Cap for cell culture containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465156-B2
Application number	US-201415031775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A cap for cell culture container enclosing a culture volume and having an opening, comprising a valve arrangement, suitable for filling of the cell culture container with a fluid and/or for pumping fluid out from the cell culture container, and a compensation opening suitable for aerating the cell culture container and/or for pressure compensation during filling and pumping out, said valve arrangement being designed to be switchable between an outlet position and a blocking position, to be connectable to a fluid supply interface, and to be switchable without contact.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cap for a cell culture container for an automated cell-culture system, the container enclosing a culture volume and having an opening, the cap comprising:
a valve arrangement suitable for filling the cell culture container with a fluid and/or for pumping fluid out from the cell culture container, the valve arrangement including a magnetic ball-type valve having (a) a magnetic element on a valve seat of conical or hemispherical configuration and (b) a ball of magnetic material for engagement/non-engagement with the valve seat, the magnetic element positioned toward the container and the ball positioned away from the container;
a compensation opening suitable for aerating the cell culture container and/or for pressure compensation during filling or pumping out, the valve arrangement being designed to be switchable between an outlet position and a blocking position, to be connectable to a fluid supply interface, and to be switchable automatically; and

whereby the cap is configured for maintaining container closure in any orientation during filling, pumping out and cell propagation therein.

2. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the compensation opening is selectively configured as an opening which can be opened and closed and/or as a membrane.

3. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the valve arrangement and the opening of the cell culture container are arranged coaxially.

4. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the compensation opening is configured to be closed when the valve arrangement is not connected to the fluid supply interface and open when the valve arrangement is connected to the fluid supply interface.

5. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the cap is detachably connectable to the opening of the cell culture container by means of a threaded joint, a bayonet lock connection, a press-fit connection, a snap-on or plug-in connection, or a combination of these.

6. The cap according to claim 1 wherein the valve seat comprises a thermoplastic material such as a thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, or the like.

7. The cap according to claim 6 wherein the thermoplastic material has a Shore A hardness of approximately 25 to approximately 50.

8. The cap according to claim 1 wherein, with the exception of the valve arrangement, it is produced as a one-piece plastic unit by injection molding, and wherein the valve arrangement is attachable to it with a press fit.

9. The cap according to claim 8 wherein it is formed as a single-use/disposable article.

10. The cap according to claim 1 further including an additional valve arrangement serving as the compensation opening.

11. The cap according to claim 1 wherein a cell culture container encloses a culture volume and comprises an opening which includes the cap.

Assignees

• Hamilton Bonaduz Ag

Inventors

• Jaeger Thomas
• Etzold Carsten
• Demarmels Rene

Classifications

• C12M29/00

  Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps (pumps per se F04B) · CPC title

• C12M23/38 Primary

  Caps; Covers; Plugs; Pouring means · CPC title

• C12M41/00

  Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation (controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N) · CPC title

• C12M23/40

  Manifolds; Distribution pieces (fluid transfer means B01L3/563) · CPC title

• C12M41/40

  of pressure · CPC title