Abstract:
A cell culture apparatus comprises at least one storage space, at least one barrier, a working space, a sterilization space, and a control space. The at least one storage space comprises a container shelf, an upright track, a rotatable holder, and a light tube. The working space comprises a filling station and an inspecting station. The filling station comprises a first delivering device, an open-close device, and a filling mechanism. The inspecting station comprises a first inspecting mechanism and a second delivering device. Also provided is a method of using the cell culture apparatus including steps of filling, inspecting, or collecting cell cultures, therefore, the cell culture apparatus performs multiple cell culture processes automatically.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/981,362, filed on Apr. 18, 2014, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cell culture apparatus, especially to a cell culture apparatus that automatically moves the containers between different work stations of the cell culture apparatus for multiple processes of cell culturing. 
     2. Description of the Prior Arts 
     The cell culture technique is well developed in the contemporary time. The cultured cells are used in different fields such that massive production of the cultured cells is urgently needed. Because cell culture involves multiple processes, multiple technicians are hired to move the containers with the culture media therein between different work stations to perform different processes. However, the labor-intensive aspect costs much money and lacks efficiency. 
     Currently automatic culture apparatuses following manual culture operations using articulated robot manipulators are mainly developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,883,492 provides a space-saving cell culture apparatus providing a short distance between the instruments comprising a cell culture chamber, a refrigerator, a control unit, and an intermediate chamber. However, when the cells are culturing, devices are left idle, and once any part of the chamber is contaminated, all of the apparatus need to be shut down and cultured cells must be abandoned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional cell culture apparatus, the present invention provides a cell culture apparatus comprising at least one storage space, at least one barrier, a working space, a sterilization space, and a control space. The at least one storage space comprises a container shelf, an upright track, a rotatable holder, and a light tube. The container shelf is mounted in the at least one storage space; the upright track is adjacent to the container shelf; the rotatable holder is rotatably and moveably connected to the upright track. Each of the at least one barrier, which is adjacent to the upright track of the at least one storage space, comprises a first gate. The working space has two opposite sides and comprises a filling station and an inspecting station. The filling station comprises a first delivering device, an open-close device, and a filling mechanism; the first delivering device has two opposite sides, and the first delivering device is moveably mounted in the working space with one of the sides of the first delivering device nearby the at least one barrier; the open-close device is mounted in the working space nearby the other side of the first delivering device; and the filling mechanism is adjacent to the open-close device and nearby the first delivering device. The inspecting station comprises a first inspecting mechanism and a second delivering device; the first inspecting mechanism is mounted in the working space, and the first inspecting mechanism is adjacent to the open-close device of the filling station; and the second delivering device is connected to the first inspecting mechanism. 
     Preferably, the at least one storage space further comprises a light tube mounted in the storage space. More preferably, the light tube is a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) light tube or a UV (ultraviolet) light tube. 
     Preferably, the working space further comprises a collecting station mounted beside the filling station. 
     Preferably, the second delivering device is a robotic arm. 
     Preferably, the inspecting station further comprises a second inspecting mechanism located between the first inspecting mechanism and the first delivering device. 
     Preferably, the cell culture apparatus further comprises a sterilization space and a control space, the sterilization space is connected to one of the sides of the working space, the other side of the working space is connected to the at least one barrier, and the control space is adjacent to the storage space and the working space. 
     More preferably, the sterilization space comprises a second gate and a UV sterilizer, the second gate is adjacent to the filling station of the working space, and the UV sterilizer is mounted in the sterilization space. 
     More preferably, the sterilization space is a laminar flow hood. 
     Preferably, the at least one storage space is three storage spaces which are adjacent to one another. 
     In one another aspect, the present invention also provides a method of using the above mentioned cell culture apparatus, comprising the following steps: setting multiple containers into the container shelf; capturing one of the containers by the rotatable holder; opening the first gate of the barrier when the rotatable holder holding the container is rotated and inserted into the first delivering device of the filling station of the working space; processing the container by at least one of the following processes: a filling process, an inspecting process, and a collecting process; after processing the at least one process, placing the container at the first delivering device, and opening a cap of the container by the open-close device; filing the container by the filling mechanism, and then closing the cap of the container by the open-close device; and moving the container by the rotatable holder back to the container shelf. 
     Preferably, the method further comprises replacing the storage space or increasing an amount of the storage space when the storage space is culturing cells. 
     Preferably, the at least one process is the filling process, the container is placed at the first delivering device, and the cap of the container is opened by the open-close device; the container is filled by the filling mechanism, and then the cap of the container is closed by the open-close device. 
     Preferably, the at least one process is the inspecting process, the container is placed at the first delivering device, and the second delivering device of the inspecting station delivers the container to the first inspecting mechanism. 
     More preferably, the method further comprises placing the container at the first delivering device, and delivering the container to the second inspecting mechanism and then to the first inspecting mechanism by the second delivering device of the inspecting station. 
     Preferably, the at least one process is the collecting process, the container is placed at the first delivering device, and the cap of the container is opened by the open-close device; the first delivering device pivots back and forth to pour medium from the container to the collecting station; the container is filled by the filling mechanism, and then the cap of the container is closed by the open-close device. 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide a cell culture apparatus that performs multiple processes automatically. The cell culture apparatus as described has the following advantages: 
     1. The containers are moved between different processes automatically such that the cell culture apparatus as described saves manpower. 
     2. When the containers in the storage space are culturing cells, the storage space can be replaced or increased in amount, such that the working space can keep working rather than stay idle. 
     3. The barrier separates the storage space and the working space such that probability of contamination can be efficiently decreased. 
     4. The sterilization space is connected to the working space such that the disposable tubes or the contaminated devices in the working space can be rapidly delivered to the sterilization space for sterilization. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cell culture apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the cell culture apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a storage space of the cell culture apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a working space of the cell culture apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a filling station and a collecting station of the working space of the cell culture apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an inspecting station of the working space of the cell culture apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another cell culture apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     The Cell Culture Apparatus 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention provides a cell culture apparatus, comprising a storage space  10 , at least one barrier  20 , a working space  30 , a sterilization space  40 , and a control space  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the storage space  10  comprises a container shelf  11 , an upright track  12 , a rotatable holder  13 , and a light tube  14 . The container shelf  11  is mounted in the storage space  10 ; the upright track  12  is adjacent to the container shelf  11 ; the rotatable holder  13  is rotatably and moveably connected to the upright track  12 ; the light tube  14  is mounted in the storage space  10 ; in a preferred embodiment, the light tube  14  is a LED light tube or a UV light tube. When the containers in the storage space  10  are culturing cells, the storage space  10  can be replaced with another storage space  10 , such that the storage space  10  is detachable and the working space  30  can keep working rather than stay idle. 
     The at least one barrier  20  is adjacent to the upright track  12  of the storage space  10 , and the at least one barrier  20  is between the storage space  10  and the working space  30 . The at least one barrier  20  comprises a first gate  21  which can allow the rotatable holder  13  to go into the working space  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the working space  30  has two opposite sides and comprises a filling station  31 , an inspecting station  32 , and a collecting station  33 . The filling station  31  comprises a first delivering device  311 , an open-close device  312 , and a filling mechanism  313 . The first delivering device  311  has two opposite sides, and the first delivering device  311  is moveably mounted in the working space  30  with one of the sides of the first delivering device  311  nearby the barrier  20 ; the open-close device  312  is mounted in the working space  30  and nearby the other side of the first delivering device  311 ; the filling mechanism  313  is adjacent to the open-close device  312  and nearby the first delivering device  311 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 6 , the inspecting station  32  comprises a first inspecting mechanism  321 , a second delivering device  322 , and a second inspecting mechanism  323 . The first inspecting mechanism  321  is mounted in the working space  30 , and is adjacent to the first delivering device  311  of the filling station  31 . In a preferred embodiment, the first inspecting mechanism  321  is a microscope which can observe whether the cells are contaminated or not. In a preferred embodiment, the first inspecting mechanism  321  can detect whether the cell types are normal or abnormal through comparison with the installed normal-cell-type images. The second delivering device  322  mounted in the first inspecting mechanism  321  can deliver a container between the first delivering device  311  and the first inspecting mechanism  321  back and forth. In a preferred embodiment, the second delivering device  322  is a robotic arm. The second inspecting mechanism  323  is located between the first inspecting mechanism  321  and the first delivering device  311 . In a preferred embodiment, the second inspecting mechanism  323  is a cell observing mechanism as a camera function which can observe the cells condition in two to ten times magnification. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the collecting station  33  is mounted beside the filling station  31 . In a preferred embodiment, the collecting station  33  is mounted below the filling station  31 . The working space  30  is sealed by the barrier  20 , as a result, when extra storage space(s) is/are added or when the storage space  10  is replaced by another storage space  10 , the working space  30  can maintain a sterile status. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sterilization space  40  is connected to one of the sides of the working space  30 , and the other side of the working space  30  is connected to the barrier  20 . The sterilization space  40  comprises a second gate  41  and a UV sterilizer  42 . The second gate  41  is adjacent to the working space  30 ; the UV sterilizer  42  is mounted in the sterilization space  40 . In a preferred embodiment, the sterilization space  40  is a laminar flow hood. The devices or mechanisms can be delivered from the working space  30  through the second gate  41  to the sterilization space  40 . 
     The control space  50  is adjacent to the storage space  30  and the working space  10 . The control space  50  includes a computer for analyzing data or transmitting images from the inspecting station  32 , adjusting movement parameters of any device or mechanism and processing of filling, inspecting, and collecting. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the present invention also provides another cell culture apparatus, comprising three storage spaces  10 A, three barriers  20 A, a working space  30 A, a sterilization space  40 A, and a control space  50 A. The three storage spaces  10 A are adjacent to one another, and the three storage spaces  10 A are also connected to the working space  30 A via the barriers  20 A. The barriers  20 A are mounted between the storage spaces  10 A and the working space  30 A. The working space  30 A has two opposite sides. The sterilization space  40 A and the control space  50 A are adjacent to each other, the sterilization space  40 A and the control space  50 A both connect to one of the sides of the working space  30 A, and the other side of the working space  30 A is connected to the barriers  20 A or the storage spaces  10 A. When the containers in the storage space are culturing cells, the storage space can be replaced or increased in amount. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     The Steps of Filling Process 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the filling process is mainly done in the filling station  31 . Before filling, multiple containers are set into the container shelf  11 , and one of the containers is caught by the rotatable holder  13 . The first gate  21  of the barrier  20  is opened when the rotatable holder  13  holding the container is rotated and inserted into the first delivering device  311  of the filling station  31  of the working space  30 . When filling, the container is placed at the first delivering device  311 , and a cap of the container is opened by the open-close device  312 . The container is filled by the filling mechanism  313 , and then the cap of the container is closed by the open-close device  312 . After filling, the container is caught by the rotatable holder  13  back to the container shelf  11 . 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     The Steps of Inspecting Process 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the inspecting process is mainly done in the inspecting station  32 . Before inspecting, multiple containers are set into the container shelf  11 , and one of the containers is caught by the rotatable holder  13 . The first gate  21  of the barrier  20  is opened when the rotatable holder  13  holding the container is rotated and inserted into the first delivering device  311  of the filling station  31  of the working space  30 . During inspection, the container is placed at the first delivering device  311 , and the container is delivered by the second delivering device  322  of the inspecting station  32  to the second inspecting mechanism  323 . The inside of the container is inspected by the second inspecting mechanism  323  to make sure that the cell culturing conditions in the container are available; then the container is delivered by the second delivering device  322  to the first inspecting mechanism  321 . The inside of the container is inspected by the first inspecting mechanism  321  for counting the cell number and exploring whether the cell morphology is normal or abnormal. After the inspection, the container is delivered by the second delivering device  322  back to the first delivering device  311 , and the container is caught by the rotatable holder  13  back to the container shelf  11 . 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     The Steps of Collecting Process 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the collecting process is mainly done in the collecting station  33 . Before the collecting, multiple containers are set into the container shelf  11 , and one of the containers is caught by the rotatable holder  13 . The first gate  21  of the barrier  20  is opened when the rotatable holder  13  holding the container is rotated and inserted into the first delivering device  311  of the filling station  31  of the working space  30 . During the collecting, the container is placed at the first delivering device  311 , and a cap of the container is opened by the open-close device  312 ; the first delivering device  311  pivots back and forth to pour medium from the container to the collecting station  33 ; the container is filled by the filling mechanism  313 , and then the cap of the container is closed by the open-close device  312 . After the collecting, the container is caught by the rotatable holder  13  back to the container shelf  11 . 
     The processes facilitated by the cell culture apparatus as described may be performed individually or in combinations. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.