Liquid feed device, and cell culture device and method using same

A cell culture device comprising:

• a thermostat;
• a culture container arranged in the thermostat;
• a liquid feed device that is configured to feed and discharge a liquid to and from the culture container;
• a control unit that is configured to control the thermostat and the liquid feed device,
• wherein the liquid feed device has:
• a first liquid containing unit that is configured to hold a first liquid;
• a second liquid containing unit that is configured to hold a second liquid;
• a pump connected between the first liquid containing unit and the second liquid containing unit;
• a first supply pipe that is configured to supply the first liquid to the culture container through the pump;
• a second supply pipe that is configured to supply the second liquid to the culture container with a pressurized liquid feed from the second liquid containing unit,
• a gas introducing valve that is configured to introduce gas into the second liquid containing unit, wherein the gas introducing valve includes:
• a first gas introducing valve connected via a first branch point to the first supply pipe, the first supply pipe having a first end thereof that is connected to the first liquid containing unit and having a second end thereof that is connected to the pump, and a second gas introducing valve connected between the pump and the second liquid containing unit, and
• a first supply valve that is configured to open and close the first supply pipe between the pump and the culture container;
• and a second supply valve that is configured to open and close the second supply pipe between the second liquid containing unit and the culture container, wherein
• the control unit is configured to:
• i) open the first supply valve, the first gas introducing valve, the second gas introducing valve, and the second supply valve, ii) activate the pump, so that the second liquid in the second liquid bottle is passed to the culture container through the second supply pipe, iii) close the second gas introducing valve and second supply valve, iv) open the first supply valve, and v) activate the pump, so that some amount of the second liquid is passed to the culture container.

A cell culture method that performs cell culture using, as a liquid feed device that feeds and discharges a liquid to and from a culture container arranged in a thermostat, a liquid feed device with a configuration comprising:

• a first liquid containing unit that is configured to hold a first liquid;
• a second liquid containing unit that is configured to hold a second liquid;
• a pump connected between the first liquid containing unit and the second liquid containing unit;
• a first supply pipe that is configured to supply the first liquid to the culture container through the pump;
• a second supply pipe that is configured to supply the second liquid to the culture container with a pressurized liquid feed from the second liquid containing unit,
• a gas introducing valve that is configured to introduce gas into the second liquid containing unit, wherein
• the gas introducing valve includes:
• a first gas introducing valve connected via a first branch point to the first supply pipe, the first supply pipe having a first end thereof that is connected to the first liquid containing unit and having a second end thereof that is connected to the pump, and a second gas introducing valve connected between the pump and the second liquid containing unit,
• a first supply valve that is configured to open and close the first supply pipe between the pump and the culture container;
• and
• a second supply valve that is configured to open and close the second supply pipe between the second liquid containing unit and the culture container, wherein
• a control unit that is configured to:
• i) close the first supply valve, ii) open the first gas introducing valve, the second gas introducing valve, and the second supply valve, iii) activate the pump, so that the second liquid in the second liquid bottle is passed to the culture container through the second supply pipe, iv) close the second gas introducing valve and second supply valve, v) open the first supply valve, and vi) activate the pump, so that some amount of the second liquid is passed to the culture container.