Flat Culture Flask Patents (Class 435/304.3)
  • Patent number: 11577000
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for creating a viable connective tissue and/or osseous tissue obtained by tribological solicitations of a biological culture. It further relates to a viable connective tissue and/or osseous tissue susceptible to be obtained by said method as well as to the use of said method or viable connective tissue and/or osseous tissue to prepare a biological implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TORNIER
    Inventors: Michel Hassler, Ghassene Ouenzerfi
  • Patent number: 10260034
    Abstract: A culture flask comprising a culture chamber in a flask body comprising an even bottom wall with a growth surface on the top side, an even cover wall at a section from the bottom wall, and side walls that bridge the distance between the margins of the bottom wall and cover wall, an opening that is in adjacent regions of a side wall and the even cover wall at a distance from the bottom wall, and a hollow cylindrical flask neck that is connected to the margin of the opening and is aligned at a sharp angle to the growth surface so that the serological pipette, a scraper, a cannula or another elongated device for adding or removing material can be placed on the rear corners of the growth surface from the outside through the flask neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Martin Seippel
  • Patent number: 9255243
    Abstract: Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Douglas A. Page, Dan Welch, Alison Robeck
  • Patent number: 9040290
    Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory Roger Martin, Allison Jean Tanner
  • Patent number: 9005550
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a multi-layered cell culture vessel having a rectangular shape with a top a bottom sides and ends, where the sides are longer than the ends. The vessel has hand grips and ports at each end of the rectangular vessel. The ports allow fluid entering into the vessel to flow into the multiple cell culture layers through a manifold. The ports may be incorporated into the hand grips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas L. Carter, Gregory S. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8846399
    Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory Roger Martin, Allison Jean Tanner
  • Publication number: 20140206078
    Abstract: A culture flask comprising a culture chamber in a flask body comprising an even bottom wall with a growth surface on the top side, an even cover wall at a section from the bottom wall, and side walls that bridge the distance between the margins of the bottom wall and cover wall, an opening that is in adjacent regions of a side wall and the even cover wall at a distance from the bottom wall, and a hollow cylindrical flask neck that is connected to the margin of the opening and is aligned at a sharp angle to the growth surface so that the serological pipette, a scraper, a cannula or another elongated device for adding or removing material can be placed on the rear corners of the growth surface from the outside through the flask neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: EPPENDORF AG
    Inventor: Martin Seippel
  • Patent number: 8603806
    Abstract: The methods generally relate to three-dimensional culturing of cells with the steps of seeding a cell support structure in a device with at least one vessel for cell culture having a bottom, at least one wall and a cell support structure for three-dimensional cell culture. The cell support structure is inside the at least one vessel and the device is configured such that assays can be performed. Devices for performing cell culture and assays are also provided. It will be understood that the devices can have many different suitable configurations. In general, the devices are selected such that they can be used with suitable radiation based assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Ohio State Universtiy Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shang-Tian Yang, Xudong Zhang, Yuan Wen
  • Patent number: 8481305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotation driving device for cell culturing, comprising: a power supplying unit operated by receiving an electric power from an outside; a rotational part rotated by the power supplying unit; and a driving part which is provided at an upper side of the rotational part and maintained in a stopped state during the rotation of the rotational part, and of which an inclination is changed according to a rotational direction of the rotational part. According to the present invention, there is provided a rotation driving device a rotation driving device which enables cells to be uniformly grown by equally distributing a culture solution with help of inclination control, of which a rotational speed is also controlled and which has a firm structure with a strong durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Corestem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Kim, Jai Jun Choung
  • Patent number: 8470589
    Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory R. Martin, Allison J. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8465971
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling biological functions with mechanical vibration are provided. Stimulation is applied to cells of one of an organism, bacteria or virus by mechanical vibration. The biological function comprises biological functions relating to cell growth. The biological functions relating to cell growth may include at least one of cell cultivation, cell proliferation, cell fusion, and cell differentiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Iken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Kishida, Tsutomu Furuzono, Kozo Miyazaki, Toru Masuzawa
  • Patent number: 8415144
    Abstract: Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Wilson Wolf Manufacturing
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Douglas A. Page, Dan Welch, Alison Robeck
  • Patent number: 8273572
    Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory R. Martin, Allison J. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8216828
    Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes a cell culture chamber formed by a first major surface, an opposing second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface, and a first side wall around the first chamber and extending between the first and second major surfaces. A portion of the first sidewall proximate the first major surface comprises an infrared absorbent material, and a portion the first sidewall proximate the second major surface is formed from substantially non-infrared absorbent material. The first major surface is formed by a gas permeable polymeric film that is impermeable to cell culture liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry J. Cattadoris, Gregory R. Martin, Allison J. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8177082
    Abstract: An assembly for culturing cells includes a housing defining a reservoir for containing cell culture media and an opening in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cell culture assembly further includes a filter valve assembly configured to sealingly engage the opening. The filter valve assembly includes a flexible membrane, a contiguous side wall, an end wall, and a microbial filter. The end wall has an opening and extends across one end of the side wall to form a major cavity within the side wall and the end wall. The flexible membrane has a slit spanning the membrane and is disposable within the major cavity such that the membrane sealingly divides the major cavity into (i) a chamber formed between the end wall and the membrane and (ii) a minor cavity formed by the membrane and a portion of the side wall. The minor cavity is in fluid communication with the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Joseph Cattadoris, Gregory Roger Martin, Allison Jean Tanner
  • Patent number: 8178345
    Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus includes a unitary flask body including a rigid upper and lower surface, connected by side walls. The cell growth apparatus comprises multiple cell growth chambers stacked in vertical alignment and orientation within the unitary flask body. The stacked chambers are held in position by unitary connecting columns that run through each cell growth chamber and terminate at the rigid upper and lower surfaces of the apparatus. The cell growth chambers are separated by tracheal spaces that allow air from the external environment to contact the cell growth surface of each individual cell growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott M. Bennett, Henry J. Cattadoris, David A. Kenney, Gregory R. Martin, Allison J. Tanner, Joseph C. Wall
  • Patent number: 8168432
    Abstract: Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Wilson Wolf Manufacturing
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Douglas A. Page, Dan Welch, Alison Robeck
  • Patent number: 8158427
    Abstract: Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Douglas A. Page, Dan Welch, Alison Robeck
  • Patent number: 8158426
    Abstract: Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Douglas A. Page, Dan Welch, Alison Robeck
  • Patent number: 7993609
    Abstract: A container is provided for holding a chemical compound or mixture. Areas are provided on the surface of the container which allow for gaseous by-products from the chemical contained within the container to permeate from a chamber through the surface of the container. A septum is over-molded into the surface of the container. The septum is formed in such a manner that it provides a sealing effect to close an opening in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sterilucent, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick LaValley
  • Patent number: 7981668
    Abstract: A method and system for culturing cells, having a substantially airtight enclosure configured to culture cells. The method and system also have a first conduit configured to provide a reduced pressure to the substantially airtight enclosure and a second conduit configured to provide a culture media to the substantially airtight enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: KCI Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Wilkes, Amy K. McNulty, Kristine Kieswetter, Teri D. Feeley, Marisa Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7888111
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture vessel which is simple in structure and easy to handle, and is capable of preventing damage to the cells when separated, promoting transport of nutrients and excretion of effete matter, and elevating the culturing efficiency improving effect by the structural features. In order to attain the above object, there is provided a cell culture vessel including a culture section provided with a plurality of projections having an equivalent diameter smaller than the cells to be cultured and the culture section side walls enclosing the culture section, wherein the distance between an arbitrary position on the culture section/side wall boundary line and the nearest projection is smaller than the diameter of the cells to be cultured. The effect of the projections in the vessel given to the cultured cells is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Kuwabara, Akihiro Miyauchi, Norihito Kuno
  • Publication number: 20100304473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell culture flask for culturing a cell using a culture solution, particularly to a cell culture flask enabling to culture a cell without any contamination, to automatically introduce and discharge the culture solution or gases and to be stacked in turn, and a cell culture device having the same. The present invention provides a cell culture flask comprising a culture space with a predetermined area for culturing the cell; one or more culture solution inlet ports for introducing the culture solution or the cell into the culture space; one or more culture solution outlet ports for discharging the culture solution or the cell supplied to the culture space; and one or more gas inlet ports for introducing the various gases into the culture space, wherein the cell culture flask is made airtight and formed of a transparent material so that a user can see an internal portion of the cell culture flask, and a cell culture device having the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: CORESTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Kim, Jai Jun Choung
  • Patent number: 7771991
    Abstract: A stackable flask for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture chamber is defined by a top plate and a rigid bottom tray of substantially rectangular shape connected by side and end walls, the body of the flask has imparted therein an opening connected to an angled neck, the neck being hydrophobic to keep fluid out. The neck is also modified to accept a snap-fit cap with a modified stepped skirt. The stepped skirt further prevents contamination by protecting the inner mating surface from contacting a surface. The size of the flask and location of an optional separate neck and cap section allows for flask manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, making the flask ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen R. Bossi, Kathy M. Youngbear
  • Patent number: 7745209
    Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body. also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory R. Martin, Allison J. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7745210
    Abstract: A vessel for culturing of cells is disclosed. The vessel is capable of exhausting substantially all liquid material from the vessel's internal volume through an outlet port. A flange incorporated with the outlet port is utilized as a flow diverter for removing liquid media from internal surfaces of the vessel. The flange also engages the vessel body so that the flow of a liquid medium is directed outward from the internal surfaces of the vessel through the outlet port. The top surface, flange base, and planar surfaces of the flange further assist to redirect surface tension of the fluid toward the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregory Roger Martin
  • Patent number: 7691625
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture vessel which is simple in structure and easy to handle, and is capable of preventing damage to the cells when separated, promoting transport of nutrients and excretion of effete matter, and elevating the culturing efficiency improving effect by the structural features. In order to attain the above object, there is provided a cell culture vessel including a culture section provided with a plurality of projections having an equivalent diameter smaller than the cells to be cultured and the culture section side walls enclosing the culture section, wherein the distance between an arbitrary position on the culture section/side wall boundary line and the nearest projection is smaller than the diameter of the cells to be cultured. The effect of the projections in the vessel given to the cultured cells is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Kuwabara, Akihiro Miyauchi, Norihito Kuno
  • Patent number: 7687262
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flask having a top piece 20 and a bottom piece 22 with optical properties on the interior surface 24 of which cells are grown. The top piece 20 and the bottom piece 22 are joined by a removable elastomeric seal 26. By disengaging the elastomeric seal 26 from the flask body 12, the top piece 20 can be separated from the bottom piece 22 providing access to the flask interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Henry J. Cattadoris
  • Patent number: 7604777
    Abstract: A cartridge for holding a test specimen with an extremely small volume. The cartridge has a test chamber and a vestibule through which the test fluids are inserted into the test chamber. The cartridge has a stopper having a pair of seals, the first of which seals the test chamber inlet between the vestibule and the test chamber, and the second, of which seals the mouth of the vestibule so that when the stepper is in place, the test chamber is closed to the admission of air or other contaminants and the vestibule is similarly closed against escape of the overflow from the test chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Veridex, LLC
    Inventor: Richard L. Columbus
  • Patent number: 7425440
    Abstract: A culture flask 10 comprises two or more internal chambers 18-21 defining a plurality of parallel surfaces of different sizes and means for fluid communication 24 between the chambers 18-20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: The Automation Partnership (Cambridge) Limited
    Inventors: David S Malinge, Richard Wales, Peter Esser, Stephen Guy
  • Patent number: 7348176
    Abstract: The invention features modular chambers for culturing cells in which the volume of a chamber can be adjusted without compromising the seal or sterility of the chamber. The invention is based on the principle that the volume of a chamber formed between two plates sandwiching a compressible gasket and a substantially incompressible stop can be adjusted using a gasket that forms a fluid-tight seal between the plates at a plurality of levels of compression. The invention enables the culture of cells between substantially parallel and rigid plates in which a relatively large volume can be used to seed the cells and the holdup volume reduced for perfusion without opening or otherwise disassembling the system to compromise its liquidtightness and sterility. The new closed, modular and scalable cell-culturing chamber can be thus perfused and used to culture cells (e.g., hepatocytes) with high levels of cell function in organ (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Organogenesis, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. DiMilla, Maury D. Cosman, Rachel Halych, Lisa Romito, Chris Gemmeti, Kevin Odlum
  • Publication number: 20080003671
    Abstract: A vessel for culturing of cells is disclosed. The vessel is capable of exhausting substantially all liquid material from the vessel's internal volume through an outlet port. A flange incorporated with the outlet port is utilized as a flow diverter for removing liquid media from internal surfaces of the vessel. The flange also engages the vessel body so that the flow of a liquid medium is directed outward from the internal surfaces of the vessel through the outlet port. The top surface, flange base, and planar surfaces of the flange further assist to redirect surface tension of the fluid toward the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Gregory Roger Martin
  • Patent number: 7300789
    Abstract: The invention provides a bioreactor (10) for the culture of animal, vegetable, microbial of algal cells of their co-cultures, of the type including a body (12) which delimits an internal volume (14) capable of holding a culture liquid (16) and a gas volume (17) above the culture liquid (16), and which includes means for introducing (18) and/or extracting (20) elements respectively into and/or out of the internal volume (14) of the body (12), and of the type which includes means (22) for driving the body (12) in an oscillating movement so as to obtain agitation of the culture liquid (16), characterised in that the body (12) is a rigid vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Richard Martin, Pascal Hilaire
  • Patent number: 7078228
    Abstract: A stackable flask for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture chamber is defined by a top plate and a rigid bottom tray of substantially rectangular shape connected by side and end walls, the body of the flask has imparted therein a gas permeable membrane that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chamber and the external environment. The flask body also includes a sealed septum that will allow access to the cell growth chamber by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the flask and location of an optional neck and cap section allows for flask manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, making the flask ideal for high throughput applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: William J. Lacey, John A. Ryan, Laurence M. Vaughan, Joseph C. Wall, Kathy M. Youngbear
  • Patent number: 6911339
    Abstract: The invention provides polyol (allyl carbonate) polymer solid supports. The supports can be modified for attachment of a chemical moiety or ligand. A solid support comprising one or more ligands immobilized to a polyol (allyl carbonate) polymer solid support. The solid support can be in the form of a bead, fiber, flat surface, microfluidic device, molded device, machined device, container, multi-well container such as a multi-well plate, and mass spectrometry sample holder. The solid supports can be used for a variety of applications, including chemical storage, chemical synthesis, combinatorial library synthesis, analytical devices, diagnostic devices, and tissue culture applications. The invention also provides methods of using the polyol (allyl carbonate) polymer solid supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: David P. Dumas
  • Patent number: 6855542
    Abstract: The invention features modular chambers for culturing cells in which the volume of a chamber can be adjusted without compromising the seal or sterility of the chamber. The invention is based on the principle that the volume of a chamber formed between two plates sandwiching a compressible gasket and a substantially incompressible stop can be adjusted using a gasket that forms a fluid-tight seal between the plates at a plurality of levels of compression. The invention enables the culture of cells between substantially parallel and rigid plates in which a relatively large volume can be used to seed the cells and the holdup volume reduced for perfusion without opening or otherwise disassembling the system to compromise its liquidtightness and sterility. The new closed, modular and scalable cell-culturing chamber can be thus perfused and used to culture cells (e.g., hepatocytes) with high levels of cell function in organ (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Organogenesis Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. DiMilla, Maury D. Cosman, Rachel Halych, Lisa Romito, Chris Gemmeti, Kevin Odlum
  • Patent number: 6818438
    Abstract: A tissue culture flask includes a base, a cover and a cap. The base has a bottom wall and a ramp extending up at an obtuse angle from the bottom wall to the front end of the flask. The flask also includes a sidewall enclosure that extends up from the bottom wall and the ramp. The sidewall enclosure includes a front wall at the end of the ramp furthest from the bottom wall. The front wall includes an opening, and a substantially tubular neck extends forward from the opening. The neck has a substantially circular cross-section at the front end. However, portions of the neck at the rear end have a substantially circular cross-section across the top of the neck and a substantially elliptical cross-section across the bottom of the neck. The elliptical sections of the neck are substantially tangent to the ramp at the front wall of the flask. The geometry facilitates access by pipettes, scrapers and other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Andrew P. Muser
  • Publication number: 20040106191
    Abstract: A tissue culture flask includes a base, a cover and a cap. The base has a bottom wall and a ramp extending up at an obtuse angle from the bottom wall to the front end of the flask. The flask also includes a sidewall enclosure that extends up from the bottom wall and the ramp. The sidewall enclosure includes a front wall at the end of the ramp furthest from the bottom wall. The front wall includes an opening, and a substantially tubular neck extends forward from the opening. The neck has a substantially circular cross-section at the front end. However, portions of the neck at the rear end have a substantially circular cross-section across the top of the neck and a substantially elliptical cross-section across the bottom of the neck. The elliptical sections of the neck are substantially tangent to the ramp at the front wall of the flask. The geometry facilitates access by pipettes, scrapers and other instruments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew P. Muser
  • Patent number: 6569675
    Abstract: The present invention includes a cell cultivating flask and a method for growing cells within the cell cultivating flask which is configured such that a user can directly access the individual trays or cell growing areas within the cell cultivating flask. Basically, the cell cultivating flask includes a cover located on top of an intermediate tray which is located on top of a bottom tray. The intermediate tray and bottom tray each have a bottom plate and side walls that define a cell growth area. And, the cover and intermediate tray each have a neck with an opening formed therein which enables a user to directly add or remove a cell cultivating media to or from each of the cell growth areas in the intermediate tray and the bottom tray. The cell cultivating flask may have more than one intermediate tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph C. Wall, George F. Lyman
  • Patent number: 6403369
    Abstract: A vessel for growing tissues, cells, microorganisms and the like is provided. The vessel includes a body, which defines an interior chamber, and at least one aperture in the body for permitting fluid communication between the interior chamber and the external environment. The body includes top and bottom walls each having a generally planar portion and a tapered portion. The tapered portion of the top wall tapers outwardly and downwardly from the planar portion thereof to an outer periphery. Conversely, the tapered portion of the bottom wall tapers outwardly and upwardly from the planar portion thereof to an outer periphery. The outer peripheries of the respective walls are then aligned with and coupled to one another. The aperture includes a closure component coupled thereto for closing off the interior chamber from the external environment. In an alternative embodiment, the vessel includes a top wall, a bottom wall and at least one side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Gary W. Wood
  • Publication number: 20020039785
    Abstract: An improved tissue culture flask vessel includes an access port that is more amenable to an automated removal and delivery of fluid. A second lid is located on the top side of the flask toward the conventional side cap location such that a slight tilt of the flask locates the fluid in the front corner of the flask which can easily be accessed by a top-down pipette of much shorter length, on the order of two inches. This greatly reduces the angular tolerances for pipette access as well as significantly reduces the amount of tilt manipulation required to locate the fluid for pipette access. The lid access is preferably recessed on the flask, so that the flasks can also be stacked on top of one another as is common practice in storage. The existing lid is preferably preserved to maintain proper gas exchange. To take advantage of the fact that the cells do not require much height, alternative embodiments feature a multi-layer surface within a given flask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Kirk S. Schroeder, Brad D. Neagle
  • Patent number: 6255101
    Abstract: The invention concerns a seal for closing the neck of a flask. The seal comprises a stopper with a central coaxial channel for passage of an injection and/or sampling needle, this channel being sealed by at least one ball with a diameter slightly greater than that of the channel. This seal is suitable for a reagent flask used by a blood analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Diagnostica Stago
    Inventors: Alain Rousseau, Jean-François Gelin
  • Patent number: 6210959
    Abstract: For avoidance of cell aggregation and damage to the cells as well as for a reduction of the risk of contamination, an apparatus for the cultivation and concentration of non-adherent cells as well as for the co-culture of two different cell species consists of an elongate hollow vessel comprising a resting surface extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said vessel for positioning the hollow vessel for cell culture operation, a standing surface provided orthogonally on the longitudinal axis for positioning the hollow vessel for cell-harvesting operation or for the co-culture of two cell species, at least one closable charging and discharging opening formed on the hollow vessel on the section of the latter which is opposite to said standing surface, and a partitioning wall extending inside the hollow vessel from the standing surface thereof, which partly subdivides the interior space of the vessel, with this partitioning wall being formed at least in parts with a liquid-permeable, however cell-imper
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH
    Inventors: Antal Lodri, Jean-Pierre Kremer, Gilbert Reisbach, Guoquing Liu