Cell culture apparatus
US6780638B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12M29/20
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A cell culture apparatus comprises a rotor releasably housing a plurality of cell culture vessels/roller bottles. The apparatus provides for rotation of the rotor at a controlled speed about a substantially horizontal axis and for the rotational axis of the rotor and the bottles housed therein to be tilted to a substantially vertical position in order to allow fluid to be supplied or drain therefrom. Each vessel is provided with a cap equipped with a fluid supply/drain connection arranged at the lowest point of the cap when the vessel is vertically inverted (as shown in FIG. 1). The supply/drain connection of each bottle cap is connected to a manifold that allows the supply or extraction of fluid via a sealable external connection. Venting of the gas space within the bottle during fluid transfer is provided by a snorkel tube passing upwards through the fluid, and formed as an internal extension of the bottle cap. The snorkel tube is provided with a micro-porous filter, venting to atmosphere. During cell incubation stages, the assembly of vessels is rotated about a horizontal axis in the known manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.