System and Method for Applying Reduced Pressure to Cell Culture

Abstract

A method and system for culturing cells, having a substantially airtight enclosure configured to culture cells. The method and system also have a first conduit configured to provide a reduced pressure to the substantially airtight enclosure and a second conduit configured to provide a culture media to the substantially airtight enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a cell culture system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a cell culture insert;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a peripheral sealing member;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a cell culture system;

FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed view of one embodiment of a conduit;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cell culture system incorporating the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a cell culture system;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 illustrates a top perspective view of one embodiment of a peripheral sealing member;

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top perspective view of one embodiment of an insert sealing member;

FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of an insert seal ring;

FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 illustrates a top perspective view of one embodiment of an insert manifold;

FIG. 20 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of an insert seal assembly;

FIG. 23 illustrates a top perspective view of one embodiment of a cell culture system; and

FIG. 24 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 23.

Claims

1. A cell culture system comprising: a substantially airtight enclosure configured to culture cells;a first conduit in fluid communication with the substantially airtight enclosure, wherein the first conduit is configured to provide a reduced pressure to the substantially airtight enclosure; anda second conduit in fluid communication with the substantially airtight enclosure, wherein the second conduit is configured to provide a culture media to the substantially airtight enclosure.

2. The cell culture system of claim 1, wherein during use a cell matrix is located within the substantially airtight enclosure, and wherein during use the reduced pressure is applied to a first surface of the cell matrix and the culture media is applied to a second surface of the cell matrix.

3. The cell culture system of claim 1, wherein a permeable surface is located within the substantially airtight enclosure.

4. The cell culture system of claim 1, wherein a dressing or other manifolding material is located within the substantially airtight enclosure.

5. The cell culture system of claim 1, further comprising: a permeable surface located within the substantially airtight enclosure;a cell matrix located within the substantially airtight enclosure; anda dressing or other manifolding material located within the substantially airtight enclosure, wherein the culture media flows from the second conduit, through the permeable surface, through the cell matrix, through the dressing or other manifolding material, and into the first conduit.

6. The cell culture system of claim 5, wherein the permeable surface supports the cell matrix and the cell matrix is located between the permeable surface and the dressing or other manifolding material.

7. A sealing system for a cell culture system comprising: a peripheral sealing member configured to engage a plate well and configured to engage a cell culture insert, such that a first seal is formed between the peripheral sealing member and the plate well and a second seal is formed between the peripheral sealing member and the cell culture insert; andan insert sealing assembly configured to engage the cell culture insert such that a third seal is formed between the insert sealing assembly and the cell culture insert.

8. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the peripheral sealing member is configured to engage an interior wall of the plate well and an exterior wall of the cell culture insert.

9. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the insert sealing assembly is configured to engage an interior wall of the insert.

10. The sealing system of claim 7, further comprising a first conduit extending through the peripheral sealing member.

11. The sealing system of claim 10, further comprising a culture media supply system coupled to the first conduit.

12. The sealing system of claim 10, further comprising a second conduit extending through the peripheral sealing member.

13. The sealing system of claim 7, further comprising a third conduit extending through the insert sealing assembly.

14. The sealing system of claim 13, further comprising a low pressure source coupled to the third conduit.

15. The sealing system of claim 7, further comprising a fourth conduit extending through the insert sealing assembly.

16. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the first seal is created by an interference fit.

17. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the second seal is created by an interference fit.

18. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the third seal is created by an interference fit.

19. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the peripheral sealing member is formed by injection molding.

20. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the insert sealing assembly comprises an insert sealing member, an insert seal ring, a lateral sealing member, and an insert manifold.

21. The sealing system of claim 20, wherein the insert sealing member is pressed into the insert.

22. The sealing system of claim 20, wherein the insert manifold is threaded into the insert sealing member.

23. The sealing system of claim 20, wherein the insert seal ring is compressed between the insert sealing member and the insert manifold.

24. The sealing system of claim 20, wherein the insert sealing member is formed by injection molding.

25. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the peripheral sealing member is pressed into the plate well.

26. A method of culturing cells, the method comprising: providing a substantially airtight enclosure;providing a cell matrix within the substantially airtight enclosure;providing a reduced pressure to the substantially airtight enclosure; andproviding a culture media to the substantially airtight enclosure.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the substantially airtight enclosure comprises a first surface and a second surface and wherein the reduced pressure is applied to the first surface and the culture media is applied to the second surface.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the reduced pressure is provided via a first conduit coupled to a low pressure source and the first conduit is in fluid communication with the substantially airtight enclosure.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the low pressure source is a vacuum pump.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the culture media is provided via a second conduit coupled to a culture media supply system and the second conduit is in fluid communication with the substantially airtight enclosure.

31. A system for culturing cells, the system comprising: a plate well;a cell culture insert;a peripheral sealing member configured to engage a plate well and configured to engage the cell culture insert, such that peripheral sealing member forms a first seal with the plate well and forms a second seal with the cell culture insert; andan insert sealing assembly configured to engage the cell culture insert such that the insert sealing assembly forms a third seal with the cell culture insert.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a first conduit extending through the peripheral sealing member.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a low pressure source coupled to the first conduit.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising a second conduit extending through the insert sealing assembly.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a culture media supply system coupled to the second conduit.

36. The system of claim 31, further comprising a cell matrix in the cell culture insert and a dressing between the cell matrix and the insert sealing assembly.