Device and method for the incubation of cells

1. Device for the incubation of cells comprising a sterile or sterilisable, portable receptacle ( 1 ) for enclosing in a contamination-proof manner at least one insertable culture vessel ( 2 ) for accommodating cells with at least one closable opening ( 7 ) for introducing and/or removing a culture vessel ( 2 ) and optionally cells and/or culture medium into and/or from the receptacle ( 1 ) and at least one device for creating culture conditions ( 11 ) in the receptacle, which comprises at least one sterile filter ( 9 ) in at least one wall ( 7 . 1 ) of the receptacle ( 1 . 4 ).

2. Device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of culture vessels ( 2 . 1 , 2 . 2 ).

3. Device according to claim 2 comprising devices for the releasable connection of at least one culture vessel ( 2 ) to the receptacle ( 1 ).

4. Device according to claim 1 comprising a culture vessel ( 2 . 1 ) integrated in the receptacle ( 1 . 1 ).

5. Device according to claim 4 , comprising at least one culture vessel ( 2 . 1 ) connected fixedly and inseparably to the receptacle ( 1 . 1 ).

6. Device according to claim 1 , comprising a receptacle ( 1 ) suitable for enclosing and/or inserting and/or removing at least one multiwell culture plate.

7. Device according to claim 1 , comprising a receptacle ( 1 ) suitable for enclosing and/or inserting and/or removing at least one culture flask.

8. Device according to claim 1 comprising a receptacle ( 1 ) suitable for enclosing and/or inserting and/or removing at least one culture dish.

9. Device according to claim 1 , in which the device for creating culture conditions comprises an incubator ( 11 ) with integral tempering device and gassing device for accommodating at least one receptacle ( 1 . 4 ).

10. Device according to claim 1 , in which the device for creating culture conditions comprises at least one connection ( 14 ) of the receptacle ( 1 . 5 ) with a through-passage traversing a wall of the receptacle for attaching the receptacle ( 1 . 5 ) to at least one gassing device.

11. Device according to claim 10 , in which the device for creating culture conditions comprises a gassing device and at least one tube via which the gassing device is connected or may be connected to at least one connection ( 13 ).

12. Device according to claim 10 , in which the connection ( 13 ) comprises a valve ( 14 ) for opening and closing the through-passage.

13. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 . 1 ) comprises a planar base ( 3 . 1 ) for positioning on a tempering plate ( 4 ) of a tempering device ( 5 ).

14. Device according to claim 1 , in which the device for creating culture conditions comprises at least one open vessel which is integrated in the receptacle ( 1 ) and/or which may be inserted into the receptacle ( 1 ) for evaporating a liquid introduced into the vessel.

15. Device according to claim 1 , in which the device for creating culture conditions comprises a mixing device on which the receptacle is arranged or may be arranged in order to subject the receptacle ( 1 ) to a mixing motion.

16. Device according to claim 1 , in which at least one opening ( 7 ) of the receptacle ( 1 ) is reclosable.

17. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 . 4 ) comprises at least one optical window ( 10 ) for observing the cells in the culture vessel ( 2 . 2 ).

18. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) comprises devices for stacking at the bottom and top.

19. Device according to claim 18 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) comprises complementary support surfaces and guide surfaces at the bottom and top for stacking a plurality of receptacles ( 1 ) with identically configured bases and tops.

20. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) consists entirely or partially of a rigid material.

21. Device according to claim 20 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) is a substantially rigid container.

22. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) consists entirely or partially of a flexible material.

23. Device according to claim 22 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) is a bag.

24. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) comprises a label and/or carries a marker.

25. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) is produced entirely or partially from at least one plastic.

26. Device according to claim 1 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) and/or the cell culture vessel ( 2 ) is/are a single-use item.

27. Method for the incubation of cells, comprising the steps of:

providing a device for the incubation of cells comprising a sterile or sterilisable, portable receptacle ( 1 ) for enclosing in a contamination-proof manner at least one insertable culture vessel ( 2 ) for accommodating cells with at least one closable opening ( 7 ) for introducing and/or removing a culture vessel ( 2 ) and optionally cells and/or culture medium into and/or from the receptacle ( 1 ) and at least one device for creating culture conditions ( 11 ) in the receptacle, which comprises at least one sterile filter ( 9 ) in at least one wall ( 7 . 1 ) of the receptacle ( 1 . 4 )

in which at least one culture vessel ( 2 ) containing cells is provided enclosed by a sterile, portable receptacle ( 1 ) in a contamination-proof manner and culture conditions are created for the cells in the receptacle ( 1 ), in which a gas comprising culture conditions is filtered in a sterile manner and introduced into the receptacle ( 1 ).

28. Method according to claim 27 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) is sterilised before filling with cells.

29. Method according to claim 27 , in which cells are filled into the culture vessel ( 2 ) contained in the receptacle ( 1 ) and subsequently the receptacle ( 1 ) is closed in a contamination-proof manner.

30. Method according to claim 29 , in which cells are filled into the culture vessel ( 2 ), the culture vessel ( 2 ) is inserted with the introduced cells into the receptacle ( 1 ) and subsequently the receptacle ( 1 ) is closed in a contamination-proof manner.

31. Method according to claim 27 , in which culture conditions are created outside the receptacle ( 1 ) and introduced into the receptacle ( 1 ).

32. Method according to claim 27 , in which as a result of heat transmission between the receptacle ( 1 ) and an external tempering device ( 5 ) a specific temperature is generated in the receptacle ( 1 ).

33. Method according to claim 27 , in which at least one medium is supplied to the cells under culture conditions and/or at least one sample is removed.

34. Method according to claim 27 , in which the cells are observed in the receptacle ( 1 ) under culture conditions.

35. Method according to claim 27 , in which an atmosphere preventing the evaporation of culture medium is established in the receptacle ( 1 ) by evaporating a liquid.

36. Method according to claim 27 , in which the culture vessel ( 2 ) is removed from the receptacle ( 1 ), the cell culture subjected to a control and subsequently the culture vessel ( 2 ) is inserted into the same receptacle or into a new receptacle ( 1 ), the receptacle ( 1 ) is closed in a contamination-proof manner and culture conditions are created for the cells in the receptacle ( 1 ).

37. Method according to claim 27 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) is labelled and/or provided with a marker.

38. Method according to claim 27 , in which the receptacle ( 1 ) is discarded after the incubation is completed.