Apparatus and method for automated replacement of culture medium and performing toxicity assays on live cells

摘要

An apparatus (1) for culturing live cells comprising a cell culture vessel (5), a fresh culture medium storage vessel (3), a used culture medium collection vessel (4), a supply conduit (9, 10) adapted to provide fluid communication between the fresh culture medium storage vessel and a first end of the cell culture vessel, an inlet of the supply conduit being located towards a base of the fresh culture medium storage vessel, a drainage conduit (12) adapted to provide fluid communication between a second end of the cell culture vessel and the used culture medium collection vessel, an inlet of the drainage conduit being disposed within the cell culture vessel such that in use it is it located in the culture medium, and a pump (2) adapted to pump fresh culture medium from the fresh culture medium storage vessel (3) to one end of the cell culture vessel (5) and pump used culture medium from the second end of the cell culture vessel to the used culture medium collection vessel (4). The cell culture vessel (5) is generally not sealed to ambient, and the apparatus includes a pressure equalization conduit (11) adapted to provide fluid communication between a headspace of the used culture medium collection vessel (4) and a headspace of the fresh culture medium storage vessel (3).