Modular storage units for perfusion and/or incubation of one or more specimens and storage assemblies
Inventors
Golway, Michael W. • Cambron, Scott Douglas
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11629326-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A storage assembly for storing a plurality of specimens includes a frame, a plurality of modular storage units for perfusion and/or incubation of one or more specimens removably coupled to the frame, a sample transfer apparatus configured to retrieve a specimen holder from a chosen modular storage unit of the plurality of modular storage units, and a control unit communicatively coupled to the sample transfer apparatus. The control unit is configured to cause the sample transfer apparatus to retrieve a specimen from a modular storage unit of the plurality of modular storage units and deliver the specimen to a delivery position.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a storage unit for perfusion of one or more specimens. The storage unit includes an enclosure and an automated drawer assembly with a faceplate mounted to the enclosure and one or more drawers including a drawer faceplate and an inlet port. One or more perfusion actuation platforms are coupled to the drawer faceplate and include a fluid inlet portion that can be positioned within the inlet port to fluidically couple one or more specimen holders within the drawers to a media reservoir.
A control unit is communicatively coupled to the automated drawer assembly to control opening and closing of the drawers. The control unit also controls fluidically coupling of the perfusion actuation platforms to the media reservoir, enabling drawer-controlled specimen holder coupling for perfusion.
The invention also covers a modular storage unit for incubation and/or perfusion of one or more specimens, including a replaceable faceplate mounted to the enclosure that defines drawer ports. One or more drawers corresponding to the drawer ports include an inlet port, and perfusion actuation platforms fluidically couple specimen holders in the drawers to a media reservoir by positioning the fluid inlet portion within the inlet port. An environmental control assembly is communicatively coupled to the control unit and is configured to control humidity, temperature, biological gas concentrations, perfusion parameters, or combinations thereof.
Further, the invention includes a storage assembly with a frame and a plurality of modular storage units removably coupled to the frame for perfusion and/or incubation. A sample transfer apparatus retrieves a specimen holder from a chosen modular storage unit and a control unit causes retrieval of a specimen from a modular storage unit and delivery to a delivery position. This storage assembly integrates the modular drawer-based perfusion coupling with automated specimen transfer under control.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims. Across these claims, the coverage centers on automated drawer-based perfusion coupling to a media reservoir, control-unit-driven drawer opening/closing and fluidic coupling, modularity with a replaceable faceplate, environmental control of incubation/perfusion variables, and automated specimen retrieval and delivery between modular units and a delivery position.
Drawer-based perfusion coupling to a media reservoir
A storage unit for perfusion of one or more specimens including an enclosure and an automated drawer assembly with a faceplate mounted to the enclosure and one or more drawers comprising a drawer faceplate and an inlet port, wherein one or more perfusion actuation platforms coupled to the drawer faceplate and comprising a fluid inlet portion are configured to fluidically couple one or more specimen holders positioned within the one or more drawers to a media reservoir by positioning the fluid inlet portion within the inlet port.
Control of drawer opening and fluidic coupling
A control unit communicatively coupled to the automated drawer assembly to control opening and closing of the one or more drawers and to control fluidically coupling the one or more perfusion actuation platforms to the media reservoir.
Modular replaceable faceplate with drawer ports
A modular storage unit for incubation and/or perfusion including an enclosure and an automated drawer assembly with a replaceable faceplate mounted to the enclosure, the replaceable faceplate defining a number of drawer ports, and one or more drawers corresponding to the number of drawer ports in the replaceable faceplate, the one or more drawers comprising a drawer faceplate and an inlet port.
Environmental control for incubation and perfusion variables
An environmental control assembly communicatively coupled to the control unit and configured to control humidity, temperature, biological gas concentrations, perfusion parameters, or combinations thereof.
Removably coupled modular storage units with automated specimen transfer
A storage assembly comprising a frame; a plurality of modular storage units for perfusion and/or incubation removably coupled to the frame; a sample transfer apparatus configured to retrieve a specimen holder from a chosen modular storage unit; and a control unit communicatively coupled to the sample transfer apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the sample transfer apparatus to retrieve a specimen from a modular storage unit of the plurality of modular storage units and deliver the specimen to a delivery position.
Automated drawer perfusion coupling within each modular storage unit
Wherein the modular storage unit comprises an enclosure; an automated drawer assembly communicatively coupled to the control unit, the automated drawer assembly comprising a faceplate mounted to the enclosure and one or more drawers comprising a drawer faceplate and an inlet port; and one or more perfusion actuation platforms coupled to the drawer faceplate and comprising a fluid inlet portion, wherein the one or more perfusion actuation platforms are configured to fluidically couple one or more specimen holders positioned within the one or more drawers to a media reservoir by positioning the fluid inlet portion within the inlet port.
Overall, the claims cover a modular, drawer-based enclosure architecture in which perfusion actuation platforms fluidically couple specimen holders to a media reservoir via positioning a fluid inlet portion within an inlet port, with a control unit coordinating drawer opening/closing and fluidic coupling. For the modular storage unit, a replaceable faceplate defining drawer ports and an environmental control assembly are included for incubation and perfusion control variables, while the storage assembly adds automated specimen holder retrieval from a chosen modular storage unit and delivery to a delivery position.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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