US3873423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for culturing cells
Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften eV
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Filing: 1972-06-07
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1992-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Cells are grown in a layer attached to the roughened inner wall of a container of fluorinated ethylenepropylene copolymer filled with a culture medium buffered with bicarbonate ions. The pH of the medium is monitored and maintained by varying the rate at which carbon dioxide is fed to the gas phase in an incubator enclosing the container which is permeable to gas, but impermeable to liquid. The partial pressure of oxygen in the gas phase is monitored, and controlled by varying the rate at which oxygen is fed to the incubator. Nitrogen is fed to the incubator at a rate varying inversely to the change in carbon dioxide feeding rate to maintain the partial pressure of oxygen under otherwise stable conditions. The medium may be pumped through the container intermittently or continuously and may be replaced by fresh medium when pH changes cannot be compensated by varying the carbon dioxide feeding rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Gerhard Munder
- 👤 Manuel Modolell
- 👤 Donald Francis Hoelzl Wallach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:14
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/34; C12M23/00; C12M23/24; C12M41/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A METHOD OF CULTURING CELLS WHICH COMPRISES: A. CHARGING A CONTAINER OF A MATERIAL PERMEABLE TO GASES, BUT IMPERMEABLE TO LIQUID, WITH AN INOCULUM OF SAID CELLS AND WITH A LIQUID CULTURE MEDIUM CONTAINING BICARBONATE IONS AND CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING GROWTH OF SAID CELLS; B. PLACING SAID CONTAINER IN AN INCUBATOR ENCLOSURE; C. SENSING THE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF OXYGEN IN SAID ENCLOSURE OUTSIDE SAID CONTAINER AND THE PH VALUE OF SAID MEDIUM; D. FEEDING CARBON DIOXIDE TO SAID ENCLOSURE IN RESPONSE TO THE SENSED PH VALUE AT A RATE TO MAINTAIN SAID PH VALUE SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT; AND E. FEEDING OXYGEN TO SAID ENCLOSURE AT A RATE TO HOLD SAID PARTIAL PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT,
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A METHOD OF CULTURING CELLS WHICH COMPRISES: A. CHARGING A CONTAINER OF A MATERIAL PERMEABLE TO GASES, BUT IMPERMEABLE TO LIQUID, WITH AN INOCULUM OF SAID CELLS AND WITH A LIQUID CULTURE MEDIUM CONTAINING BICARBONATE IONS AND CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING GROWTH OF SAID CELLS; B. PLACING SAID CONTAINER IN AN INCUBATOR ENCLOSURE; C. SENSING THE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF OXYGEN IN SAID ENCLOSURE OUTSIDE SAID CONTAINER AND THE PH VALUE OF SAID MEDIUM; D. FEEDING CARBON DIOXIDE TO SAID ENCLOSURE IN RESPONSE TO THE SENSED PH VALUE AT A RATE TO MAINTAIN SAID PH VALUE SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT; AND E. FEEDING OXYGEN TO SAID ENCLOSURE AT A RATE TO HOLD SAID PARTIAL PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
SAID MATERIAL BEING CHEMICALLY INERT TO THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
SAID MATERIAL BEING CHEMICALLY INERT TO THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
SAID PH VALUE AND SAID PARTIAL PRESSURE BEING HELD SUFFICIENT FOR PRERMITTING SAID GROWTH.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
SAID PH VALUE AND SAID PARTIAL PRESSURE BEING HELD SUFFICIENT FOR PRERMITTING SAID GROWTH.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
said pH value and said partial pressure being held sufficient for permitting said growth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
said pH value and said partial pressure being held sufficient for permitting said growth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said medium is at least partly replaced by fresh medium when said pH value cannot be maintained substantially constant by varying said rate of feeding carbon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
said pH value of the medium in each container and the partial pressure of oxygen in the enclosure containing said container being held sufficient for permitting said growth of the cells in said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
said pH value of the medium in each container and the partial pressure of oxygen in the enclosure containing said container being held sufficient for permitting said growth of the cells in said container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in said medium is sensed, and said medium is at least partly replaced by said fresh medium in response to a sensed value of said partial pressure of carbon dioxide outside predetermined limits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises feeding nitrogen to said enclosure in response to the sensed pH value at a rate inversely varying with the rate of feeding of said carbon dioxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cells are of animal origin, said container has an inner wall sufficiently hydrophilic to permit the cells of said inoculum to attach themselves to said wall, and said medium is circulated through said container after said cells are attached to said wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said material is a fluoroplastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said material is a fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, or a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of culturing cells which comprises: a. charging a plurality of containers of a material permeable to gases, but impermeable to liquid, with an inoculum of the cells to be cultured and with a liquid culture medium containing bicarbonate ions and capable of sustaining growth of said cells; b. placing said containers in respective incubator enclosures; c. sequentially and cyclically moving said enclosures respectively enclosing said charged containers through a control station; d. sensing the partial pressure of oxygen in each enclosure; e. sensing the pH value of the medium in the container in said enclosure while said enclosure is in said control station; f. feeding carbon dioxide to said enclosure in said control station in response to the sensed pH value in an amount to maintain said pH value substantially constant; and g. feeding oxygen to said enclosure at said control station in an amount to hold said partial pressure substantially constant,
Claim 18
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of culturing cells which comprises: a. charging a plurality of containers of a material permeable to gases, but impermeable to liquid, with an inoculum of the cells to be cultured and with a liquid culture medium containing bicarbonate ions and capable of sustaining growth of said cells; b. placing said containers in respective incubator enclosures; c. sequentially and cyclically moving said enclosures respectively enclosing said charged containers through a control station; d. sensing the partial pressure of oxygen in each enclosure; e. sensing the pH value of the medium in the container in said enclosure while said enclosure is in said control station; f. feeding carbon dioxide to said enclosure in said control station in response to the sensed pH value in an amount to maintain said pH value substantially constant; and g. feeding oxygen to said enclosure at said control station in an amount to hold said partial pressure substantially constant,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises feeding nitrogen to said enclosure at said control station in response to the sensed pH value in an amount inversely varying with the amount fed of said carbon dioxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said material is a fluoroplastic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said material is a fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, or a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |