Pressure manifold and culture module
AssigneeEmulate, Inc.
InventorsChristopher David Hinojosa, Guy Robert Thompson, II, Joshua Gomes, Jacob Freake, Doug Sabin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A perfusion manifold assembly is described that allows for perfusion of a microfluidic device, such as an organ on a chip microfluidic device comprising cells that mimic cells in an organ in the body, that is detachably linked with said assembly so that fluid enters ports of the microfluidic device from a fluid reservoir, optionally without tubing, at a controllable flow rate. A culture module is contemplated that allows the perfusion and optionally mechanical actuation of one or more microfluidic devices, such as organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices comprising cells that mimic at least one function of an organ in the body.
Claims15
A method of perfusing cells, comprising:
- A) providing a) a culture module, said culture module comprising i) an actuation assembly configured to move a plurality of microfluidic devices against ii) a pressure manifold, said pressure manifold comprising a mating surface with pressure points;
- and b) a plurality of microfluidic devices, each of said microfluidic devices comprising i) one or more microchannels comprising attached living cells, ii) one or more reservoirs comprising culture media, and iii) a cover assembly above said one or more reservoirs, said cover assembly comprising a cover with ports that correspond to the pressure points on the pressure manifold mating surface;
- B) placing said plurality of microfluidic devices on or in said culture module;
- and C) contacting said ports on the cover of each microfluidic device of said plurality of microfluidic devices with said mating surface of said pressure manifold, such that the ports are in contact with said pressure points, under conditions such that culture media flows from said reservoirs into said microchannels of said microfluidic devices, thereby perfusing said attached cells with said culture media.
A method of perfusing cells, comprising:
- A) providing a) a culture module, said culture module comprising i) an actuation assembly configured to move a plurality of microfluidic devices against ii) a pressure manifold, said pressure manifold comprising a mating surface with pressure points;
- and b) a plurality of microfluidic devices, each of said microfluidic devices comprising i) one or more microchannels comprising a membrane with attached living cells, ii) one or more reservoirs comprising culture media, and iii) a cover assembly above said one or more reservoirs, said cover assembly comprising a cover with ports that correspond to the pressure points on the pressure manifold mating surface;
- B) placing said plurality of microfluidic devices on or in said culture module;
- and C) contacting said ports on the cover of each microfluidic device of said plurality of microfluidic devices with said mating surface of said pressure manifold, such that the ports are in contact with said pressure points, under conditions such that culture media flows from said reservoirs into said microchannels of said microfluidic devices, thereby perfusing said attached cells.
A method of perfusing cells, comprising:
- A) providing a) a culture module, said culture module comprising i) an actuation assembly configured to move a plurality of microfluidic devices against ii) a pressure manifold, said pressure manifold comprising a mating surface with pressure points;
- and b) a plurality of microfluidic devices, each of said microfluidic devices comprising i) one or more microchannels comprising with attached living cells, said living cells comprising at least two different cell types, ii) one or more reservoirs comprising culture media, and iii) a cover assembly above said one or more reservoirs, said cover assembly comprising a cover with ports that correspond to the pressure points on the pressure manifold mating surface;
- B) placing said plurality of microfluidic devices on or in said culture module;
- and C) contacting said ports on the cover of each microfluidic device of said plurality of microfluidic devices with said mating surface of said pressure manifold, such that the ports are in contact with said pressure points, under conditions such that culture media flows from said reservoirs into said microchannels of said microfluidic devices, thereby perfusing said attached cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.