Device and method for culturing cells

Patent Number: 7,358,082

This patent covers a method of culturing cells, including stem cells by providing flow conditions simular to what may be found in an in vivo system.  The invention aims to meet the following goals: (1) supplying a substance uniformly to the cells to be cultured; (2) establishing a uniform flow for supplying a substance; (3) eliminating a dead space; and (4) preventing release of cell layers by the flow.

The issued claims cover "a device" and " a method of culturing cells".  Overall, the invention is best described by:

device for culturing cells which comprises:

a) at least one water-containing polymer gel film for adhering animal cells onto at least one surface of the film, a structure capable of supplying different liquids to both sides of the film wherein the structure comprises at least one flow channel, formed by the water-containing gel film and;

b) an inner wall of a reactor, for supplying a culture solution to a cell culture section having a uniform width, and a means for holding the water-containing polymer gel film between the flow channels, wherein a pocket structure is provided for establishing a uniform dynamic pressure of the culture solution across the uniform width while culture solution is introduced through an inlet pipe, so as to establish a uniform flow rate by applying a flow shearing force to the animal cells.

View this patent on the USPTO website.