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US 9,868,931 B2Granted
Methods and an apparatus for transporting live cells
OwnerJames David Pfauinventor
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Abstract
The invention provides improved methods and an apparatus for transporting a starter culture of living cells including fungi, bacteria, animal and plant cells. The methods and apparatus enable on-demand feeding and on-demand supply of nutrient gas resulting in increased cell viability and improved fermentations.
Claims19
A method of shipping live cells comprising:
- a. filling a sterile shipping container with live cells in a chilled, liquid media that is saturated with nutrient gas and is without any food source, said cells having reached a stationary growth phase;
- b. adding to the media from step a
- i) a carbon source that is unavailable to the live cells for feeding;
- and
- ii) an enzyme that is capable of digesting the carbon source at temperatures greater than 4° C.;
- c. affixing an air-tight cap to the shipping container;
- d. transporting said shipping container on water ice or at about 4° C.;
- e. increasing the temperature of the media to activate the enzyme added in step b to digest the carbon source added in step b and provide a food source for the live cells;
- f. releasing nutrient gas from a canister inside the shipping container or supplying nutrient gas to the shipping container from an external gas source;
- g. adding said live cells from step f to a fermentation process.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.