Patent ID: 6794184
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: C12M

Abstract:
A culturing device comprising:a plurality of culture containers adapted to receive and to discharge a culture medium; porous cell culture inserts, one for each of the plurality of culture containers, removably received within the culture containers, said cell culture inserts each providing a horizontal culture surface wherein the plurality of culture containers are positioned so that the horizontal culture surfaces lie in a common horizontal plane; and, a supply mechanism for introducing the culture medium into the plurality of culture containers and for discharging the culture medium from the plurality of culture containers; wherein a common culture medium supply line connected to the plurality of culture containers communicates with a riser on which at least one level sensor which is vertically adjustable relative to said riser is carried to sense a level of the culture medium for the plurality of culture containers, wherein the sensor controls the supply mechanism as a function of an output signal of the level sensor representing the level of the culture medium such that the device can achieve both a sustained submerged culture medium supply condition and a sustained basal culture medium supply condition, wherein said sustained basal culture medium supply condition allows for exposure of cultured cells on said cell culture insert to gases, aerosols and particulate matter from above and culture medium from below through the porous cell culture insert.