Extra-capillary fluid cycling system and method for a cell culture device

An extra-capillary (EC) fluid cycling system for maintaining and cycling fluid volumes in a cell culture chamber of a cell culture environment comprising:

• an extra-capillary fluid cycling unit, wherein said cycling unit comprises:
• a housing, a first flexible extra-capillary fluid reservoir disposed in said housing,
• a second flexible reservoir located in said housing and adjacent to said first reservoir,
• a sensor plate movably disposed in said housing between said first and second reservoirs, wherein said first reservoir is in fluid communication with the cell culture chamber, and
• a sensor indicator connected to said sensor plate;
• a pressure source in communication with said second reservoir;
• a sensor in communication with said pressure source, wherein said second reservoir is pressurized to move said sensor plate in relation to first reservoir to cause fluid cycling and maintain fluid volumes in the cell culture chamber, and wherein physical expansion and contraction of said first reservoir moves said sensor indicator within said housing such that the position of said sensor indicator can be sensed by said sensor in communication with said pressure source, and wherein the position of said sensor indicator drives said sensor to increase or reduce pressure within said second reservoir.

A method for extra-capillary fluid cycling in a cell culture chamber comprising the steps of:

• providing an extra-capillary fluid cycling unit, said cycling unit comprising:
• a housing,
• a first flexible extra-capillary fluid reservoir disposed in the housing,
• a second flexible reservoir located in the housing and adjacent to said first reservoir,
• a sensor plate movably disposed in said housing between said first reservoir and said second reservoir;
• and
• a sensor indicator connected to said sensor plate;
• providing a pressure source in communication with said second reservoir;
• providing a sensor in communication with said pressure source, wherein physical expansion and contraction of said first reservoir moves said sensor indicator within said housing such that the position of said sensor indicator can be sensed by said sensor in communication with said pressure source, and wherein the position of said sensor indicator drives said sensor to increase or reduce pressure within said second reservoir;
• activating said pressure source to expand or contract said second reservoir;
• moving said sensor plate to expand or contract said first reservoir;
• and
• cycling the extra-capillary fluid through the cell culture chamber.