Automatic culture system and automatic culture device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201022-A1
Application number	US-201615080057-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Sep 25, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automatic culture system includes a transfer part configured to transfer a first airtight container which accommodates cells in a sealed state, and an automatic culture device configured to receive the first airtight container transferred by the transfer part, take out the cells from the first airtight container and culture the taken-out cells. The automatic culture device is configured to automatically perform replacement of a culture medium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An automatic culture system, comprising:
a transfer part configured to transfer a first airtight container which accommodates cells in a sealed state; and an automatic culture device configured to receive the first airtight container transferred by the transfer part, take out the cells from the first airtight container and culture the taken-out cells, wherein the automatic culture device is configured to automatically perform replacement of a culture medium.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic culture device is configured to automatically perform subculture of the cells.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first airtight container is transferred by the transfer part in a state in which a second airtight container that accommodates the cells is accommodated within the first airtight container.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first airtight container is transferred by the transfer part in a state in which a plurality of second airtight containers is accommodated within the first airtight container.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the automatic culture device is configured to receive the first airtight container which accommodates the second airtight container and which is transferred by the transfer part, take out the second airtight container from the first airtight container, and automatically culture the cells in a state in which the cells are accommodated in the taken-out second airtight container.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sterilizing device configured to sterilize an interior of the first airtight container which accommodates the cells.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the sterilizing device is configured to sterilize the interior of the first airtight container which accommodates the cells, by supplying a sterilizing gas into the first airtight container.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic culture device includes a discharge part configured to discharge at least a waste liquid.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a temperature, a humidity and a gas concentration within the first airtight container is adjustable.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temporary storage part configured to temporarily store the first airtight container, wherein at least one of a temperature, a humidity and a gas concentration within the temporary storage part is adjustable.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic cult device includes a cell loading part configured to load the first airtight container which accommodates the cells and a material loading part configured to load materials.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automatic culture device includes a plurality of automatic culture devices,
the system further comprises a plurality of accommodation rooms configured to accommodate the automatic culture devices, and the automatic culture devices are respectively accommodated in the corresponding accommodation rooms in a one-to-one relationship.

13 . An automatic culture method, comprising:
transferring, by a transfer part, a first airtight container which accommodates cells in a sealed state; receiving, by an automatic culture device, the first airtight container transferred by the transfer part and taking out the cells from the first airtight container; and culturing, by the automatic culture device, the taken-out cells, wherein the automatic culture device is configured to automatically adjust at least one of a temperature, a humidity and a gas concentration within the automatic culture device and to automatically perform replacement of a culture medium.

14 . An automatic culture system, comprising:
a transfer part configured to transfer a first airtight contain which accommodates cells or materials in a sealed state by moving the first airtight container along a transfer route; and a plurality of automatic culture devices configured to receive the first airtight container transferred by the transfer part, take out the cells from the first airtight container and culture the taken-out cells, wherein the transfer part includes a holding portion which keeps the first airtight container at a lower side of the holding portion to transfer the first airtight container between loading parts provided in the plurality of automatic culture devices.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein an area in which the transfer part moves is an isolated area which is sterilized and the isolated area includes a plurality of culture areas for culturing the cells, and a connection area which interconnects the areas.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein an isolation member is provided between the connection area and the plurality of culture areas.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the isolation member is one of a single-entry door, a double-entry door and an air shower.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the transfer route is a rail provided in a ceiling of an isolated area.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first airtight container is transferred by the transfer part in a state in which a second airtight container that accommodates the cells is accommodated within the first airtight container.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the first airtight container is transferred by the transfer part in a state in which a plurality of second airtight containers is accommodated within the first airtight container.

Assignees

• Tokyo Electron Ltd

Inventors

• Ozaki Shigenori
• Fuji Toshimitsu
• Kinoshita Yoshio
• Tamura Akitake

Classifications

• C12M41/48 Primary

  Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00) · CPC title

• C12N5/00

  Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor; (plant reproduction by tissue culture techniques A01H4/00) · CPC title

• C12M23/50

  Means for positioning or orientating the apparatus (C12M41/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C12M37/00

  Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination (C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00) · CPC title

• C12M37/04

  Seals · CPC title