Patent ID: 7534601

Claim:
A bioreactor comprising: i. a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a chamber therebetween the first surface and the opposite second surface of the first substrate for receiving biological cells and a liquid medium; ii. an inlet port formed in the first substrate and apart from the chamber; iii. a first connection channel formed in the first substrate, wherein the first connection channel is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the chamber for allowing a stream of substance to be delivered to the chamber; iv. an outlet port formed in the first substrate and apart from the chamber; v. a second connection channel formed in the first substrate, wherein the second connection channel is in fluid communication with the outlet port and the chamber for allowing a stream of substance to be removed from the chamber; and vi. confining means positioned in the chamber to form a confinement region to confine the biological cells therein with the liquid medium, wherein the chamber, the inlet portion, the first connection channel, the outlet port, and the second connection channel are all formed in the first substrate; wherein the confining means comprises a first filter and a second filter, wherein the first filter is positioned proximate to the first connection channel and the second filter is positioned proximate to the second connection channel, and the first filter and the second filter are substantially parallel to each other; and wherein each of the first filter and the second filter comprises an array of posts spaced apart from each other not to allow biological cells to pass through it.