Cell culture chamber device for cell and tissue growth
A cell culture chamber device for growing cell cultures and tissues. The device includes: an enclosure containing a cell culture media, the enclosure being defined partly by a first end, a second end, and a connecting wall. The first end or a part or window thereof is substantially transparent, and the second end and/or the connecting wall, or a respective part or window thereof, is/are substantially transparent/translucent. The first end is configured to be optically aligned, at least for some period of time or periodically, with the second end and/or with the connecting wall so that light or another illumination or visualisation signal, transmitted through or by the second end and/or through or by the connecting wall into the enclosure is transmitted through the cell culture media and out through the first end to outside the enclosure, and e.g. to outside the cell culture chamber device.
1 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising
an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media, and
a first end, a second end, and at least one connecting wall connecting the first and the second ends, where the first end, the second end, and the at least one connecting wall at least in part defines the enclosure,
wherein the cell culture chamber device is configured to rotate about a predetermined rotational axis,
wherein the first end, or a part or window thereof, is substantially transparent and the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall, or a respective part or window thereof, is/are substantially transparent or is/are substantially translucent,
where the first end or the part or window thereof is configured to be optically or otherwise aligned, at least for some period of time or periodically, with the second end or the part or window thereof and/or with the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof so that light or another illumination or visualisation signal, transmitted through or by the second end or the part or window thereof and/or through or by the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof into the enclosure, is transmitted or propagates through at least a part of the cell culture media and out through the first end or the part or window thereof to outside the cell culture chamber device while the cell culture chamber device is rotated about the predetermined rotational axis.
2 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture chamber device is configured for a use in or as part of a bioreactor, and/or wherein the first end or the part or window thereof and the second end or the part or window thereof are opposite each other in a predetermined direction, or along a central axis of the enclosure and/or the cell culture chamber device, where the central axis extends between the first end or the part or window thereof and the second end or the part or window thereof.
3 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture chamber device further comprises a circumferential gas exchanger
arranged circumferentially about or along at least a part of the enclosure or about a predetermined rotational axis, and
comprising a cavity comprising a volume connecting a gas exchange interface of the enclosure with ambient air or gas of the cell culture chamber device.
4 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 3 , wherein the gas exchange interface is or comprises a circumferential gas permeable membrane configured to exchange gases with an inside and/or content of the enclosure where the circumferential gas permeable membrane is arranged circumferentially along a circumferential part of the enclosure and constitutes at least a part of at least one of the at least one connecting wall of the enclosure.
5 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 3 , wherein the circumferential gas exchanger is connected with the ambient air or gas of the cell culture chamber device via at least one gas or air inlet and/or outlet, and wherein at least one of the at least one gas or air inlet and/or outlet is a double vent or port configured to draw in ambient air or gas into the cavity of the circumferential gas exchanger and expel air or gas out of the cavity of the circumferential gas exchanger in response to the cell culture chamber device being rotated thereby creating an air flow.
6 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 3 , wherein the cell culture chamber device further comprises a circumferential humidifier
arranged circumferentially about at least a part of the enclosure or about a predetermined rotational axis, and
comprises or is connected to one or more liquid or moisturising reservoirs or elements configured to humidify or moisturise air or gas in at least a part of the cavity of the circumferential gas exchanger or of the air flow.
7 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 6 , wherein a material or a group of materials of one or more predetermined parts of the enclosure and/or of the cell culture chamber device is or are opaque to UVC light, where the one or more predetermined parts are configured so no or substantially no UVC light can reach inside the enclosure, and/or wherein a material or a group of materials of the one or more liquid or moisturising reservoirs or elements and/or one or more predetermined parts of the cell culture chamber device is configured to allow transmission of UVC light to decontaminate a content of the one or more liquid or moisturising reservoirs or elements.
8 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture chamber device comprises a first or central housing and a cover where the first or central housing comprises the second end and the cover comprises the first end, and wherein the first or central housing is configured to receive the cover, where a cavity between the first or central housing and the cover is defined when the cover is received by the first or central housing, and where the resulting cavity defines at least a part of the enclosure.
9 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 8 , wherein the cavity between the first or central housing and the cover comprises the circumferential gas permeable membrane constituting at least a part of the at least one the connecting wall of the enclosure thereby connecting the first end of the cover with the second end of the first or central housing, and/or a main housing configured to receive the first or central housing and the cover, or where the main housing comprises an opening aligning with the second end of the first or central housing when the first or central housing is received by or in the main housing, where the size of the opening is substantially of the same size as the second end.
10 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 9 , wherein the main housing and the first or central housing, when received by the main housing defines the cavity of the circumferential gas exchanger, and wherein the first or central housing comprises the double vent or port arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the predetermined rotational axis.
11 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the second end or the part or window thereof is substantially transparent and wherein the cell culture chamber device further comprises or is connected to a light diffusor configured to receive light and to provide substantially uniform light to the second end or the part or window thereof thereby providing substantially uniform illumination of the cell culture media when contained in the enclosure, and/or wherein a respective cross section, substantially perpendicular to a central axis extending between the first and the second end, of the first end and/or the second end is/are substantially circular.
12 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall comprises one or more integrated light sources, and/or wherein the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall is/are or comprises a fluorescent light emitting element.
13 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture chamber device comprises a closable and/or sealable first port connected to an inside of the enclosure and a closable and/or sealable second port connected to the inside of the enclosure, where the first port and the second port are arranged on or to separate sides of the cell culture chamber device.
14 . A cell culture chamber system for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber system comprising a cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 .
15 . The cell culture chamber system according to claim 14 , wherein the cell culture chamber system comprises or is connected to an imaging, vision, or other registration or detection system or device and wherein at least one light source or another illumination or visualisation signal source is configured to emit light or the other illumination or visualisation signal received through the second end or the part or window thereof into the enclosure, and wherein the imaging, vision, or other registration or detection system or device is configured to capture at least a part of the light or the other illumination or visualisation signal transmitted through the first end or the part or window thereof to outside the enclosure.
16 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the first end or the part or window thereof and the second end or the part or window thereof are opposite each other in a predetermined direction along a lengthwise central axis of the enclosure and/or the cell culture chamber device where the central axis extends between the first end or the part or window thereof and the second end or the part or window thereof and the lengthwise central axis is the predetermined rotational axis.
17 . The cell culture chamber device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture chamber device and the enclosure is configured for clinostat rotation or for rotation negating or supplementing, at least to a certain extent, the effects of gravitational pull on content in the enclosure.
18 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising
an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media,
a circumferential gas exchanger arranged circumferentially about or along at least a part of the enclosure or about a central and/or lengthwise axis of the cell culture chamber device, or about a predetermined rotational axis of the cell culture chamber device, wherein the circumferential gas exchanger comprises a cavity comprising a volume connecting a gas exchange interface of the enclosure with ambient air or gas of the cell culture chamber device.
19 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media, wherein a material or a group of materials of one or more predetermined parts of the enclosure and/or of the cell culture chamber device is or are opaque to UVC light and where the one or more predetermined parts are configured so no or substantially no UVC light can reach inside the enclosure and where another part thereof is substantially transparent to light, the cell culture chamber device having a lengthwise axis about which the cell culture chamber device is configured to rotate while light or another illumination or visualization signal transmitted through the part is transmitted or propagates through the cell culture chamber device to an outside thereof.
20 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising
an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media, and
a first end, a second end, and at least one connecting wall connecting the first and the second ends, where the first end, the second end, and the at least one connecting wall at least in part defines the enclosure, wherein the first end, or a part or window thereof, is substantially transparent and the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall, or a respective part or window thereof, is/are substantially transparent or is/are substantially translucent, where the first end or the part or window thereof is configured to be optically or otherwise aligned, at least for some period of time or periodically, with the second end or the part or window thereof and/or with the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof so that light or another illumination or visualisation signal, transmitted through or by the second end or the part or window thereof and/or through or by the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof into the enclosure, is transmitted or propagates through at least a part of the cell culture media and out through the first end or the part or window thereof to outside the cell culture chamber device, and
wherein the cell culture chamber device is configured to rotate about a predetermined rotational axis, and wherein the cell culture chamber device further comprises a circumferential gas exchanger
arranged circumferentially about or along at least a part of the enclosure or about a central and/or lengthwise axis of the cell culture chamber device, or about a predetermined rotational axis, and
comprising a cavity comprising a volume connecting a gas exchange interface of the enclosure with ambient air or gas of the cell culture chamber device.
21 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising
an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media, and
a first end, a second end, and at least one connecting wall connecting the first and the second ends, where the first end, the second end, and the at least one connecting wall at least in part defines the enclosure,
wherein the first end, or a part or window thereof, is substantially transparent and the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall, or a respective part or window thereof, is/are substantially transparent or is/are substantially translucent,
where the first end or the part or window thereof is configured to be optically or otherwise aligned, at least for some period of time or periodically, with the second end or the part or window thereof and/or with the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof so that light or another illumination or visualisation signal, transmitted through or by the second end or the part or window thereof and/or through or by the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof into the enclosure, is transmitted or propagates through at least a part of the cell culture media and out through the first end or the part or window thereof to outside the cell culture chamber device, and
wherein the cell culture chamber device is configured to rotate about a predetermined rotational axis, wherein the second end or the part or window thereof is substantially transparent and wherein the cell culture chamber device further comprises or is connected to a light diffusor configured to receive light and to provide substantially uniform light to the second end or the part or window thereof thereby providing substantially uniform illumination of the cell culture media when contained in the enclosure, and/or wherein a respective cross section, substantially perpendicular to a central axis extending between the first and the second end, of the first end and/or the second end is/are substantially circular.
22 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising
an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media, and
a first end, a second end, and at least one connecting wall connecting the first and the second ends, where the first end, the second end, and the at least one connecting wall at least in part defines the enclosure,
wherein the first end, or a part or window thereof, is substantially transparent and the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall, or a respective part or window thereof, is/are substantially transparent or is/are substantially translucent,
where the first end or the part or window thereof is configured to be optically or otherwise aligned, at least for some period of time or periodically, with the second end or the part or window thereof and/or with the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof so that light or another illumination or visualisation signal, transmitted through or by the second end or the part or window thereof and/or through or by the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof into the enclosure, is transmitted or propagates through at least a part of the cell culture media and out through the first end or the part or window thereof to outside the cell culture chamber device, and
wherein the cell culture chamber device is configured to rotate about a predetermined rotational axis,
wherein the first end or the part or window thereof and the second end or the part or window thereof are opposite each other in a predetermined direction along a lengthwise central axis of the enclosure and/or the cell culture chamber device where the central axis extends between the first end or the part or window thereof and the second end or the part or window thereof and the lengthwise central axis is the predetermined rotational axis.
23 . A cell culture chamber device for the growing of cell cultures and tissues, the cell culture chamber device comprising
an enclosure configured to contain a cell culture media, and
a first end, a second end, and at least one connecting wall connecting the first and the second ends, where the first end, the second end, and the at least one connecting wall at least in part defines the enclosure,
wherein the first end, or a part or window thereof, is substantially transparent and the second end and/or at least one of the at least one connecting wall, or a respective part or window thereof, is/are substantially transparent or is/are substantially translucent,
where the first end or the part or window thereof is configured to be optically or otherwise aligned, at least for some period of time or periodically, with the second end or the part or window thereof and/or with the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof so that light or another illumination or visualisation signal, transmitted through or by the second end or the part or window thereof and/or through or by the at least one of the at least one connecting wall or the part or window thereof into the enclosure, is transmitted or propagates through at least a part of the cell culture media and out through the first end or the part or window thereof to outside the cell culture chamber device, and
wherein the cell culture chamber device is configured to rotate about a predetermined rotational axis,
wherein the cell culture chamber device and the enclosure are configured for clinostat rotation or for rotation negating or supplementing, at least to a certain extent, the effects of gravitational pull on content in the enclosure.