Biological cells, which are stored on carriers in a storage module, are cultivated in a process module. Each cell line is assigned an application containing a treatment specification, which contains one or more workflows that are performed in the process module at successive time intervals, each with a respective start time. Each workflow contains a work step or a plurality of work steps to be performed in succession. The control device controls the parallel execution of a plurality of applications and starts the one or more workflows of the different applications one after another in the same process module. In order to economically perform the workflows successively in a single process module, each workflow is assigned an effective function dependent on the start time, and the sequence and the start times of the workflows of different applications are determined by minimizing or maximizing the sum of the effective functions.
A method and device for handling supports which support biological cell cultures or auxiliary agents for treatment of biological cell cultures, using one or more modules, at least one of which is a handling device. Each one of a plurality of supports rests with its edges on support elements, and, depending on the type of supports or the type of auxiliary means supported thereby, the supports require different storage heights, some of which are greater than one or more times a standardized vertical spacing of the support elements. The supports have an information carrier, the information of which can be read by a reading device and can be evaluated by a computing device. For optimal use of the compartments of the storage device, the information contains details about the storage height of the support in question and the handling of the supports is performed using these details.
In a method for cultivating biological cells of differing types, carriers are stored in an incubator, in which the carriers comprise one or more storage chambers. One or more cultures comprising cells of a common type are stored in one of the storage chambers. Cultivation parameters are assigned to the cultures. Datasets containing organizational coordinates of each storage chamber and the cultivation parameters of the culture stored therein are stored in a data processing device. The carriers are removed from the incubator at predefined time intervals in order to treat the cultures according to their respective cultivation parameters. The datasets are divided into groups with correlated cultivation parameters. The cultures are subsequently treated in groups.
A treatment apparatus for treating biological cell cultures, located in respective storage chambers of a carrier, includes a work deck with one or more bearing spots for bearing the carrier. Each of the bearing spots includes a bearing region corresponding to an area of the carrier. The treatment apparatus additionally includes nozzles for producing a gas flow in a space above the work deck. To avoid liquid droplets or cell material being transported from one storage chamber to another as a result of a horizontal gas flow above the carrier during the treatment, the nozzles are arranged outside of and along an edge of the bearing region or within the bearing region and form a gas curtain around the carrier or the respective storage chambers.
The invention relates to a system for cultivating, in a process module (3), biological cells which are stored on carriers (1) in a storage module (2), wherein each cell line is assigned an application (A1, A2, A3) containing a treatment specification, which contains one or more workflows (W1.1, W1.2, W1.3; W2.1, W2.2, W2.3; W3.1, W3.2, W3.3) which are performed at time intervals successively at respective start times (t) in the process module (3), each workflow (W1.1, W1.2, W1.3; W2.1, W2.2, W2.3; W3.1, W3.2, W3.3) containing a work step or a plurality of work steps to be performed in sort succession, and wherein the control device (6) controls the simultaneous performance of a plurality of applications (A1, A2, A3) and starts the one or more workflows (W1.1, W1.2, W1.3; W2.1, W2.2, W2.3; W3.1, W3.2, W3.3) of the different applications (A1, A2, A3) one after the other in a temporal sequence in the same process module (3). In order to be able to economically perform the workflows successively in a single process module (3), according to the invention each workflow (W1.1, W1.2, W1.3; W2.1, W2.2, W2.3; W3.1, W3.2, W3.3) is assigned an effective function (W(t)) dependent on the start time (t), and the sequence and the start times (t) of the workflows (W1.1, W1.2, W1.3; W2.1, W2.2, W2.3; W3.1, W3.2, W3.3) of different applications (A1, A2, A3) are calculated by means of a minimization or maximum of the sum (Σ) of the effective functions (W(t)).
17177) of the support (1-9) in question and the handling of the supports (1-9) is performed using these details. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method, and to a support for carrying out the method or for use in the device.
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
7.
FUMIGATION OF AN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CELL CULTURES
Apparatus for handling cell cultures comprising a chamber (2) being arranged in a container (1) and means for providing a flow of a fumigant through at least one region of said chamber (2), wherein said means comprising a fumigant generator (14) being connected with an inlet conduit (4) to an inlet section (7) of said chamber (2), wherein at least one first gas flow generator (3) is provided for generating a laminar flow of said fumigant or of air through said at least one region. A second gas flow generator (6) is provided for generating a turbulent gas flow in the at least one region. The invention further relates to a method for fumigation of at least one region of such a chamber. The laminar gas flow can be disturbed or a second turbular gas flow can be generated.
A process module for a biology laboratory system includes a housing, a working deck located within the housing, having working deck plate slots for receiving cell culture plates, a liquid handling robot comprising at least one pipette for aspirating a liquid medium, and a first transfer interface in communication with a first storage module for storing cell culture plates. The working deck is movable to a plurality of working positions. In one of the positions, the cell culture plate is located under an operating point of the liquid handling robot. In another of the positions, the cell culture plate is in alignment with the first transfer interface for transfer of the cell culture plate between an outside of the housing and the working deck plate slot. The first transfer interface or a second interface can be brought in communication with a second storage module for storing lab-ware or liquid material.
B65G 49/00 - Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
C12M 3/00 - Tissue, human, animal or plant cell, or virus culture apparatus
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
G01N 35/00 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor
A module for an automated biology laboratory system includes a housing and a storage device located within the housing. The storage device has a plurality of plate slots for receiving microplates or lab-ware with a microplate footprint or containers. The laboratory system further includes a transfer slot to transfer the microplates or containers between an inside of the module and an outside of the module; indexing means to facilitate alignment of the transfer slot with a microplate transfer interface comprising an aperture of the housing; and connection means for fixedly connecting the transfer interface of the module to a transfer interface of an adjacent module.
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
A system for processing biological material includes a first module and at least a second module, in which each of said first and second modules has at least the following identical characteristics: a size and a shape of a housing; a storage device being rotatably located within said housing; and a plurality of plate slots located in the storage device for receiving plates or containers carrying pipette tips, cell cultures or liquids. The first and second modules are selected from a process module, a storage module, an incubator, a freezer, a plastic-ware store, a refrigerator or a centrifuge.
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
A set of lab-ware for a cell culture process includes two or more components selected from: A plate comprising one or more processing wells in a regular arrangement; a plate suitable for holding or holding pipette tips in a regular arrangement; a plate comprising compartments individually holding or suitable for individually holding vials in a regular arrangement; a plate comprising two or more substantially rectangular wells in a regular arrangement; a lidded bottle for bulk supply of a solution or cell culture medium; a plate comprising one or more compartments for holding reagent bottles, two or more of the compartments being in a regular arrangement; a plate having a single well; a plate comprising one or more storage wells holding reagents, being sealed by a foil and/or covered by a lid. All of the two or more components have a uniform footprint. A robotic handling device manipulates the lab-ware.
The invention relates to a storage device for pipette tips, comprising a rectangular support section (5) which extends on a horizontal plane in a use position and which has a plurality of insert openings (6) for inserting a respective pipette tip (2), wherein the width of the insert opening (6) is smaller than the width of an adapter section (4) of the pipette tip (2), said adapter section being supported on the edge of the insert opening (6), and the width of the insert opening is larger than the width of a tip section (3) of the pipette tip, said tip section protruding through the insert opening (6). The storage device also comprises a support frame (9), which is made of four limbs (7, 8) and which surrounds a rectangular free space (10), for placing on support strips (12) lying opposite one another in a storage housing (11), each limb (18) being connected to the support section (5) by means of a lateral wall (13) positioned in a recessed manner in the direction of the free space (10). According to the invention, the storage device consists of a single monolithic plastic part with an open base.
The invention relates to a treatment apparatus for treating biological cell cultures which are located in storage chambers (13) of a carrier (11), comprising a work deck (3) which has one or more bearing spots (10) for bearing a carrier (11) in each case, with a bearing region of the bearing spot (10) corresponding to an area of the carrier (11), and comprising nozzles (4, 5) for producing a gas flow in a space (2) above the work deck. To avoid liquid droplets or cell material being transported from one storage chamber to another as a result of a horizontal gas flow above the carrier during the treatment, the nozzles (4, 5) are arranged outside of and along an edge of the bearing region (10) or within the bearing region (10) and form a gas curtain around a carrier (11) or a storage chamber (13).
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Industrial robots; machines and machine tools for treatment
of materials and for manufacturing; agricultural,
earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction and mining
equipment; soil grading machines; process control units
[hydraulic]; process control units [pneumatic]; process
control units [mechanical]; regulators. Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, educational
apparatus and simulators; laboratory apparatus and
instruments; cell culture apparatus for laboratory use;
bioreactor for cell culturing; bioreactors for research use;
laboratory incubators [other than for medical use];
laboratory pipettes; laboratory robots; laboratory trays;
controllers; electronic controllers; control modules
(electric or electronic -); software for monitoring,
analysing, controlling and running physical world
operations; biotechnological installations for cultivating
cells; biotechnological installations for cell cultivation.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Industrial robots for welding, working metal, wood and plastic material; industrial machines for cultivating microorganisms and cells; incubators for cultivating cells and tissues; soil cultivators.
(2) Laboratory apparatus for reading microplates, namely, microscopes; laboratory apparatus, namely, bioreactors, laboratory incubators and fermenters for culturing cells; laboratory apparatus, namely, robots, laboratory plate racks, laboratory microplates, laboratory stirrers, laboratory test tubes, laboratory transfer pipettes for manipulating, measuring, testing and analyzing laboratory samples of cells; cell culture apparatus for laboratory use, namely, an automated cell culturing system for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells; bioreactor for cell culturing; bioreactors for laboratory research use; laboratory incubators [other than for medical use]; laboratory pipettes; laboratory robots; laboratory trays; electronic regulating and control devices for the operation of an automated cell culturing system; electronic control devices for an automated cell culturing system; downloadable and recorded computer software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running biotechnological installations for cultivating cells, namely, laboratory incubators, laboratory microplates and laboratory transfer pipettes for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells; biotechnological installations for cultivating cells, namely, laboratory incubators, laboratory microplates and laboratory transfer pipettes for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Industrial robots; machines and machine tools for treatment of materials for manufacturing, agricultural, earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction machines, namely, machines for cell culturing; Agricultural machinery, namely, soil grading machines; process control units, namely, hydraulic controls for machines; process control units, namely, pneumatic controls for machines; process control units, namely, mechanical controls for machines Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, namely laboratory apparatus for manipulating, measuring, testing and analyzing laboratory samples of cells; cell culture apparatus for laboratory use, namely, an automated cell culturing system for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells ; bioreactor for cell culturing; bioreactors for laboratory research use; laboratory equipment and supplies, namely, incubators; laboratory pipettes; laboratory robots; laboratory trays; electronic regulating and control devices for the operation of an automated cell culturing system; electronic control devices for an automated cell culturing system; downloadable computer software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running physical world operations in the nature of cell culturing; biotechnological installations for cultivating cells, namely, biotechnological installations for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Industrial robots; machines and machine tools for treatment
of materials and for manufacturing; agricultural,
earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction and mining
machines; soil grading machines; process control units
[hydraulic]; process control units [pneumatic]; process
control units [mechanical]. Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, educational
apparatus and simulators; laboratory apparatus and
instruments; cell culture apparatus for laboratory use;
bioreactor for cell culturing; bioreactors for research use;
laboratory incubators [other than for medical use];
laboratory pipettes; laboratory robots; laboratory trays;
controllers and regulators; electronic controllers; control
modules (electric or electronic -); software for monitoring,
analysing, controlling and running physical world
operations; biotechnological installations for cultivating
cells; biotechnological installations for cell cultivation.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Industrial robots for welding, working metal, wood and plastic material; industrial machines for cultivating microorganisms and cells; incubators for cultivating cells and tissues; soil cultivators.
(2) Laboratory apparatus for reading microplates, namely, microscopes; laboratory apparatus, namely, bioreactors, laboratory incubators and fermenters for culturing cells; laboratory apparatus, namely, robots, laboratory plate racks, laboratory microplates, laboratory stirrers, laboratory test tubes, laboratory transfer pipettes for manipulating, measuring, testing and analyzing laboratory samples of cells; cell culture apparatus for laboratory use, namely, an automated cell culturing system for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells; bioreactor for cell culturing; bioreactors for laboratory research use; laboratory incubators [other than for medical use]; laboratory pipettes; laboratory robots; laboratory trays; electronic regulating and control devices for the operation of an automated cell culturing system; electronic control devices for an automated cell culturing system; downloadable and recorded computer software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running biotechnological installations for cultivating cells, namely, laboratory incubators, laboratory microplates and laboratory transfer pipettes for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells; biotechnological installations for cultivating cells, namely, laboratory incubators, laboratory microplates and laboratory transfer pipettes for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Industrial robots; machines and machine tools for treatment of materials for manufacturing, agricultural, earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction machines, namely, machines for cell culturing; Agricultural machinery, namely, soil grading machines; process control units, namely, hydraulic controls for machines; process control units, namely, pneumatic controls for machines; process control units, namely, mechanical controls for machines Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, namely laboratory apparatus for manipulating, measuring, testing and analyzing laboratory samples of cells; cell culture apparatus for laboratory use, namely, an automated cell culturing system for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells ; bioreactor for cell culturing; bioreactors for laboratory research use; laboratory equipment and supplies, namely, incubators; laboratory pipettes; laboratory robots; laboratory trays; electronic regulating and control devices for the operation of an automated cell culturing system; electronic control devices for an automated cell culturing system; downloadable computer software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running physical world operations in the nature of cell culturing; biotechnological installations for cultivating cells, namely, biotechnological installations for manipulating laboratory samples of cells, culturing of laboratory samples of cells, conducting and documentation of assays and experiments with laboratory samples of cells
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Industrial robots; Machines and machine tools for treatment of materials and for manufacturing; Agricultural, earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction and mining equipment; Soil grading machines; Process control units [hydraulic]; Process control units [pneumatic]; Process control units [mechanical]. Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, educational apparatus and simulators; Laboratory apparatus and instruments; Cell culture apparatus for laboratory use; Bioreactor for cell culturing; Bioreactors for research use; Laboratory incubators [other than for medical use]; Laboratory pipettes; Laboratory robots; Laboratory trays; Controllers and regulators; Electronic controllers; Control modules (Electric or electronic -); Software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running physical world operations; Biotechnological installations for cultivating cells; Biotechnological installations for cell cultivation.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Industrial robots; Machines and machine tools for treatment of materials and for manufacturing; Agricultural, earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction and mining equipment; Soil grading machines; Process control units [hydraulic]; Process control units [pneumatic]; Process control units [mechanical]. Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, educational apparatus and simulators; Laboratory apparatus and instruments; Cell culture apparatus for laboratory use; Bioreactor for cell culturing; Bioreactors for research use; Laboratory incubators [other than for medical use]; Laboratory pipettes; Laboratory robots; Laboratory trays; Controllers and regulators; Electronic controllers; Control modules (Electric or electronic -); Software for monitoring, analysing, controlling and running physical world operations; Biotechnological installations for cultivating cells; Biotechnological installations for cell cultivation.
The invention is related to a process module (120) for a biology laboratory system, comprising a housing (102), a working deck (330) being located within said housing (102), having a plurality of working deck plate slots (110) for receiving a cell culture plate (160), a liquid handling robot (340) comprising at least one pipette for aspirating a liquid medium, a first transfer interface (134) being in communication with a first storage module (124) for storing cell culture plates (160) wherein the working deck (330) is movable to a plurality of working positions, in one of the working positions the cell culture plate (160) is located under an operating point of the liquid handling robot (340), in another of the working positions the cell culture plate (160) is in alignment with said first transfer interface (134) for transfer of the cell culture plate (160) between an outside of the housing (102) and the working deck plate slot (110). The first transfer interface (134) or a second interface (130) can be brought in communication with a second storage module (100, 122) for storing lab-ware (300) or liquid material, wherein in another of the working positions a plate comprising lab-ware (300) or liquid material being carried by one of the working deck plate slots (110) is in alignment with said first or second transfer interface (130, 134) for transfer the lab-ware (300) or the liquid material comprising plate between an outside of the housing and the working deck plate slot (110).
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
A system for processing biological material, comprising:A first module (100) and at least a second module (100), wherein each of said first and second modules (100) has at least the following identical characteristics: A size and a shape of a housing (102);a storage device (108, 330) being rotatably located within said housing (102);a plurality of plate slots (110) located in the storage device (108, 330) for receiving plates (116, 320, 322, 324) or containers (326, 327) carry-ing pipette tips, cell cultures or liquids; and the first and second modules (100) are selected from a process module, a storage module, an incubator, a freezer, a plastic-ware store, a refrigerator or a centrifuge.
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
A module (100, 120) for an automated biology laboratory system, comprising: A housing (102), a storage device (108, 330) located within the housing (102), the storage device having a plurality of plate slots (110) for receiving microplates or lab-ware with a microplate footprint (116, 320, 322, 324) or container; a transfer slot (113) to transfer said microplates or containers between an inside of the module (100,120) and an outside of the module (100, 120); indexing means (140,142) to facilitate alignment of the transfer slot (113) with a microplate transfer interface (130, 134) comprising an aperture of the housing (102), and connection means (132) for fixedly connecting the transfer interface (133, 134) of the module to a transfer interface (130, 134) of an adjacent module.
G01N 35/02 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Robots for industrial use; Machines and machine tools for treatment of materials and for manufacturing; Agricultural, earthmoving, construction, oil and gas extraction and mining equipment; Soil grading machines; Process control units [hydraulic]; Process control units [pneumatic]; Process control units [mechanical]. Scientific research and laboratory apparatus, educational apparatus and simulators; Laboratory apparatus and instruments; Bioreactor for cell culturing; Bioreactors for research use; Laboratory incubators [other than for medical use]; Controllers (regulators); Electronic controllers; Control modules (Electric or electronic -); Software for monitoring, controlling and running physical world operations.
