System and method for initiating a cell culture

• US 9,920,292 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zhang, Chengkun, Smith, Reginald Donovan, Conway, Kenneth Roger, Bajaj, Anshika
• Primary Examiner(s): HOBBS, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US14/841,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20170058252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• 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 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/38 Caps; Covers; Plugs; Pouring means
• 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 29/24 Recirculation of gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/22 in contact with the bioreactor walls
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 3/00 Condition responsive control processes apparatus therefor C12M1/36; controlling or regulating in general G05

Abstract

System and methods are provided for initiating a cell culture. The systems and methods include a first enclosure containing a thermal mass positioned on a surface area of a platform. The systems and methods include a second enclosure, containing a culture fluid and a gas mixture, placed on the first enclosure such that the first enclosure is positioned between the second enclosure and the platform. The systems and methods further include a cover secured on the second enclosure, and generating first thermal energy on the surface area of the platform and second thermal energy from the cover.

Claims

1. A bioreactor system for culturing cells, comprising:

a platform, wherein the platform comprises a platform heating element for generating first thermal energy on a surface area of the platform;

a first enclosure containing a thermal mass, wherein the first enclosure is positioned adjacent to the surface area, the thermal mass absorbing at least some of the first thermal energy from the platform;

a second enclosure containing a culture fluid and a gas mixture, wherein the first enclosure is positioned between the second enclosure and the platform, the thermal mass of the first enclosure is thermally coupled to the culture fluid; and

a cover positioned adjacent to the second enclosure, wherein the cover comprises a cover heating element for generating second thermal energy and the cover is thermally coupled to the second enclosure, wherein the second enclosure is positioned between the first enclosure and the cover.

2. The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the first enclosure, the second enclosure and the cover are operatively coupled to each other such that at least a portion of the first thermal energy is absorbed by the thermal mass of the first enclosure resulting in a first temperature of the thermal mass, and at least a portion of the second thermal energy generated by the cover is absorbed by a top portion of the second enclosure resulting in a second temperature of the top portion, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

3. The bioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the thermal mass.

4. The bioreactor system of claim 3, further comprising a controller that determines an amount of the first thermal energy generated by the platform, wherein the controller determines the amount of the first thermal energy based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

5. The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure includes a first opening and the cover includes a second opening, the first and second openings are aligned with respect to each other;

and

further comprising a plurality of elongated tubes extending through the first opening and the second opening.

6. The bioreactor system of claim 5, further comprising one or more tanks coupled to the elongated tubes, wherein at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon dioxide is carried from the one or more tanks through one of the elongated tubes.

7. The bioreactor system of claim 5, further comprising a gas flow interface circulating the gas flow within the second enclosure between the elongated tubes at a gas flow rate, wherein the gas flow rate is based on a volume of the culture fluid.

8. The bioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a controller determining an amount of the second thermal energy generated by the cover, wherein the controller determines the amount of the second thermal energy based on a dew point within the second enclosure.

9. The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein a shape of the first enclosure is adjusted by the second enclosure based on a surface area of the second enclosure in contact with the first enclosure.

10. The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the thermal mass includes at least one of water, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, or ammonia.

11. The bioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein the platform is pivotably mounted on the base such that opposing edges of the platform rotate about an axis of the base.

12. The bioreactor system of claim 11, further comprising a motor configured to rock the platform about the axis of the base.

13. The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is configured to contain the culture fluid of a volume of less than sixty milliliters.

14. The bioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is smaller in volume than the first enclosure.

15. A method of operating a bioreactor system for culturing cells, comprising:

positioning a first enclosure on a surface area of a platform, wherein the first enclosure contains a thermal mass and the platform comprises a platform heating element;

placing a second enclosure on the first enclosure such that the first enclosure is positioned between the second enclosure and the platform, the second enclosure containing a culture fluid and a gas mixture;

securing a cover on the second enclosure such that the cover is positioned adjacent to the second enclosure, wherein the cover comprises a cover heating element;

generating first thermal energy on the surface area of the platform from the platform heating element and second thermal energy from the cover using the cover heating element, wherein a second temperature of the cover based from the second thermal energy is greater than a first temperature of the platform based from the first thermal energy; and

culturing cells in the culture fluid of the second enclosure.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving from a sensor a temperature measurement of the thermal mass; and

adjusting the first thermal energy generated by the platform based on the temperature measurement.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising circulating at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon dioxide within the second enclosure via one or more elongated tubes, wherein the one or more elongated tubes extend through the cover and the second enclosure.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising rotating the platform such that opposing edges of the platform rotate about an axis of a base, wherein the platform is pivotably mounted on the base.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the culture fluid has a volume of less than sixty milliliters.

20. A bioreactor system for culturing cells, comprising:

a platform pivotably mounted on a base such that opposing edges of the platform rotate about an axis of the base resulting in a rocking motion, wherein the platform comprises a platform heating element for generating first thermal energy on a surface area of the platform during the rocking motion;

a first enclosure containing a thermal mass, wherein the first enclosure is positioned adjacent to the surface area of the platform, the thermal mass absorbing at least some of the first thermal energy generated from the platform;

a second enclosure containing a culture fluid and a gas mixture, wherein the first enclosure is positioned between the second enclosure and the platform, the thermal mass thermally coupled to the culture fluid such that the culture fluid absorbs at least some of thermal energy from the first enclosure; and

a cover positioned adjacent to the second enclosure and disposed on a top surface area of the second enclosure such that the cover is thermally coupled to the gas mixture, wherein the cover comprises a cover heating element for generating second thermal energy, at least some of the second thermal energy being absorbed by the second enclosure, and wherein the second enclosure is positioned between the first enclosure and the cover.