Cell Culture Incubator System
AssigneeScientific Industries, Inc.
InventorJoseph G. Cremonese
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a cell culture incubator system having a sensor strip configured to be placed within a reaction vessel (e.g., incubator vessel) so as to position the sensor within media covering the cells. A reader is placed outside but adjacent the vessel to read the sensor so as to detect changes in dissolved O2 and pH. The system is used to determine if the incubator environment has too much CO2 and is therefore trending towards hypoxia and/or acidity, or has too much dissolved O2 and is therefore trending toward oxygen toxicity via the cell nutrient media. In some embodiments, the system includes a rocker unit configured to rock the reaction vessel to enhance cell growth. In some embodiments, the system includes a gas circulation system to adjust the CO2 and dissolved O2 levels in the reaction vessel.
Claims20
A sensor strip, comprising:
- a strip comprising a first end and a second end;
- the first end having a fluorescence-based sensor disposed or attached thereto, the first end being further configured to be inserted into a reaction vessel;
- and
- the second end having a stopper configured to engage with a mouth of the reaction vessel so as to secure the sensor strip to the reaction vessel and to position the fluorescence-based sensor at a bottom of the reaction vessel or suspend the fluorescence-based sensor at a distance above the bottom the reaction vessel.
A cell culture monitoring kit, comprising:
- a sensor strip, comprising:
- a strip comprising a first end and a second end;
- the first end having a fluorescence-based sensor disposed or attached thereto, the first end being further configured to be inserted into a reaction vessel;
- and
- the second end having a stopper configured to engage with a mouth of the reaction vessel so as to secure the sensor strip to the reaction vessel and to position the fluorescence-based sensor at a bottom of the reaction vessel or suspend the fluorescence-based sensor at a distance above the bottom the reaction vessel;
- and
- at least one of:
- the reaction vessel;
- and
- a reader configured to impart light onto the fluorescence-based sensor and receive emitted light therefrom.
An incubation system, comprising:
- an incubator configured to contain a reaction vessel within a controlled environment, the controlled environment including a controlled temperature, pressure, lighting, and humidity;
- and
- a rocker unit configured to rock or oscillate the reaction vessel.
An incubation system, comprising:
- an incubator configured to contain a reaction vessel within a controlled environment, the controlled environment including a controlled temperature, pressure, lighting, and humidity;
- and
- a gas circulation system configured to introduce and/or remove gas to/from the reaction vessel.
A method of monitoring a cell culture, the method comprising:
- inserting a sensor strip into a reaction vessel, the sensor strip comprising a first end having a fluorescence-based sensor disposed or attached thereto, the first end being configured to spearhead the insertion;
- allowing the fluorescence-based sensor to be within a volume of space defined by media that has been introduced into the reaction vessel, the media being growth media to support cell growth;
- imparting light onto the fluorescence-based sensor and receiving emitted light therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.