EP0239697A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for growing tissue cultures in vitro
Assignee: Costar Corp
•
Filing: 1986-10-31
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-10-31
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for growing tissue cultures in vitro, which permits a concentration gradient of nutrients to develop through a permeable membrane to which a sample of tissue is attached. The permeable membrane (62) is attached to the bottom end (60) of a tubular support (42) that in turn hangs by a flange (50) connected to its upper end on the top of a well containing the nutrients. Typically, the well is part of a tissue culture cluster dish. The flange of the support positions the support and membrane centrally in the well so as to avoid capillary action in the space between the well and support. The configuration of the support and its cooperation with the lid (13) of the cluster dish (10) also prevents the support and membrane from floating in the nutrient solution in the well. Openings (72) in the support provide access for a pipette to add and withdraw fluid from the space (M1) between the well and membrane support and from the space below the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 George F. Lyman
- 👤 David Root
- 👤 Gregory Mathus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:42
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M29/00; C12M29/04; C12M25/00; C12M25/02; C12M25/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
Apparatus for growing tissue cultures in vitro comprising a culture cluster dish having a matrix of wells closed at the bottom and open at the top and having an interior surface, a membrane support having top and bottom ends and a generally cylindrical side wall with an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the wells so that the support fits within a well of the dish, an outwardly extending flange at the top end of the support for engaging the top of the well in which it is placed to position the bottom end of the support a fixed and predetermined distance from the bottom of the well, a permeable membrane for supporting and growing a tissue culture on its top surface and attached to the bottom end of the support and spaced a fixed distance from the bottom of the well when the flange engages the top of the well, said cylindrical side wall being spaced from the interior surface of the well a sufficient distance to prevent flow by capillary action up the space between the wall and surface, openings in the side wall spaced vertically above the membrane for providing access to the space between the permeable membrane and well bottom and between the bottom portion of the side wall and the interior surface of the well for a pipette to introduce and withdraw fluids therefrom and for gas exchange between the fluid and atmosphere, and means in the flange for providing a passage for controlled evaporation from the well when a lid is placed over the cluster dish.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
Apparatus for growing tissue cultures in vitro comprising a culture cluster dish having a matrix of wells closed at the bottom and open at the top and having an interior surface, a membrane support having top and bottom ends and a generally cylindrical side wall with an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the wells so that the support fits within a well of the dish, an outwardly extending flange at the top end of the support for engaging the top of the well in which it is placed to position the bottom end of the support a fixed and predetermined distance from the bottom of the well, a permeable membrane for supporting and growing a tissue culture on its top surface and attached to the bottom end of the support and spaced a fixed distance from the bottom of the well when the flange engages the top of the well, said cylindrical side wall being spaced from the interior surface of the well a sufficient distance to prevent flow by capillary action up the space between the wall and surface, openings in the side wall spaced vertically above the membrane for providing access to the space between the permeable membrane and well bottom and between the bottom portion of the side wall and the interior surface of the well for a pipette to introduce and withdraw fluids therefrom and for gas exchange between the fluid and atmosphere, and means in the flange for providing a passage for controlled evaporation from the well when a lid is placed over the cluster dish.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said openings extending into the flange and providing access from the interior of the top end of the cylindrical side wall to the exterior of the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the flange having an upper surface and said means in the flange being knobs on the upper surface for supporting a lid in spaced relation to the flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized by the flange having an upper surface and said means in the flange being knobs on the upper surface for supporting a lid in spaced relation to the flange.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for use in growing tissue cultures in vitro comprising a tubular body having a side wall and top and bottom portions and top and bottom ends, a permeable membrane secured to the bottom end of the body for supporting a tissue culture on the side of the membrane facing the body so that said culture is disposed within the body, means secured to the top end of the body for supporting the body within a well having a closed bottom with the bottom end of the body a preselected distance from the closed bottom of the well, and an opening in the top portion of side wall spaced vertically above the membrane for providing access from the interior of the top portion to the exterior of the bottom portion of the side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for use in growing tissue cultures in vitro comprising a tubular body having a side wall and top and bottom portions and top and bottom ends, a permeable membrane secured to the bottom end of the body for supporting a tissue culture on the side of the membrane facing the body so that said culture is disposed within the body, means secured to the top end of the body for supporting the body within a well having a closed bottom with the bottom end of the body a preselected distance from the closed bottom of the well, and an opening in the top portion of side wall spaced vertically above the membrane for providing access from the interior of the top portion to the exterior of the bottom portion of the side wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further characterized by said side wall being cylindrical with the top portion having a greater diameter than the bottom portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 further characterized by said means secured to the top of the body being an outwardly extending flange for engaging the top of a well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further characterized by knobs on the upper surface of the flange for supporting a lid in spaced relationship thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for use in growing tissue cultures in vitro comprising a well having a side and bottom wall, a tubular body in the well and having a side wall and top and bottom portions and top and bottom ends, a permeable membrane secured to the bottom end of the body for supporting a tissue culture on the side of the membrane facing the body so that said culture is disposed within the body, means secured to the top end of the body for supporting the body with the well with the bottom end of the body a preselected distance from the bottom wall of the well, and an opening in the top portion of side wall for providing access from the interior of the top portion to the region between the exterior of the bottom portion of the side wall of the body and the side wall of the well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for use in growing tissue cultures in vitro comprising a well having a side and bottom wall, a tubular body in the well and having a side wall and top and bottom portions and top and bottom ends, a permeable membrane secured to the bottom end of the body for supporting a tissue culture on the side of the membrane facing the body so that said culture is disposed within the body, means secured to the top end of the body for supporting the body with the well with the bottom end of the body a preselected distance from the bottom wall of the well, and an opening in the top portion of side wall for providing access from the interior of the top portion to the region between the exterior of the bottom portion of the side wall of the body and the side wall of the well.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.