Loading station assembly and method for tissue engineering
AssigneeFlexcell International Corporation
InventorAlbert J. Banes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A loading station assembly for at least partially supporting the underside of a flexible cell membrane positioned in the bottom of a cell culture well. The assembly includes a planar member having a plurality of apertures. Each aperture receives a post having a flange which supports the membrane. A central opening defined in the planar member allows a vacuum to be drawn therethrough and to pull a portion of the membrane downwardly and cause a central portion of the membrane to stretch across the flange. Cells cultured on the membrane are subjected to a corresponding strain.
Claims14
A cell culture assembly comprising:
- a cell culture plate defining at least one opening;
- a flexible cell culture membrane covering each said opening;
- at least one construct adhered to each said flexible membrane;
- and
- a loading station assembly positioned adjacent said cell culture plate, said loading station assembly comprising a planar member and at least one post extending from a surface of said planar member, one said post corresponding to each said flexible membrane and an upper surface of each said post supporting a portion of each corresponding said flexible membrane covering said opening, said planar member defining a passageway configured to allow fluid to flow through from one side of said planar member to an opposite side of said planar member,
- wherein said flexible membrane is stretchable at a periphery of said upper surface toward said planar member.
A method for tissue engineering comprising the steps of:
- providing a cell culture plate defining at least one opening covered by a flexible cell culture membrane;
- affixing a construct to each said flexible membrane;
- seeding each said construct with cells and allowing said cells to adhere to said construct;
- positioning a loading station assembly adjacent said cell culture plate, said loading station assembly comprising a planar member and at least one post extending from a surface of said planar member, one said post corresponding to each said flexible membrane and an upper surface of each said post supporting a portion of each corresponding said flexible membrane;
- and
- stretching at least one said flexible membrane and construct in a uniaxial direction over corresponding said upper surface by applying a negative pressure to said flexible membrane on a side that is supported by said upper surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.