Patent DE-102009018325-A1 (DE)
Title: Device for automatically cultivating cells in parallel in microtiter plates, comprises a housing in which an observation unit is disposed, where the observation unit comprises a microscope and a camera, and a receptacle device
Inventor: SEIDL JOSEF
IPC: C12M1/36
Filed: 2009-04-22
Abstract: The device for automatically cultivating cells in parallel in microtiter (MT) plates (2), comprises a housing in which an observation unit (3) is disposed, where the observation unit comprises a microscope (7) and a camera, a receptacle device (4) for receiving the MT-plates, and a fluid distribution unit for automatically filling and/or emptying the wells (17) of MT-plates, with fluid. The climatic conditions in the device such as gas composition and temperature are regulated in the area of the MT-plates, where a climate chamber is provided in the housing. The device for automatically cultivating cells in parallel in microtiter (MT) plates (2), comprises a housing in which an observation unit (3) is disposed, where the observation unit comprises a microscope (7) and a camera, a receptacle device (4) for receiving the MT-plates, and a fluid distribution unit for automatically filling and/or emptying the wells (17) of MT-plates, with fluid. The climatic conditions in the device such as gas composition and temperature are regulated in the area of the MT-plates, where a climate chamber is provided in the housing, in which a desired temperature and/or a particular gas composition are adjusted automatically, and in which the receptacle device having the MT-plates is partially integrated. The gas container consists of different gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The gas streams from gas bottles are regulatable and the determined gas quantity is conducted in a mixing chamber so that the produced gas mixture is conducted in the climate chamber. The gas mixture is subjected before conducting in the climate chamber at a desired temperature. The MT-plates are automatically transportable in the area of the observation unit and/or in the area of the fluid distribution unit through a sledge or robot arm from climate chamber and/or in the climate chamber. The observation unit and/or the fluid distribution unit are arranged external of the climate chamber. The receptacle device comprises two receptacle units arranged to each other and a holding device for holding the MT-plate. The optic (microscope and camera) of the observation unit is movable, where the movement is controllable. The cell culture container present in the area of the observation unit is movable, where the movement is controllable. The microscope is a light transmitting- and/or phase contrast- and/or fluorescence microscope. The fluid distribution unit comprises containers for storing different fluids such as cell solution, nutrients and dyestuffs, and/or a microdosing unit for controlled supply of the fluid in the wells of MT-plates and also for removing the fluids from the wells of MT-plates, where the movement and action of the microdosing unit are controllable. The MT-plates and the wells of the MT-plates are indexed. The MT-plate is transparent. Sensors are arranged for controlling all relevant parameters such as temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration and humidity and/or supply of fluids in the wells of the MT-plates. A computer controlled control- and regulating system is arranged for automatically controlling and regulating the parameters such as temperature, oxygen portion in gas, carbon dioxide portion in gas and nitrogen portion in gas in climate chamber, filling and/or removing of selected wells of the MT-plates with selected quantities of selected fluids to selected time, microscopic observation and analysis of cell cultures in selected wells of the MT-plates to selected time with selected technology such as fluorescence-, light transmitting- or phase contrast microscope. A covering and de-covering device is arranged for cell culture container. In the fluid distribution device, a controlled selective use of once- and multiple pipettes is possible. An independent claim is included for a method for automatically cultivating cells in parallel in microtiter plates.