Apparatus and Methods for Adjustable Volume Cell Culture

• US 20190309254A1
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Konduru, Nagaraju, Ramakrishna, Manoj, Patil, Haresh Digambar
• Granted Patent: US 11,566,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/06 Tubular C12M23/08, C12M23/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/26 flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/46 Means for fastening
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/48 Holding appliances; Racks; Supports holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/16 Vibrating; Shaking; Tilting
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/44 of volume or liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00

Abstract

Cell culture apparatus is disclosed comprising: a cell culture container comprising a flexible tube; a support table; and a pair of opposed holders for holding opposed portions of the tube in a fluid tight manner such that fluid cannot pass through the respective portion inside the tube, the spacing between the said pair being adjustable to provide an adjustable sealed volume in the tube between the holder pair.

Claims

1. Cell culture apparatus comprising:

a cell culture container comprising a flexible tube;

a support table; and

a pair of opposed holders for holding opposed portions of the tube and for holding a central portion of the tube in a fluid tight manner such that fluid is inhibited from passing into the respective portion inside the tube from the central portion, the spacing between the said pair being adjustable to provide an adjustable sealed volume in the central portion tube between the holder pair.

2. Cell culture apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the culture container includes plural fluid ports located between the holder pair when the container is mounted on the table.

3. Cell culture apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the flexible tube is folded or rolled at least once at the holder.

4. Cell culture apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the apparatus is controlled using a feedback mechanism.

5. A cell culture container formed from a tube of polymeric material, initially laid flat then folded or rolled at at least one end of the tube, having access ports in a portion of the tube which is unfolded or unrolled.

8. The cell culture apparatus of claim 5, wherein both ends of the tube are folded or rolled on each side of sealed access ports.

6. A method for providing a variable volume in a cell culture, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a cell culture container initially in the form of a tube laid flat;

sealing a central portion of the tube at either side of said central portion by mechanical compression of the tube and optionally by folding of the tube;

introducing liquids for cell culture into the central portion leaving opposed ends of the tube substantially free of said liquids, as a result of said sealing;

moving the position of said compression/folding in opposed directions to increase the size of the central portion and thereby to increased cell culture volume.

7. Cell culture apparatus comprising:

a cell culture container comprising a flexible tube and a pair of opposed holders for holding opposed portions of the tube, the spacing between the said pair being adjustable to provide an adjustable sealed volume in the tube between the holder pair, wherein at least one of the pair holds its respective portion in a fluid tight manner such that fluid is inhibited from passing into the respective portion inside the tube from a central portion of the tube, said holding including folding the tube by at least 90 degrees.