Automated Cell Culture System with Heated, Angled Adapter and Method

An automated system for culturing stem cells, the system comprising:

• a robotic liquid handling system including a translatable bed and a movable multi-channel pipette, the translatable bed configured to selectively hold a first multi-well cell culture plate, a second multi-well cell culture plate, and a multi-trough plate;
• and
• a controller in communication with the robotic liquid handling system, the controller configured to
• using the multi-channel pipette, transfer a portion of the suspension of stem cells from at least one trough of the multi-trough plate to each well of the first multi-well cell culture plate such that at least two of the wells of the first multi-well cell culture plate have different densities of stem cells;
• obtain user input to select a well of the first multi-well cell culture plate having a desired density of stem cells after growth of cell colonies in the first multi-well cell culture plate;
• and
• using the multi-channel pipette, transfer the cells of the selected well to a plurality of wells of the second multi-well cell culture plate.

An automated method for culturing stem cells using a robotic liquid handling system including a translatable bed and a movable multi-channel pipette, the method comprising the steps of:

• locating a first multi-well cell culture plate and a multi-trough plate on the bed;
• placing a suspension of stem cells in at least one trough of the multi-trough plate;
• using the multi-channel pipette, transferring a portion of the suspension of stem cells to each well of the first multi-well cell culture plate such that at least two of the wells of the first multi-well cell culture plate have different densities of stem cells;
• selecting a well of the first multi-well cell culture plate having a desired density of stem cells after growth of cell colonies in the first multi-well cell culture plate;
• locating a second multi-well cell culture plate on the bed;
• and
• using the multi-channel pipette, transferring the cells of the selected well to a plurality of wells of the second multi-well cell culture plate.