Patent ID: 7198940

Claim:
A bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system providing means for cell sampling, dilution, and fixation, comprising: a sealed housing enclosing a cell growth reactor vessel; said cell growth reactor vessel rotatable about its axis including a cylindrical side wall connecting a first reactor cover plate and a second reactor cover plate, a first fluid rotary union in said first reactor cover plate providing an inlet for fluid communication with a fluid medium source, a second fluid rotary union in said second reactor cover plate including at least one exit outlet for medium and cells and at least one exit outlet in fluid communication with a filter for retaining cells and passage of medium; means for rotating said reactor vessel about its axis; means for collecting fluid and cell samples comprising a rotary sample collector including a first stationary collector plate and a second rotatable collector plate in sealed connection at their centers and in fluid communication with said exit outlet for medium and cells; said rotary sample collector comprising multiple sample collectors in said first stationary collector plate which are alignable with an inlet in said second rotatable collector plate with capability for collecting cells on filters, fixing the cells and collecting the cells; means for delivering medium and circulating medium to and from said reactor vessel; means for controlling the humidity within said sealed housing; means for rotating said second rotatable collector plate; a computer with graphical user interface for automatically and/or robotically controlling rotation of the reactor vessel, rotation of said second plate, controlling the feeding of fresh medium, controlling perfusing the reactor vessel, controlling taking timed collection samples of fluid from said reactor vessel, and selecting between collecting cells or cell-free supematant; and an electrical power source in electrical communication with said means for rotating said reactor vessel, said means for rotating said second collector plate, and said means for delivering and circulating medium.