Multiple diffusion chamber

Claim 2

A MULTIPLE DIFFUSION CHAMBER FOR MIXED CULTURE INTERACTIONS UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS COMPRISING A FLUID TIGHT HOUSING DEFINING A CENTRAL DIFFUSION RESERVOIR FOR CARRYING A LIQUID CULTURE NUTRIENT MEDIUM, SAID EXTENDING FLUID TIGHT ORGANISM GROWTH CHAMBERS FOR CARRYING ORGANIXM CULTURES IN SAID LIQUID CULTURE NUTRIENT MEDIUM, SAID ORGANISM GROWTH CHAMBERS COMMMUNICATING WITH SAID CENTRAL DIFFUSION RESERVOIR, EACH ORGANISM GROWTH CHAMBER BEING RADIALLY SPACED ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CENTRAL DIFFUSION RESERVOIR HOUSING AND CONNECTED THERETO, EACH ORGANISM GROWTH CHAMBER INCLUDING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ORGANIS, GROWTH CHAMBERS AND SAID CENTRAL DIFFUSION RESERVOIR FOR THEREBY PERMITTING CONTINUOUS DIALYSIS OF SAID CULTURE NUTRIENT MEDIUM ANDMETABOLIC PRODDUCTS SUSPENDED THEREIN INTO AND OUT OF EACH OF SAID ORGANISM GROWTH CHAMBERS AND PREVENTING EGRESS OF AN ORGANISM CULTURE THEREFROM, AND MEANS FOR SHAKING SAID MULTIPLE DIFFUSION CHAMBER FOR THEREBY AFFECTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CENTRAL DIFFUSION RESERVOIR AND EACH OF SAID ORGANISM GROWTH CHAMBERS.

Claim 3

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 1 wherein said shaking means is a reciprocal shaker for thereby affecting substantially reciprocal controlled communication between said central diffusion reservoir and each of said organism growth chambers.

Claim 4

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling communication between said organism growth chambers and said central diffusion reservoir includes a membrane filter characterized by a porosity which diffuses liquid culture nutrient medium and metabolic products of cultures there through but prevents culture diffusion thereby maintaining culture homogeneity within each discrete organism growth chamber, while providing an interchange of metabolic products between interacting cell populations.

Claim 5

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 1 including means for sampling the content of said plurality of discrete organism growth chambers, said sampling means providing for sterile withdrawal of a sample for further analysis thereof.

Claim 6

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 1 including means for sampling the content of said central diffusion reservoir, said sampling means providing for sterile withdrawal of a sample for further analysis thereof.

Claim 7

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 1 wherein each organism growth chamber is provided with at least one port for inoculating each organism growth chamber with a selected organism.

Claim 8

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 2 wherein said reciprocal shaker linearly reciprocates said multiple diffusion chamber and said organism growth chambers are equiangularly distant from the axis of reciprocation for said shaker for uniformly aGitating cultures and culture nutrient medium which may be carried, respectively, in said plurality of discrete radially extending organism growth chambers and said central diffusion reservoir whereby metabolic products of said cultures in said discrete organism growth chambers may dialyze through said means for controlling communication between said organism growth chambers and said central diffusion reservoir, disperse through said culture nutrient medium and dialyze with said culture nutrient medium through said last mentioned means, with substantially equal probability, into said plurality of organism growth chambers, each discrete organism growth chamber carrying a substantially constantly homogeneous culture.

Claim 9

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 3 wherein said means for controlling communication between said organism growth chambers and said central diffusion reservoir further includes first and second mesh screens, said mesh screens being in parallel alignment and coaxial, one with another, one of said mesh screens being positioned on either side of said membrane filter, said first and second mesh screens being coaxial with said organism growth chamber and being fixedly mounted therein, an axial clearance being provided between said first and second mesh screens for limited lateral axial movement of said membrane filter.

Claim 10

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 6 including a sterile diaphragm removably mounted on said organism growth chamber over said port opening, and means for providing an air tight, liquid tight seal between said sterile diaphragm and the rim of said organism growth chamber defining said port.

Claim 11

The multiple diffusion chamber of claim 8 wherein said membrane filter is spaced apart from said first and second mesh screens for limited oscillating movement therebetween.

Claim 12

A multiple diffusion chamber for mixed culture interactions under controlled conditions comprising a fluid tight housing defining a central diffusion reservoir for carrying a liquid culture nutrient medium, a plurality of discrete radially extending fluid tight organism growth chambers for carrying organism cultures in said liquid culture nutrient medium, said organism growth chambers communicating with said central diffusion reservoir, each organism growth chamber being radially spaced on the periphery of said diffusion reservoir housing and connected thereto, each organism growth chamber including means for selectively controlling communication between organism growth chambers and said central diffusion reservoir for thereby permitting continuous dialysis of said culture nutrient medium and metabolic products suspended therein into and out of each of said organism growth chambers and preventing egress of an organism culture therefrom, each organism growth chamber having at least one port for innoculation each organism growth chamber with a selected organism, and a sterile diaphragm removably mounted on said organism growth chambers over said port openings therein, and means for providing an air tight, liquid tight seal between said sterile diaphragm and the rim of said organism growth chamber defining said port.

Claim 13

A multiple diffusion chamber for mixed culture interactions under controlled conditions comprising a fluid tight housing defining a central diffusion reservoir for carrying a liquid culture nutrient medium, a plurality of discrete radially extending fluid tight organism growth chambers for carrying organism cultures in said liquid culture nutrient medium, said organism growth chambers communicating with said central diffusion reservoir, each organism growth chamber being radially spaced on the periphery of said diffusion reservoir housing and connected thereto, each organism growth chamber including means for selectively controlling communication between organism growth chambers and said central diffusion reservoir for thereby permitting continuous dialysis of said culture nutrient medium and metabolic products suspended therein into and out of each of said organism growth chambers and preventing egress of an organism culture therefrom, each organism growth chamber having at least one port for innoculation each organism growth chamber with a selected organism, and a sterile diaphragm removably mounted on said organism growth chambers over said port openings therein, and means for providing an air tight, liquid tight seal between said sterile diaphragm and the rim of said organism growth chamber defining said port.