Systems and methods for automated cell culturing
Systems and methods for automated cell culturing are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more cell culture vessels are fluidly connected with one or more multiport valves and one or more fluid pumps. The fluid pumps may pump various fluids into and out of the cell culture vessels as necessary to support cell growth, routed by the one or more multiport valves. In some embodiments, one or more components may be removable from other components so that some components may be prepared and sterilized independently prior to usage.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a tray assembly including
a tray having a first transparent portion and a second transparent portion;
a first container including a transparent portion, the first container coupled to the tray such that the transparent portion of the first container is aligned with the first transparent portion of the tray;
a second container including a transparent portion, the second container coupled to the tray such that the transparent portion of the second container is aligned with the second transparent portion of the tray; and
a valve coupled to the tray, to the first container and to the second container, the valve having a plurality of selectable ports;
the tray assembly configured to be removably coupled to a housing of an instrument with the first container, the second container and the valve coupled to the tray and
a cell counting chip coupled to the tray prior to the tray assembly being coupled to the housing of the instrument, the cell counting chip being a separate container from the first container and the second container, the cell counting chip configured to receive a portion of a fluid mixture from the first container, the portion of a fluid mixture being used to determine a cell count of a sample material within the first container.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transparent portion of the tray and the second transparent portion of the tray each include one of an opening defined by the tray or a transparent material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the tray includes a third transparent portion, the cell counting chip includes a transparent window aligned with the third transparent portion of the tray.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to engage a valve actuator of the instrument when the tray assembly is coupled to the housing of the instrument.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the valve is removably coupled to the tray and configured to be removably coupled to the valve actuator of the instrument when removed from the tray.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to be coupled to a fluid pump.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the fluid pump is coupled to the tray prior to the tray assembly being coupled to the housing of the instrument.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first container is a first cell culture container configured to receive a cell sample therein, the second container is one of a second cell culture container, a waste container, a reagent container, and a cell harvest container.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the tray assembly further includes at least one of a waste container or a reagent container coupled to the valve.
10. An apparatus, comprising:
a tray assembly including
a tray having a first transparent portion and a second transparent portion;
a first container including a transparent portion, the first container coupled to the tray such that the transparent portion of the first container is aligned with the first transparent portion of the tray;
a second container including a transparent portion, the second container coupled to the tray such that the transparent portion of the second container is aligned with the second transparent portion of the tray; and
a valve removably coupled to the tray and fluidically coupled to the first container and to the second container, the valve having a plurality of selectable ports;
the tray assembly configured to be removably coupled to a housing of an instrument with the first container, the second container and the valve coupled to the tray,
the valve configured to be removably coupled to a valve actuator of the instrument when removed from the tray while remaining fluidically coupled to the first container and the second container.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the tray assembly further includes a cell counting chip coupled to the tray prior to the tray assembly being coupled to the housing of the instrument, the cell counting chip configured to receive a portion of a fluid mixture from the first container.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the tray includes a third transparent portion, the cell counting chip includes a transparent window aligned with the third transparent portion of the tray.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the valve is configured to be coupled to a fluid pump.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the fluid pump is coupled to the tray prior to the tray assembly being coupled to the housing of the instrument.