Modular platform for multi-tissue integrated cell culture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249387-B2
Application number	US-201414167590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Jan 29, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally related to a cell culture system. More particularly, the systems and methods enable the culturing and interconnecting of a plurality of tissue types in a biomimetic environment. By culturing organ specific tissue types within a biomimetic environment and interconnecting each of the organ systems in a physiologically meaningful way, experiments can be conducted on in vitro cells that substantially mimic the responses of in vivo cell populations. In some implementations, the organ systems are fluidically connected with a constant-volume pump.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A modular device for culturing cells, the device comprising:
(a) a control plate for reversibly receiving at least one cell culture vessel, wherein the at least one cell culture vessel is open, the control plate comprising:
(i) a constant-volume pump to flow a fluid into and out of the at least one open cell culture vessel, the constant-volume pump further comprising: (1) a central displacement chamber having a displacement pump; and (2) at least four channels radiating out from the central displacement chamber, wherein each of the at least four channels is coupled in line with a membrane valve; and
(b) the at least one open cell culture vessel reversibly coupled to the control plate.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein a membrane of the membrane valve coupled to the at least four channels comprises a fluoropolymer elastomer.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the fluoropolymer elastomer is Viton.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein a fluidic capacitor is coupled in line to one of the at least four channels.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane valve further comprises an actuator.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is an electromagnetic actuator.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the constant-volume pump is configured to pump a fluid at a rate of between about 0.1 μL/sec and about 1 μL/sec.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the constant-volume pump is configured to inject and withdraw substantially an equivalent volume of liquid from the cell culture vessel.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor coupled one of the at least four channels radiating our from the central displacement chamber.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein one of the at least four channels is coupled to an inlet of the cell culture vessel and a different one of the at least four channels is coupled to an outlet of the cell culture vessel.

Assignees

• Draper Lab Charles S
• Massachusetts Inst Technology
• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Cuiffi Joseph
• Mescher Mark Joseph
• Coppeta Jonathan Robert
• Inman Samuel Walker
• Spencer Abigail June
• Nguyen Transon Van
• Borenstein Jeffrey T

Classifications

• C12N5/0602 Primary

  Vertebrate cells · CPC title

• C12M23/12

  Well or multiwell plates (C12M25/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C12M29/00

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

• C12M21/08 Primary

  for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue (prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00) · CPC title

• C12M29/12

  Pulsatile flow · CPC title