Automated bioculture and bioculture experiments system

A media flowpath assembly cartridge, comprising:

• a housing having affixed thereto:
• a pump;
• at least one valve adapted to prevent or divert media flow;
• a control interface;
• a sterile media perfusion flowpath loop removably attachable to said housing without breaching flowpath sterility, said media perfusion loop containing:
• at least one biochamber;
• a tubing section in contact with said pump;
• a tubing section in contact with said valve;
• a gas permeable membrane oxygenator;
• and
• a media reservoir.

An incubator rack for supporting a plurality of cell culture perfusion flowpath assembly cartridges, comprising:

• a horizontal base having a surface with a plurality of grooves each adapted to support a flowpath assembly cartridge;
• a plurality of data interface connections for transmitting data between said rack and said plurality of cartridges;
• and
• at least one control interface for communication between said rack and an external computer.

A biochamber convertible for use in static cell culture or in a cell perfusion apparatus, said biochamber comprising:

• a first chamber;
• a cover;
• a sealing means for rendering said first chamber removably connectable to said cover and for sealing said cell culture within said biochamber from biologic contaminants;
• at least one insert positioned between the first chamber and the cover, thereby forming a second chamber;
• and
• wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are each in fluid communication with a media stream during perfusion.

A sampling device for use with a cell culture perfusion loop, said sampling device comprising:

• a fluidic pump for transporting a routing fluid;
• a means for sterilizing said routing fluid;
• a one way flow valve;
• a valve for diverting an aliquot of sample from said perfusion loop to said one way flow valve;
• wherein said fluidic pump, sterilizing means, and one way flow valve are connected in series by tubing for transporting said routing fluid to said one way valve;
• and
• a tube for transporting said aliquot of sample and said routing fluid from said one way flow valve to a collection device or analysis instrument.

A cell culture apparatus for use within an incubator, said apparatus comprising:

• a means for supporting at least one flowpath assembly cartridge within said incubator;
• at least one media flowpath assembly cartridge, said cartridge including:
• a housing having affixed thereto:
• a pump means for transporting fluid;
• at least one valve means for diverting fluid;
• a control interface;
• a disposable sterile media perfusion loop removably attachable to said housing without breaching flowpath sterility, said media perfusion loop containing, in fluid communication:
• a biochamber;
• a tube removably attachable to said pump means;
• at least one tube removably attachable to said valve means;
• a means for diffusing oxygen into said media perfusion loop;
• a means for determining pH;
• a sensing means for determining flow rate;
• and
• a media reservoir.

A sampling device for obtaining a sample from a cell culture perfusion loop having:

• a pump means for causing a routing fluid to be transported through tubing;
• a means for releasing an aliquot of sample from said perfusion loop;
• a means for sterilizing said routing fluid;
• a valve means,
• wherein said pump means, said sterilizing means, and said valve means are connected in series by tubing for transporting said routing fluid;
• and
• a means for transporting said sample within said routing fluid from said valve means to a sample collection device or analysis instrument.

A method of culturing cells comprising:

• providing a cell culture apparatus for use within an incubator, said apparatus having:
• a rack for supporting at least one flowpath assembly cartridge;
• at least one media flowpath assembly cartridge, said cartridge including:
• a housing having affixed thereto:
• a pump;
• at least one valve adapted to prevent or divert media flow;
• a control interface;
• a sterile media perfusion loop removably attachable to said housing without breaching flowpath sterility, said media perfusion loop containing, in fluid communication:
• a biochamber;
• a tubing section in contact with said pump;
• a tubing section in contact with said valve;
• a gas permeable membrane to permit gas diffusion into and out of the media perfusion loop;
• a flow sensing system;
• and
• a media reservoir;
• introducing a biological cell into said sterile media perfusion loop;
• placing said apparatus into an incubator;
• controlling said incubator environment under gas and temperature to control gas and temperature conditions within said biochamber;
• and
• causing said pump to transport media through said biochamber for a sufficient time to maintain said biological cell.

A method of culturing cells comprising:

• providing a biochamber convertible for use in static cell culture or in a cell perfusion apparatus, said biochamber comprising:
• a first chamber;
• a cover;
• a seal rendering said first chamber removably connectable to said cover;
• and
• at least one insert positioned between the first chamber and the disposable cover, thereby forming a second chamber;
• providing a biological cell;
• introducing said biological cell into said biochamber;
• placing said biochamber in an incubator under gas and temperature conditions permitting said cell to propagate to achieve a desired cell density within said biochamber;
• inserting said biochamber containing said desired density of cells into a cell perfusion apparatus, such that said first chamber and said second chamber are in fluid communication with medium flowing through said cell perfusion apparatus;
• and
• operating said cell perfusion apparatus under conditions permitting said cell to propagate.

A method of determining the physiological effects of a compound or an environmental factor on a biological cell culture comprising:

• providing a cell culture apparatus for use within an incubator, said apparatus including:
• a rack for supporting a plurality of flowpath assembly cartridges within said incubator;
• each media flowpath assembly cartridge including:
• a housing having affixed thereto:
• a pump;
• at least one valve adapted to prevent or divert media flow;
• a control interface;
• a sterile media perfusion loop removably attachable to the housing of said cartridge without breaching flowpath sterility, said media perfusion loop containing, in fluid communication:
• at least one biochamber;
• a tubing section in contact with said pump;
• a tubing section in contact with said valve;
• a gas permeable membrane to permit gas diffusion into and out of the media perfusion loop;
• a flow sensing system;
• and
• a media reservoir;
• introducing a biological cell into each media perfusion loop of each of said plurality of cartridges;
• inserting each of said plurality of cartridges into said rack;
• placing said rack into an incubator;
• operating said cell culture apparatus under conditions permitting each said cell to propagate, thereby producing a cell product in each perfusion loop;
• introducing said compound or environmental factor into at least one but not all of said media perfusion loops;
• comparing the conditions of cells or cell products in different perfusion loops, thereby determining the physiologic effects of said compound or environmental factor on a biological cell.