Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for the culture of animal cells by maintaining the p H value and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture broth within a culture vessel at respectively prescribed levels during the course of said culture of animal cells by continuing controlled supply of at least nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide into the gaseous phase within said culture vessel, which method is characterized by (a) responding to any deviation of the pH value from said prescribed level by suitably increasing or decreasing the flow volume of carbon dioxide thereby correcting said deviation of the pH value, (b) increasing or decreasing the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen at the same time, thereby compensating for the variation in the partial pressure of oxygen in the gaseous phase caused by said increase or decrease of the flow volume of carbon dioxide, (c) and responding to any deviation of the dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture broth from said prescribed level by suitably increasing or decreasing the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen without varying the flow volume of carbo dioxide thereby correcting said deviation of the dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture broth, (d) whereby the pH value and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture broth will be maintained at said prescribed levels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for the culture of animal cells by maintaining the p H value and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture broth within a culture vessel at respectively prescribed levels during the course of said culture of animal cells by continuing controlled supply of at least nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide into the gaseous phase within said culture vessel, which method is characterized by (a) responding to any deviation of the pH value from said prescribed level by suitably increasing or decreasing the flow volume of carbon dioxide thereby correcting said deviation of the pH value, (b) increasing or decreasing the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen at the same time, thereby compensating for the variation in the partial pressure of oxygen in the gaseous phase caused by said increase or decrease of the flow volume of carbon dioxide, (c) and responding to any deviation of the dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture broth from said prescribed level by suitably increasing or decreasing the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen without varying the flow volume of carbo dioxide thereby correcting said deviation of the dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture broth, (d) whereby the pH value and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture broth will be maintained at said prescribed levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein said oxygen to be supplied is in the form of air or air in combination with oxygen gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, which further comprises controlling the inner pressure of said culture vessel to a prescribed level.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for the culture of animal cells, comprising (A) a culture vessel for culturing animal cells, (B) gas supply means connected to said culture vessel and provided with flow volume control means for controlling flow volume respectively of at least nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, (C) flow volume measuring means for measuring flow volumes of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, (D) detection means for detecting the pH value and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture broth to be formed within said culture vessel, (E) and control circuit means for (a) receiving signals from said measuring means and said detection means, (b) increasing or decreasing the flow volume of carbon dioxide in response to the pH value signal thereby controlling the pH value to a prescribed level, (c) calculating the variations in the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen at the same time, necessary for compensating for the variation in the partial pressure of oxygen in the gaseous phase caused by said increase or decrease of the flow volume of carbon dioxide, (d) controlling said flow volume control means in accordance with the results of said calculation thereby varying the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen, (e) calculating the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen necessary for controlling said dissolved oxygen concentration at a prescribed level in accordance with the dissolved oxygen concentration signal, (f) and controlling said flow volume control means in accordance with the results of said calculation thereby varying the flow volume of carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for the culture of animal cells, comprising (A) a culture vessel for culturing animal cells, (B) gas supply means connected to said culture vessel and provided with flow volume control means for controlling flow volume respectively of at least nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, (C) flow volume measuring means for measuring flow volumes of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, (D) detection means for detecting the pH value and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture broth to be formed within said culture vessel, (E) and control circuit means for (a) receiving signals from said measuring means and said detection means, (b) increasing or decreasing the flow volume of carbon dioxide in response to the pH value signal thereby controlling the pH value to a prescribed level, (c) calculating the variations in the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen at the same time, necessary for compensating for the variation in the partial pressure of oxygen in the gaseous phase caused by said increase or decrease of the flow volume of carbon dioxide, (d) controlling said flow volume control means in accordance with the results of said calculation thereby varying the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen, (e) calculating the flow volumes of nitrogen and oxygen necessary for controlling said dissolved oxygen concentration at a prescribed level in accordance with the dissolved oxygen concentration signal, (f) and controlling said flow volume control means in accordance with the results of said calculation thereby varying the flow volume of carbon dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
5, An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said gas supply means is provided with oxygen and air supply means and the oxygen content in the gaseous phase is maintained by supply of air or air in combination with oxygen gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
6, An apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, which further comprises an inner pressure control device for maintaining the inner pressure of said culture vessel at a prescribed level.