Patent US3928142A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3928142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Culture chamber for the study of biological systems and method of fabrication thereof
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-07-24
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1993-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A culture chamber for the study of biological systems is formed by cleansing the flat surfaces of a silicone-rubber compound gasket with a reagent such as acetone. The gasket is then placed between similarly cleansed surfaces of two coverglasses. By permitting the culture chamber to set with the surfaces of the gasket in continuous contact with the surfaces of the coverglasses, a natural bond is formed therebetween which strengthens with time.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis B Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:29
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/22; C12M23/02; C12M23/08; C12M23/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A CULTURE CHAMBER SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS COMPRISING: A FIRST AND SECOND THIN, FRAGILE COVERGLASS, A GASKET OF SILICONE-RUBBER COMPOUND HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL WITH SMOOTH, FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, SAID GASKET HAVING BEEN CLEANED WITH AN ORGANIC CLEANSING AGENT SO THAT THE MOLDED UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES THEREOF HAVE A NATURAL BONDING CHARACTERISTIC WHICH STRENGHTENS WITH TIME, WHEREBY SAID GASKET IS FULLY SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASS SUCH THAT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY SAID COVERGLASS, THE MOLDED UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET ADHERING TO THE CONTACTING SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES TO THEREBY PROVIDE A WATER-TIGHT CHAMBER DEFINED BY THE OPPOSING SURFACES OF SAID COVERGLASSES AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET, AND WHEREIN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET IS PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE APERTURE PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID CHAMBER AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A CULTURE CHAMBER SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS COMPRISING: A FIRST AND SECOND THIN, FRAGILE COVERGLASS, A GASKET OF SILICONE-RUBBER COMPOUND HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL WITH SMOOTH, FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, SAID GASKET HAVING BEEN CLEANED WITH AN ORGANIC CLEANSING AGENT SO THAT THE MOLDED UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES THEREOF HAVE A NATURAL BONDING CHARACTERISTIC WHICH STRENGHTENS WITH TIME, WHEREBY SAID GASKET IS FULLY SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASS SUCH THAT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY SAID COVERGLASS, THE MOLDED UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET ADHERING TO THE CONTACTING SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES TO THEREBY PROVIDE A WATER-TIGHT CHAMBER DEFINED BY THE OPPOSING SURFACES OF SAID COVERGLASSES AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET, AND WHEREIN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET IS PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE APERTURE PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID CHAMBER AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gasket and said coverglasses are rectangularly shaped, and wherein the outer edges of at least one of said coverglasses extend beyond the outer edges of said gasket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the outer edges of both of said coverglasses extend beyond the outer edges of said gasket, and wherein paraffin is provided in the channel formed about the outer edges of said gasket by the spaced outer edges of said coverglasses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A culture chamber suitable for use in the study of biological systems comprising: a first and second thin fragile coverglass, a gasket of silicone-rubber compound, said gasket including a plurality of layers of silicone-rubber compound, each said layer having a peripheral wall with smooth flat molded upper and lower surfaces, and each said layer having been cleaned with an organic cleansing agent so that the flat molded upper and lower surfaces thereof have a natural bonding characteristic which strengthens with time, whereby the layers of silicone-rubber compound are stacked together with the flat molded lower surface of a layer pressed against the flat molded upper surface of the adjacent layer to form said gasket and said gasket is fully sandwiched between said first and second coverglasses, the flat molded upper and lower surfaces of the peripheral wall of said gasket adhering to the contacting surfaces of said first and second coverglasses to thereby provide a water-tight chamber defined by the opposing surfaces of said coverglasses and the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said gasket, and wherein the peripheral wall of said gasket is provided with at least one aperture providing access to said chamber and communication with the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
A culture chamber suitable for use in the study of biological systems comprising: a first and second thin fragile coverglass, a gasket of silicone-rubber compound, said gasket including a plurality of layers of silicone-rubber compound, each said layer having a peripheral wall with smooth flat molded upper and lower surfaces, and each said layer having been cleaned with an organic cleansing agent so that the flat molded upper and lower surfaces thereof have a natural bonding characteristic which strengthens with time, whereby the layers of silicone-rubber compound are stacked together with the flat molded lower surface of a layer pressed against the flat molded upper surface of the adjacent layer to form said gasket and said gasket is fully sandwiched between said first and second coverglasses, the flat molded upper and lower surfaces of the peripheral wall of said gasket adhering to the contacting surfaces of said first and second coverglasses to thereby provide a water-tight chamber defined by the opposing surfaces of said coverglasses and the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said gasket, and wherein the peripheral wall of said gasket is provided with at least one aperture providing access to said chamber and communication with the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one crevice is formed along the edge periphery of the contacting surfaces of adjacent layers forming said gasket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
226 words
A culture chamber suitable for use in the study of biological systems comprising: a first and second thin fragile coverglass, a gasket of silicone-rubber compound, said gasket including a glass portion sandwiched between a first and second layer of silicone-rubber compound gasket portions, said gasket portions each having a peripheral wall with a smooth flat molded upper and lower surface, and said glass portion having a similarly shaped peripheral wall with flat upper and lower surfaces, said layers of gasket portions having been cleaned with an organic cleansing agent so that the flat molded upper and lower surfaces thereof have a natural bonding characteristic which strengthens with time, whereby said glass portion is sandwiches between said layers of gasket portions and said gasket so formed is fully sandwiched between said first and second coverglasses, the flat molded upper and lower surfaces of the layers of silicone-rubber gasket adhering the contacting surfaces of said glass portion and said first and second coverglasses to thereby provide a water-tight chamber defined by the opposing surfaces of said coverglasses and the inner surfaces of the peripheral walls of the glass portion and gasket portions forming said gasket, and wherein the peripheral wall of said gasket so formed is provided with at least one aperture in the glass portion thereof providing access to said chamber and communication with the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
226 words
A culture chamber suitable for use in the study of biological systems comprising: a first and second thin fragile coverglass, a gasket of silicone-rubber compound, said gasket including a glass portion sandwiched between a first and second layer of silicone-rubber compound gasket portions, said gasket portions each having a peripheral wall with a smooth flat molded upper and lower surface, and said glass portion having a similarly shaped peripheral wall with flat upper and lower surfaces, said layers of gasket portions having been cleaned with an organic cleansing agent so that the flat molded upper and lower surfaces thereof have a natural bonding characteristic which strengthens with time, whereby said glass portion is sandwiches between said layers of gasket portions and said gasket so formed is fully sandwiched between said first and second coverglasses, the flat molded upper and lower surfaces of the layers of silicone-rubber gasket adhering the contacting surfaces of said glass portion and said first and second coverglasses to thereby provide a water-tight chamber defined by the opposing surfaces of said coverglasses and the inner surfaces of the peripheral walls of the glass portion and gasket portions forming said gasket, and wherein the peripheral wall of said gasket so formed is provided with at least one aperture in the glass portion thereof providing access to said chamber and communication with the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
237 words
A METHOD FOR THE FABRICATION OF A CULTURE SYSTEMS WHICH ABLE FOR USE IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL CULTURE SYSTEMS WHICH COMPRISES: PROVIDING A GASKET OF SILICONE-RUBBER COMPOUND HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL WITH SMOOTH, FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, FORMING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE IN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET, CLEANING THE FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET WITH AN ORGANIC CLEANSING AGENT, PROVIDING A FIRST AND SECOND THIN, FRAGILE COVERGLASS, CLEANING THE SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES WITH SAID ORGANIC CLEANSING AGENT, SANDWICHING SAID GASKET BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES, SAID GASKET BEING OF SUCH A SIZE THAT WHEN SO SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES THE OUTER EDGES OF THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY SAID COVERGLASSES, PRESSING WITH MODERATE FINGER PRESSURE THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET TO FORM A CONTINUOUS AREA OF CONTACT THEREBETWEEN TO THEREBY PROVIDE A LIQUID-TIGHT CHAMBER DEFINED BY THE OPPOSING SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES AND THE INNER SURFACES OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET, AND PERMITTING THE CONTINUOUS AREAS OF CONTACT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES AND SAID GASKET TO REMAIN IN CONTACT FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS TO THEREBY FORM A STRONG BOND BETWEEN SAID GASKET AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
237 words
A METHOD FOR THE FABRICATION OF A CULTURE SYSTEMS WHICH ABLE FOR USE IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL CULTURE SYSTEMS WHICH COMPRISES: PROVIDING A GASKET OF SILICONE-RUBBER COMPOUND HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL WITH SMOOTH, FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, FORMING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE IN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET, CLEANING THE FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET WITH AN ORGANIC CLEANSING AGENT, PROVIDING A FIRST AND SECOND THIN, FRAGILE COVERGLASS, CLEANING THE SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES WITH SAID ORGANIC CLEANSING AGENT, SANDWICHING SAID GASKET BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES, SAID GASKET BEING OF SUCH A SIZE THAT WHEN SO SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES THE OUTER EDGES OF THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY SAID COVERGLASSES, PRESSING WITH MODERATE FINGER PRESSURE THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE FLAT, MOLDED, UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID GASKET TO FORM A CONTINUOUS AREA OF CONTACT THEREBETWEEN TO THEREBY PROVIDE A LIQUID-TIGHT CHAMBER DEFINED BY THE OPPOSING SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES AND THE INNER SURFACES OF THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID GASKET, AND PERMITTING THE CONTINUOUS AREAS OF CONTACT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES AND SAID GASKET TO REMAIN IN CONTACT FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS TO THEREBY FORM A STRONG BOND BETWEEN SAID GASKET AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND COVERGLASSES.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method in accordance with claim 7 including the steps of: initially soaking said gasket in said organic cleansing agent for a period of approximately a day; and permitting said organic cleansing agent to evaporate from said gasket prior to pressing said first and second coverglasses on the upper and lower surfaces thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said organic cleansing agent is acetone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7 including the step of opening said culture chamber after it has been fabricated by soaking it in said organic cleansing agent to loosen the strong natural bond formed between said gasket and said coverglasses.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
247 words
A method for the fabrication of a culture chamber suitable for use in the study of biological culture systems which comprises: providing a gasket of silicone-rubber compound, said gasket including two layers of silicone rubber cOmpound gasket portions, each said layer having a peripheral wall with smooth flat molded upper and lower surfaces, cleaning the flat molded upper and lower surfaces of each of said layers of gasket portions with an organic cleansing agent, pressing with moderate finger pressure the lower flat molded surface of one of said layers of gasket portions against the upper flat molded surface of the other of said layers of gasket portions to form said gasket, forming at least one aperture in the peripheral wall of said gasket, providing a first and second thin fragile coverglass, cleaning the surfaces of said first and second coverglasses with said organic cleansing agent, pressing with moderate finger pressure the surfaces of said first and second coverglasses against the respective flat upper and lower surfaces of said gasket to form a continuous area of contact therebetween to thereby provide a liquid-tight chamber defined by the opposing surfaces of said first and second coverglasses and the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said gasket, and permitting the continuous area of contact of said first and second coverglasses and said gasket to remain in contact for a period of approximately two days to thereby form a strong bond between said gasket and said first and second coverglasses.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
247 words
A method for the fabrication of a culture chamber suitable for use in the study of biological culture systems which comprises: providing a gasket of silicone-rubber compound, said gasket including two layers of silicone rubber cOmpound gasket portions, each said layer having a peripheral wall with smooth flat molded upper and lower surfaces, cleaning the flat molded upper and lower surfaces of each of said layers of gasket portions with an organic cleansing agent, pressing with moderate finger pressure the lower flat molded surface of one of said layers of gasket portions against the upper flat molded surface of the other of said layers of gasket portions to form said gasket, forming at least one aperture in the peripheral wall of said gasket, providing a first and second thin fragile coverglass, cleaning the surfaces of said first and second coverglasses with said organic cleansing agent, pressing with moderate finger pressure the surfaces of said first and second coverglasses against the respective flat upper and lower surfaces of said gasket to form a continuous area of contact therebetween to thereby provide a liquid-tight chamber defined by the opposing surfaces of said first and second coverglasses and the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said gasket, and permitting the continuous area of contact of said first and second coverglasses and said gasket to remain in contact for a period of approximately two days to thereby form a strong bond between said gasket and said first and second coverglasses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |