Patent ID: 7883887

Claim:
An automatic cell cultivation apparatus comprising: an operation unit, the operation unit comprising a central space and including a plurality of devices for the cultivation of cells; a plurality of units, the units comprising a plurality of incubator units and a storage unit; a steam supply unit in flow communication with the operation unit and arranged to supply steam to the central space of the operation unit for sterilization; a first one of the plurality of incubator units arranged to incubate cells of a first subject; a second one of the plurality of incubator units arranged to incubate cells of a second subject different than the first subject; each of the plurality of incubator units and the storage unit including an insulated sealing door, each sealing door selectively shiftable between an open position in which each selected unit is in spatial communication with the operation unit and a closed position in which leakage between each selected unit and the operation unit is prevented; a controller operatively coupled to the steam supply unit and the insulated sealing doors and arranged to bring the steam supply unit into flow communication with the operation unit and further arranged to shift the selected sealing doors between the open and closed positions; wherein by maintaining all of the sealing doors in the closed position the steam supply unit can be brought directly into flow communication with only the central space of the operation unit, and further wherein by selectively shifting one or more of the sealing doors to the open position the steam supply unit can be brought into flow communication with only the units associated with the selected doors, thereby permitting access to and sterilization of each incubator unit while preventing cross contamination between the first incubator unit and the second incubator unit; and further comprising an air intake and an air exhaust defining an internal circulation loop through the operation unit; wherein the operation unit includes a device installation unit and a cultivation operation unit, the device installation unit including a robot, the operation unit further including an insulated sealing shutter shiftable between an open position in which the cultivation operation unit is in spatial communication with the device installation unit and a closed position in which leakage between the device installation unit and the cultivation operation unit is prevented; wherein the air circulation loop includes an insulated sealing door arranged to block or permit air flow into the operation unit, the air circulation loop further including a shutter associated with the cultivation operation unit and arranged to provide flow communication between the cultivation operation unit and the air exhaust; and wherein the cultivation operation unit is in flow communication with the steam supply unit, and wherein when the sealing shutter is in the closed position steam from the steam supply unit can be introduced to into the cultivation operation unit only.