# US 12,180,454 B2 · Automated cell culture incubator

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- Number: US 12,180,454 B2
- Document ID: US12180454B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/427,144
- Filed: 2024-01-30
- Published: 2024-09-05
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31
- Assignees: Thrive Bioscience, Inc.
- Applicants: Thrive Bioscience, Inc.
- Inventors: Alan Blanchard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180454B2

## CPC

- C12M 41/14: {Incubators; Climatic chambers (per se B01L1/00)}
- C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)}
- C12M 37/00: {Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination (C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00)}
- C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)}
- A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
- A61L 2/202: Ozone
- A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

Aspects relate to an automated cell culture incubator and to methods for using such an incubator. In one aspect, the cell culture incubator includes an incubator cabinet having a transfer chamber and an internal chamber that are arranged to form an airlock configuration. In some embodiments, objects placed into the incubator cabinet are sterilized using ozone produced by an ozone generator. The incubator may include one or more transfer devices that move objects between the transfer chamber and the internal chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for cell culturing comprising the steps of:
receiving a cell culture vessel from an incubator housing at a transfer device;
moving the cell culture vessel through a door into an internal chamber having at least one imager at an imaging location therein for imaging a cell culture in the cell culture vessel under the control of a controller;
wherein the transfer device moves the cell culture vessel into the imaging location within the internal chamber;
imaging the cell culture in the cell culture vessel under the control of the controller; and
moving the cell culture vessel from the imaging location and through the door of the internal chamber under the control of the controller for placement in the incubator, wherein the transfer device is positioned to receive another cell culture vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device travels longitudinally into and out of the imaging location.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one imager comprises three imagers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the imagers are bright-field imagers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein image data from the imagers is transmitted to a network.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising producing light signals in response to the sensing of a culture vessel and wherein the controller receives the light signals to enable the controller to determine the location of the cell culture vessel moving into and out of the imaging location.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the light signals are communicated wirelessly to the controller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the light signals detect the position of a cell culture vessel without a sensor on the cell culture vessel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the light signals form a grid of light signals.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the light signals comprise lasers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the lasers form a grid of laser light signals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell culture vessel slides into and out of the imaging location.