Patent ID: 6228635
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: C12M

Abstract:
Apparatus for ex vivo maintaining and growing biological cells, comprising:a portable cell growth cassette that includesa casing that defines a cell growth chamber configured to carry a quantity of biological cells and a growth medium, the cell growth chamber being part of a sterilizable system that is closed to the external environment, anda memory device that stores information relating to the desired conditioning of the cell growth chamber over time; anda first instrument, separate from the portable cassette and having an interface to which the cassette can be removably coupled, whereupon the first instrument retrieves information stored in the memory device and, in response to that retrieved information, controllably conditions the cassette during a first stage of its ex vivo maintenance and growth of biological cells, such conditioning including controllably transporting growth media through the cell growth chamber, without exposing the closed, sterilizable system to the external environment.