Abstract:
The present invention provides a roller bottle for cell growth culturing, the roller bottle including a bottom wall; a top wall having an opening formed therethrough; and, a side wall extending between the top and bottom walls, a plurality of corrugations being defined in the side wall. Further, a distance is defined between the top and bottom walls, and the corrugations are selectively deformable to alter the distance. Advantageously, with the present invention, a single roller bottle may be provided with its length being adjustable in response to cell culture size and density.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/743,608, filed Mar. 1, 2006. and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/864,067, filed Nov. 2, 2006, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a container for cell culture production, and, more particularly, to a roller bottle having an extendible and/or contractible corrugated surface for altering the length of the roller bottle in response to cell culture size and density and compactability For ease of shipping. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    One type of container commonly used in a laboratory for culturing cells is known as a “roller bottle”. Roller bottles are generally cylindrical and are adapted to rotate about their axes. The internal surfaces of such roller bottles provide active surfaces for cells. A liquid growth medium is introduced into the roller bottle to promote cell growth. The rotating movement of the bottle keeps the internal surfaces wetted with the liquid medium, thereby encouraging the growth of cells. Once grown, the cells may be harvested and used in different applications. 
         [0004]    Cell growth within the roller bottle depends on different factors, including maintainable cell density. Typically, cell cultures are grown by initially seeding the roller bottle with the desired cell and providing growth media. Large cell cultures are achieved through iterative growing stages. These growing stages may be accomplished with increasingly larger cell cultures being introduced into increasingly larger containers so that relatively high cell densities may be maintained throughout the growth process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a roller bottle for cell growth culturing, the roller bottle including a bottom wall; a top wall having an opening formed therethrough; and, a side wall extending between the top and bottom walls, a plurality of corrugations being defined in the side wall. Further, a distance is defined between the top and bottom walls, and the corrugations are selectively deformable to alter the distance. Advantageously, with the present invention, a single roller bottle may be provided with its length being adjustable in response to cell culture size and density. 
         [0006]    These and other features of the invention will be better understood through a study of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a roller bottle formed in accordance with the subject invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) depict schematically the contraction and expansion of a roller bottle formed in accordance with the subject invention; and, 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ) depict schematically a roller bottle formed in accordance with the subject invention in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    As shown in the FIGS., a roller bottle  10  is provided having a top wall  12 , a side wall  14 , and a bottom wall  16 . Preferably, the roller bottle  10  is unitarily formed. The top wall  12 , the side wall  14 , and the bottom wall  16  collectively define an interior volume  18  in which cell cultures can be grown. 
         [0012]    A plurality of corrugations  20  are defined in the side wall  14  which are selectively deformable to alter the distance between the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  16 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , each corrugation  20  is defined by two corrugation walls  22  joined by an outer joint  24 . Adjacent corrugations  20  are joined by an inner joint  26 . A partial corrugation  28  may be located at one or both ends of the corrugations  20  which is defined by one, or a portion thereof, of the corrugation walls  22 . 
         [0013]    The corrugations  20  collectively have an accordion-type structure which is selectively deformable. The corrugations  20  may be selectively extended to increase the distance between the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  16 . In addition, the corrugations  20  may be selectively contracted to decrease the distance between the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  16 .  FIG. 2  shows in dashed line a contracted state of the corrugations  20  as compared to the expanded state of the corrugations  20  shown in solid line. 
         [0014]    The corrugation walls  22  may be formed with various configurations, including being generally flat and/or arcuate. In addition, the inner and outer joints  24  and  26  may be formed with various configurations, including being rounded, flat, corner-shaped, and so forth. The corrugation walls  22  subtend an interior angle α which is defined on the interior of the side wall  14  within the interior volume  18 . Across the range of deformation of the corrugations  20 , the interior angle α may be in the range of approximately 0 degrees, when compressed, to approximately 180 degrees, when fully expanded. With the corrugations  20  being extended, the interior angle α will increase; whereas, with the corrugations  20  being contracted, the interior angle α will decrease. 
         [0015]    It is preferred that the corrugations  20  maintain their shape when not being deformed. To facilitate deformation of the corrugations and maintenance of their shape once deformed, the side wall  14  may be defined with different configurations depending on the material being used to form it. For example, the side wall  14  may have varying thicknesses, such as being thinner at the inner and outer joints  24  and  26  as opposed to the corrugation walls  22 , to facilitate deformation. Alternatively, the side wall  14  may have a continuous thickness throughout. It is preferred that the thickness of the side wall  14  be greater than 0.5 mm, more preferably greater than 1 mm, to maintain clarity and rigidity of the corrugation walls  22  and resilience at the inner and outer joints  24  and  26 . 
         [0016]    It is preferred that the corrugations  20  extend circumferentially around the roller bottle  10  continuously and without interruptions. The roller bottle  10  may experience pressure build-up in the interior volume  18  during use (e.g. gas pressure build-up) which may stress the roller bottle  10  resulting in a possible bulge or deformation in the roller bottle  10 . The continuous and uninterrupted configuration of the corrugations  20  will provide hoop strength to resist such bulging or deformation. In addition, it is preferred that the outer joints  24  be generally straight and be generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis  30  of the roller bottle  10 . It is further preferred that the inner joints  26  be parallel to the outer joints  24 . With the preferred configuration of the outer joints  24 , the inner joints  26  also will be generally straight and be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  30  of the roller bottle  10 . 
         [0017]      FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) depict how the roller bottle  10  may be contracted or expanded. To achieve either deformation, the roller bottle  10  may be grabbed at the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  16  by the user. To achieve contraction, the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  16  are pressed together along the longitudinal axis  30  of the roller bottle  10  ( FIG. 3(   a )). Conversely, to extend the length of the roller bottle  10 , the top wall  12  and the bottom wall  16  are pulled apart along the longitudinal axis  30  of the roller bottle  10  ( FIG. 3(   b )). To facilitate handling of the roller bottle  10  during deformation, one or more indentations  32  ( FIG. 1)  may be provided in the side wall  14  in proximity to the top wall  12  and/or the bottom wall  16 . The indentations  32  may be sized to accommodate one or more of the user&#39;s fingers, particularly the thumbs. 
         [0018]    The roller bottle  10  must be able to be rolled on its side during cell culture formation. With expansion and contraction of the corrugations  20 , the location of the outer joints  24  may vary radially relative to the center of the roller bottle  10 . It is thus preferred that flat portions  34  be provided which are defined between the corrugations  20  and the top and bottom walls  12  and  16 , respectively. The flat portions  34  may collectively define a stable resting surface  36  for the roller bottle  10  on its side, regardless of the deformed state of the corrugations  20 . To ensure maximum stability of the flat portions  34 , it is preferred that the outer joints  24  be defined to be coplanar with, or radially inwardly of, the resting surface  36  in the most contracted state of the corrugations  20 . With extension of the corrugations  20 , the outer joints  24  will be contracted radially inwardly, without disrupting the the resting surface  36 . Alternatively, the outer joints  24  may collectively define the resting surface  36 , regardless of the state of deformation of the corrugations  20 . Thus, the corrugations  20  may be formed to extend beyond the flat portions  34 . It is preferred that the outer joints  24  be generally coplanar to define the resting surface  36 . 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ), an exemplary use of the roller bottle  10  is shown. The roller bottle  10 , as shown in  FIG. 4(   a ), is initially provided in a contracted state. As such, the corrugations  20  provide relatively narrow reservoirs  38  for cells  40  and growth media  42 , with the interior angle α being relatively low. Once prepared, the roller bottle  10  is rolled on its side supported by the resting surface  36  to facilitate cell growth. When sufficient cell growth has been achieved, the roller bottle  10  may be expanded, with the corrugations  20  becoming wider, the reservoirs  38  becoming shallower, and the interior angle α becoming greater. In this manner, with a relatively small number of the cells  40  being utilized in the initial state of the roller bottle  10  shown in  FIG. 4(   a ), the cells  40  may be located relatively close to the corrugation walls  22 , with relatively high cell density being achievable. With sufficient cell growth, cell density can be maintained with more of the cells  40  and/or the media  42  being added in the expanded state of the roller bottle  10  shown in  FIG. 4(   b ). 
         [0020]    To facilitate removal of cells, the top wall  12  is provided with an opening  44  ( FIG. 1 ). The opening  44  may be relatively large to allow for easy removal of the cells  40  and scraping of the interior volume  18 . The opening  44  may have formed thereabout threads or other connecting configurations to permit attachment of a cap to prevent unwanted leakage from the roller bottle  10  during use. 
         [0021]    The roller bottle  10  may be formed of various materials, particularly those conducive to cell growth. A variety of thermoplastic materials may be utilized including, but not limited to, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations thereof. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, other polyolefins may also be utilized. The roller bottle  10  may also be modified to have different surface properties, such as with plasma treatment or coating with chemical or biological agents. 
         [0022]    The roller bottle  10  may be formed by blow molding. It is preferred that the roller bottle  10  be formed in an expanded state. The roller bottle  10  may be formed in different sizes and shapes to provide the interior volume  18  in different capacities (e.g., 2.25 liters). 
         [0023]    An additional advantage of the roller bottle  10  is that the roller bottle  10  may be stored and transported in its contracted state. Accordingly, higher density packing of the roller bottles  10  during transportation and storage may be achieved as compared to similar capacity roller bottles of the prior art. Furthermore, roller racks used to roll the roller bottles  10  may accommodate greater numbers of the roller bottles  10  in their respective partially or fully contracted states, as compared to prior art roller bottles.