the culture units,

wherein the external pressure generated by the pressure drive part is made to operate on the culture solution via the pressure transmission part to allow pressure on the cultured object in the holder of each of the culture units and circulation of the culture solution in the holder.

7. The pressure and circulation culture system of claim 6, further comprising:

a first valve that is disposed in the culture solution circulation line, and shuts off the circulation of the culture solution at an upstream side of the pressure transmission part; and

a second valve that is disposed in the culture solution circulation line, and shuts off the circulation of the culture solution at a downstream side of the holder,

wherein the cultured object in the holder receives the external pressure, which is made to operate on the pressure transmission part, via the culture solution, and

the culture solution is drawn into the holder and the pressure transmission part due to the external pressure with the first valve in a released state and the second valve in a shut-off state, and is made to flow out of the holder and the pressure transmission part with the first valve in the shut-off state and the second valve in the released state.

8. The pressure and circulation culture system of claim 6, further comprising a culture unit main body, and wherein the culture unit main body includes the holder and the pressure transmission part.

9. The pressure and circulation culture system of claim 6, wherein

the pressure transmission part includes a culture solution reservoir part that reserves the culture solution, and an external pressure operation part that is disposed in the culture solution reservoir part via a pressure transmission film and that makes the external pressure operate, the pressure transmission part transmitting the external pressure to the culture solution by reciprocation of the pressure transmission film due to the external pressure.