Apparatus for in vitro determination of substances across membranes, biological tissues, or cell cultures
OwnerStephanie A. Sweetana, George M. Grassinventors
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Abstract
An apparatus for determining transport characteristics across membranes and tissue sections comprises a plurality of cell blocks, where each cell block includes a pair of half-cells which hold the membrane or tissure section therebetween. A circulation path is provided in each half-cell block for exposing a fluid to one side of the membrane or tissue section. The cell blocks are maintained linearly within a base unit including a front plate and a back plate. The front and back plates are heated to maintain the cell blocks at a desired temperature.
Claims15
In a diffusion cell block including a pair of half cells having aligned openings for holding a tissue section or membrane therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises forming each half cell as a rectangular block having a reservoir opening formed in one end and a recirculation path entirely within the block from the reservoir past the aligned opening, whereby a volume of fluid in the block can be recirculated past the aligned opening without flowing outside of the block.
A diffusion cell system comprising:
- a base unit including a back plate and a detachable front plate;
- a plurality of cell blocks held between and in thermal contact with the back and front plates of the base unit, wherein each cell block includes a pair of half cells having aligned openings for holding a tissue section or membrane therebetween and means for exposing each side of the tissue or membrane to a fluid environment;
- and
- means for heating or cooling the back plate and the front plate of the base unit, whereby the cell blocks may be heated or cooled by conduction.
A method for performing transport studies, said method comprising:
- placing membranes or tissue sections in a plurality of diffusion cell blocks;
- arranging the diffusion cell blocks linearly so that each block contacts at least one other block;
- heating or cooling the blocks on opposed surfaces to maintain a uniform temperature;
- and
- recirculating fluid entirely within the cell blocks on both sides of the membrane or tissue section, whereby the temperature of the recirculating fluid will be maintained substantially at the uniform temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.