Vessel, preferably spherical or oblate spherical for growing or culturing cells, cellular aggregates, tissues and organoids and methods for using same

A culture vessel comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the housing adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
• at least one filter in fluid communication with an outlet, the filter having openings of a size that allows the passage of a fluid culture medium and a cellular metabolic waste but prevents the passage of cells and cellular aggregates;
• the chamber, in cross-section through a longitudinal axis, having wall portions spherical, oblate spherical, extended spherical or extended oblate spherical wall portions;
• and a pump in fluid communication with at least one of an inlet or outlet.

A culture vessel comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber having at least one access port located on the housing;
• a gas permeable membrane located within the housing, the gas permeable membrane allowing for the transfer of gases between the chamber and a space outside of the chamber;
• the chamber, in cross-section through a longitudinal horizontal axis, having wall portions spherical, oblate spherical, extended spherical or extended oblate spherical wall portions;
• and
• means for rotation about the horizontal axis.

A method for growing cells, cellular aggregates or tissues in a rotatable culture vessel, comprising the steps of:

• filling a rotatable culture vessel having a culture chamber with an unobstructed longitudinal axis with fluid culture media, wherein the culture chamber is symmetrical about an axis;
• introducing cells, cellular aggregates and/or tissues into the media;
• maintaining media flow through the vessel to provide oxygen and materials to the growing cells and to remove cellular metabolic wastes;
• and
• rotating the vessel to suspend the growing cells in the media.

A method for growing cells, cellular aggregates or tissues in a rotatable culture vessel, comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas permeable membrane for providing oxygen to a culture chamber and removing carbon dioxide and;
• filling a rotatable culture vessel having the culture chamber with an unobstructed longitudinal horizontal axis with fluid culture media, wherein the culture chamber is symmetrical about an axis;
• introducing cells, cellular aggregates and/or tissues into the media and;
• rotating the vessel to suspend the growing cells in the media.

A method for using cellular mechanisms to secrete biological products in the media or to remove biological waste materials or toxins from the media, comprising the steps of:

• filling a rotatable culture vessel having a culture chamber with an unobstructed longitudinal axis with fluid culture media;
• introducing cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues into the media to form a mixture;
• providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues;
• and
• secreting biological products or removing waste materials using cellular mechanisms.

A method for using cellular mechanisms to secrete biological products into the media or to remove biological waste materials or toxins from the media, comprising the steps of:

• introducing culture media into a culture vessel chamber having a spherical, oblate spherical, an extended spherical, or continuous curved wall symmetrical about an axis, an inlet and an outlet, the chamber having at least one filter in fluid communication with the inlet or outlet, the filter structured to pass culture media and to retain cells, cellular aggregates or tissues;
• introducing cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues into the media to form a mixture;
• rotating the culture chamber vessel about the horizontal or proximate horizontal axis;
• providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues;
• and
• secreting biological products, or removing waste materials using cellular mechanisms of the cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues.

A method for using cellular mechanisms to secrete biological products into the media or to remove biological waste materials or toxins from the media, comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas permeable membrane within a culture vessel chamber, the gas permeable membrane allowing for the transfer of gases between the chamber and a space outside of the chamber;
• introducing culture media into the culture vessel chamber having a spherical, oblate spherical, an extended spherical, or continuous curved wall symmetrical about an axis, an inlet and an outlet,
• introducing cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues into the culture media in the vessel to form a mixture;
• rotating the culture chamber vessel about the horizontal or proximate horizontal axis;
• providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues;
• and
• secreting biological products, or removing waste materials using cellular mechanisms of the cells, cellular aggregates, or tissues;
• and
• providing at least one access port for inserting or removing material from the vessel.

A culture vessel comprising:

• a cylindrical vessel having first and second end walls and a cylindrical wall therebetween, at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and at least one filter, the at least one filter having openings of a size that allows the passage of a fluid culture medium and cellular metabolic waste but prevents the passage of cells and cellular aggregates;
• a growth chamber defined by the cylindrical wall, the fist and second end walls, and the at least one filter, the growth chamber having an unobstructed horizontal axis, wherein the growth chamber is symmetrical about an axis;
• means for rotating the tubular vessel about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, said rotation means capable of rotating the vessel at a variety of speeds;
• and
• a pump for maintaining a flow of fluid culture medium through the growth chamber, the pump capable of maintaining a variety of flow rates and reversing the direction of flow.