Patent EP-2233560-A1 (EP)
Inventor: AZADIGUIAN GAYANE
IPC: C12M1/34
Filed: 2010-02-17
Abstract: The cell or tissue culture device comprises a support (30) for partly sealing a tray (12) containing a culture medium (14), and a tub (32) movable with respect to the support. The support comprises a body (36) defining an upper surface traversing through the opening of the tub and a surface for holding the tub intended to be directed towards the height when the support seals the tray. The tub is movable between a position of culture in which the tub is fixed through the opening and a position of manipulation in which the tub is located away from the support. The cell or tissue culture device comprises a support (30) for partly sealing a tray (12) containing a culture medium (14), and a tub (32) movable with respect to the support. The support comprises a body (36) defining an upper surface traversing through the opening of the tub and a surface for holding the tub intended to be directed towards the height when the support seals the tray. The tub is movable between a position of culture in which the tub is fixed through the opening and a position of manipulation in which the tub is located away from the support. The tub comprises a bottom wall carrying on a culture surface and a side wall defining a top opening, and defines a passage for feeding the culture surface by the culture medium different from the upper opening. A releasable unit is arranged for retaining each tub in its culture position, and is specific to maintain each tub in the opening during a joint inversion of the support. Each tub directs the retaining surface downwards. The retention unit forms a bayonet type mechanism. The surface for bearing the tub is applied against the retaining surface, and maintains the bearing surface of the tub applied against the retaining surface. A holding member is fixed to a first tub support and the tub. An additional holding member is fixed to a second tub support and the tub to cooperate with the holding member during the turning of the support and each tub. The retaining member comprises a projection and the additional retaining member defines a groove clasping the projection, which is fixed into the groove by clamping. The holding member comprises an abutment and the additional holding member comprises an additional abutment. The tub is movable in the opening between a position inserted in which the space located above the abutment along an axis (AA') for inserting the tub in the opening is open and a position for culture in which the additional abutment is arranged in the space above the abutment along the axis (A-A') for inserting the tub in the opening. The releasable retaining unit comprises a surface for stopping the rotation of the tub in its locked position of culture. The tub further comprises an arm projecting transversely outwards with respect to the side wall, where the arm carries the holding member and the additional holding member. The tub is axially immovable along the insertion axis (AA') in the culture position. The sidewall defines a notch opening upward, where the notch axially extends on a height greater than the thickness of the body. The bottom wall defines a groove for guiding a liquid extending radially towards the culture surface. The tub comprises a projecting body away and above the support, when the tub occupies its culture position. Each opening comprises a central region for receiving the tub in the culture position and a peripheral indentation extending radially away from the central region to allow insertion of a tool in the tray through the support, when the tub is retained in the central region. An independent claim is included for an assembly for cell culture or tissue culture.