JP6590385B1 - Culture apparatus and culture vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

In a culture apparatus that performs a culture process while stirring a culture solution, it is possible to reduce the damage to a culture object while improving the efficiency of stirring the culture solution, and reduce the occurrence of stagnation in the culture solution Provided culture apparatus. A culture apparatus comprising a culture tank (a culture vessel 1 and a support 2) for holding a culture liquid, and a stirring device 31 for generating a swirling flow in the culture liquid in the culture tank. A culture apparatus 100 that reduces the occurrence of stagnation in the culture solution while increasing the efficiency of stirring the culture solution by making the horizontal cross section of the culture vessel 1 and the support 2) into a flat circular shape. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a culture container for culturing cells, microorganisms, and the like and a culture apparatus including the same.

  The culture apparatus is an apparatus for efficiently culturing a part of cells, tissues, microorganisms, or the like. There are various types of culture devices depending on the purpose, but one of them can be used to efficiently culture cells such as cells and medium components by stirring the medium (culture solution) in the culture vessel. There is something to touch. As for the agitation type culturing apparatus, there are various types such as those for agitating the culture solution held in the culture tank using agitation means such as agitation blades, and those for peristating a relatively small culture vessel of a pillow type. There is a form.

Japanese Patent No. 5959024 Japanese Patent No. 5709891

When the culture process is performed by holding the culture solution and the culture object in the culture tank, as described in Patent Document 1, the culture process is generally performed while stirring the culture solution. Here, in stirring the culture solution, it is required to efficiently stir and reduce damage to the culture object.
Moreover, as a culture tank, a technique using a flexible culture bag (culture container) that is assumed to be disposable is known, but it is difficult to create a reliable culture bag that can withstand long-term culture. (See Patent Document 2).

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a culture apparatus that performs a culture process while stirring a culture solution, and can reduce damage to a culture object while improving the efficiency of stirring the culture solution. An object of the present invention is to provide a culture apparatus that reduces the occurrence of itchiness.

(Configuration 1)
A culture apparatus comprising: a culture tank that holds a culture liquid; and a stirring device that generates a swirling flow in the culture liquid in the culture tank, wherein the culture tank has a flat circular cross section in the horizontal direction.

(Configuration 2)
The culture apparatus according to Configuration 1, wherein the culture tank includes an inner container configured to be deformable and a support body that supports the inner container.

(Configuration 3)
The inner container has two flat sheets facing each other, the end regions of which are joined to each other, and the culture container is held in a region defined by the joined portion of the two sheets. Culture equipment.

(Configuration 4)
The culture apparatus according to Configuration 3, wherein the inner container is disposed on a vertical plane in which the joint portion passes through the long axis of the cross section.

(Configuration 5)
The culture apparatus according to Configuration 3 or 4, wherein the sheet includes a rectangular region and an extending portion configured in a downward convex shape extending at a lower end of the rectangular region.

(Configuration 6)
The support body includes a cylindrical portion extending in a cylindrical shape, and a bottom surface bulging portion that bulges downward from a bottom portion of the cylindrical portion, and the rectangular region of the sheet has a dimension in the width direction of the cylinder. The extension portion of the sheet is approximately half of the line of intersection between the vertical plane passing through the short axis of the cross section and the inner surface of the bottom bulge portion. The culture apparatus according to Configuration 5.

(Configuration 7)
A deformable culture vessel that holds a culture solution supported by a support having a cylindrical portion and a bottom bulge formed at the bottom of the cylindrical portion, and has two flat sheets facing each other. And a culture vessel for holding a culture solution in a region partitioned by a joint where the two sheets are connected.

  According to the culture device of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of stagnation in the culture solution while improving the efficiency of stirring the culture solution in the culture device provided with the stirring device that generates a swirling flow in the culture solution.

Schematic sectional view of a culture apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention Schematic showing the support The figure which shows the sheet | seat material which comprises a culture container (inner container) Schematic showing the support The perspective view which shows the outline of a culture container (inner container) The figure which shows the outline of another example of a culture container (inner container) The figure which shows the outline of another example of a support body The figure which shows another example of the sheet | seat material which comprises a culture container (inner container) The figure which shows another example of the sheet | seat material which comprises a culture container (inner container) The figure which shows another example of the sheet | seat material which comprises a culture container (inner container)

  Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following embodiment is one form at the time of actualizing this invention, Comprising: This invention is not limited within the range.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a culture apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, WL in FIG. 1 shows an example of the water level of the culture solution.
As shown in FIG. 1, the culture apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is roughly configured by a culture vessel (inner vessel) 1 and a culture vessel constituted by a support 2 that supports the culture vessel, and the culture vessel 1. A stirring device (stirring blade) 31 provided inside and a drive unit 3 for rotationally driving the same are provided.
The culture apparatus includes gas supply means for supplying gas to the culture solution in the culture vessel 1, temperature control means for adjusting the temperature of the culture solution, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, temperature, etc. of the culture solution. Are provided with various sensors for measuring the temperature, supply means for supplying the culture solution to the culture vessel 1, extraction means for extracting the culture solution from the culture vessel 1, a control device for controlling these, and the like. Here, the part related to the present invention will be basically described, and the description of the same configuration as the conventional culture apparatus will be omitted or simplified.

The support 2 is for supporting the culture vessel 1. In the present embodiment, the culture container 1 is constituted by a flexible (deformable) plastic bag, and the container that holds the culture container 1 inside is the support 2.
2A and 2B are diagrams showing an outline of the container portion of the support 2. FIG. 2A is a horizontal sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2B, and FIG. FIG. 2 and FIG. 2C are side views.
As shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 2 (c), the container portion of the support 2 according to the present embodiment includes, as its basic mode, a cylindrical portion 21 having a cylindrical shape extending vertically and a cylinder. A bottom surface bulging portion 22 that bulges downward from the bottom of the shaped portion 21.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the container portion of the support 2 has a horizontal cross-section formed in a flat circular shape (in the present embodiment, an elliptical shape), and has a cylindrical portion 21 and a bottom bulging portion 22. In either case, the horizontal cross section is a flat circular shape (elliptical shape).
A plurality of reinforcing ribs 23 are provided on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 21, and the support 2 has a pedestal, a support column, and the like that support the container portion.
The bottom surface bulging portion 22 is formed in a downwardly convex curved shape (substantially elliptical arc) in a front view (FIG. 2B) and a side view (FIG. A drain 24 for discharging the liquid in the culture vessel 1 is provided in the lower part.

The drive unit 3 is arranged on the upper part of the support 2 (the structure for supporting the drive unit 3 is not shown), and rotates a stirring device (rotary body) 31 arranged to be suspended from the upper part in the culture vessel 1. To drive.
When the stirring device 31 is rotationally driven, a swirling flow is generated in the culture solution in the culture vessel 1. In other words, in the present embodiment, the stirring device (stirring blade) 31 rotates to generate a flow having a horizontal component in the culture solution. As a result, the culture solution circulates in the culture tank (culture vessel 1) in the top view. In this embodiment, the agitation device (rotary body) 31 is an example in which the agitation device (rotary body) 31 is arranged so as to be suspended from the top in the culture vessel 1. Any stirrer can be used as long as it is generated.

The culture container 1 (inner container) of this embodiment is a plastic bag having flexibility, and has two flat sheets facing each other and joined at the end regions, and the two sheets are joined. The culture solution is held in an area partitioned by the section. Since the culture vessel 1 is held on the support 2 as described above, the culture vessel 1 being cultured is pressed against the inner surface of the support 2 by the culture solution, and has the same shape (inner surface) as the inner surface of the support 2. Shape along the line).
FIG. 3 is a view showing a flat sheet 11 constituting the culture vessel 1.
The sheet 11 includes a rectangular region 111 and an extending portion 112 configured in a downwardly convex curved shape (in this embodiment, an elliptical arc) that extends to the lower end of the rectangular region 111.
The rectangular region 111 has a width direction dimension x that is substantially half of the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 21 of the support 2 (excluding the margin M described below). The extension portion 112 has a height dimension y between a vertical surface VP (see FIG. 4) passing through the minor axis of the horizontal section of the container portion of the support 2 and the inner surface of the bottom bulging portion 22. It is approximately half of the intersection line IL (see FIG. 4) (excluding the margin M described below).
The culture container 1 forms a joint portion by joining two sheets 11 having the above-described configuration, and the joint portion has a bag-like configuration as shown in FIG. The culture solution is held in a region partitioned by the joint (joint and sheet 11).
The joining of the two sheets 11 is performed by welding the margin M of the outer peripheral portion excluding the upper portion. The margin M, which is a joint, is arranged on a vertical plane passing through the major axis of the elliptical shape in the horizontal section.
In FIG. 5, the thickness of the sheet 11 and the size of the margin M are exaggerated for easy understanding, but the thickness of the sheet 11 and the size of the margin M are the strength required for the culture vessel 1. Etc. can be set to suit.

A lid sheet (not shown) separately formed in an elliptical shape is joined (welded) to the upper portion of the culture vessel 1, whereby the culture vessel 1 has a sealed structure. The lid sheet is formed of the same material as that of the sheet 11, and a connection part for connecting a pipe or the like for supplying liquid or gas into the culture vessel 1 is appropriately formed.
Although omitted in FIG. 5, the culture vessel 1 is equipped with an attachment portion for attaching various sensors for measuring the dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, temperature, etc. of the culture solution, and the agitator described above, A discharge port is provided at a position facing the drain 24 of the support 2.

According to the culture apparatus 100 of the present embodiment having the above configuration, in the culture apparatus provided with a stirring device that generates a swirling flow in the culture solution, the culture solution is stagnated while improving the efficiency of stirring of the culture solution. Can be reduced.
That is, normally, when a swirling flow is generated in the culture solution in the culture vessel, the culture solution circulates in the culture vessel. Here, according to the culture apparatus 100, since the horizontal section of the culture tank has a flat circular shape, the culture solution circulating in the culture tank has a moving speed (linear velocity) depending on the location of the culture tank. Change. Therefore, according to the culture apparatus 100, it is possible to efficiently stir the culture solution even when not using a stirring assisting member such as a baffle plate.
In addition, since the inner surface of the culture tank (the portion where the culture solution is present) is formed into a smooth curved surface as a whole, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of stagnation in the culture solution and to suppress the collisional death of cells and the like. . In particular, the inner wall of the culture tank has a configuration that does not have a convex portion facing inward, so that the stirring efficiency can be increased without damaging the cells, and the stagnation of the culture medium can be reduced. .
In addition, by setting the culture tank to a flat circular shape such as an ellipse, the installation efficiency can be improved when a plurality of culture tanks are installed side by side.
In the present embodiment, the culture vessel is constituted by a culture vessel (inner vessel) 1 and a support that supports the culture vessel (a configuration in which a disposable culture vessel can be replaced). It is not limited to this. For example, even when the culture tank is formed as an integral tank and repeatedly used, the present invention can be applied by making the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the tank a flat circular shape.

In addition, according to the culture container (inner container) 1 of the present embodiment, the portion for holding the culture solution can be formed by welding two sheets (flat sheet 11), so that the culture with a low defect rate is achieved. The container can be formed at low cost.
Conventionally, when a culture container having a capacity of several hundred liters is formed by laminating sheets, three or more sheets are required to be laminated in order to obtain a three-dimensional structure, and a place where three sheets are joined is inevitably generated. It was a thing. There is a problem in that a defective welding or the like is likely to occur at a place where three sheets are joined (welded). The location where the three sheets are joined appears on the bottom and top surfaces of the culture vessel, and there is no particular problem if the top surface is somewhat weakly welded, but the bottom surface is subject to water pressure by the culture medium. For this reason, if there is a portion where welding is weak, there is a risk of liquid leakage.
On the other hand, according to the culture container (inner container) 1 of the present embodiment, since the portion for holding the culture solution can be formed by welding two sheets, the occurrence of poor welding is reduced. It is.
In particular, in this embodiment, the horizontal cross section of the culture vessel has a flat circular shape, and thus, even when a culture vessel (inner vessel) 1 configured by welding two sheets is used, It is possible to reduce wrinkles generated in the culture vessel 1 to an extent acceptable for culture. In particular, as shown in the present embodiment, the container portion of the support 2 has a cylindrical portion 21 that extends in a cylindrical shape, and a bottom surface bulging portion 22 that bulges downward from the bottom portion of the cylindrical portion, and a sheet. 11 has a rectangular region 111 and an extending portion 112 configured to have a downwardly projecting curved shape extending to the lower end of the rectangular region 111, thereby reducing wrinkles generated in the culture vessel. It becomes possible. Furthermore, the dimension in the width direction of the rectangular region 111 of the sheet 11 is approximately half of the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 21, and the dimension in the height direction of the extending portion 112 is the horizontal section (flat circle) of the cylindrical portion 21. It is possible to make the wrinkles generated in the culture vessel smaller by making it approximately half of the line of intersection between the vertical plane passing through the short axis and the inner surface of the bottom bulging portion 22.
In the present embodiment, an example in which a lid sheet formed in an elliptical shape is joined to the upper surface portion of the culture vessel 1 is an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is similar to the bottom surface portion. The upper surface portion may also be a weld of two sheets. At this time, similarly to the bottom surface portion, an upper protruding portion may be formed at the upper end of the rectangular region 111 of the sheet 11, and the upper surface portion may be formed by welding around the extending portion, The upper end portions of the sheets 11 shown in FIG. 3 may be welded together (that is, the outer peripheral portions of the two sheets 11 shown in FIG. 3 may be welded together).

In this embodiment, the culture vessel 1 has an elliptical cross section in the horizontal direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be any “flattened shape”. For example, the culture vessel may be configured such that the horizontal cross section is an oval (see FIG. 6) or a rounded square. In the case of a configuration having a flexible inner container and a support, the shape of the inner container is regulated by the inner surface of the support, so that the culture container is configured in a desired shape by adjusting the shape of the support. It becomes possible. For example, the shape of the horizontal cross section of the inner container can be made substantially rounded quadrilateral by supporting the flexible inner container using the support body illustrated in FIG. it can.
Also, the sheet constituting the inner container can be variously modified so that wrinkles are reduced in the support body. For example, the extending portion may have a shape in which an oval is halved (see FIG. 8) or a polygonal shape (see FIG. 9), and can be selected according to the shape of the support.
As described above, the two flat sheets constituting the flexible inner container can be formed as two independent sheets. However, the two flat sheets are opposed to each other by folding one flat sheet. It is also possible to have two flat sheets. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, a flexible inner container can be configured by using a sheet having a shape in which a part thereof is connected before welding. For example, by folding back the sheet 12 shown in FIG. 10 (a) with a broken line 121, the two flat sheets having one side joined in advance are made to face each other, and the other end region is welded to fix the inner container. Can be configured. Alternatively, the inner container is configured by folding back the sheet 13 shown in FIG. 10B along a broken line 131 so that two flat sheets whose upper sides are joined in advance face each other and weld the other end regions. be able to. These sheets can be cut out from one sheet. By doing so, the number of welded portions is reduced, and the reliability can be further improved.

100. . . Incubator 1. . . Culture container (inner container)
11. . . Flat sheet 111. . . Rectangular region 112. . . Extension section 2. . . Support 21. . . Tubular part 22. . . Bottom bulge

Claims (6)

A deformable culture vessel that is supported by a support body having a tubular portion and a bottom bulge portion formed at the bottom of the tubular portion and holds a culture solution,
Having two flat sheets facing each other,
A culture vessel for holding a culture solution in an area partitioned by a joint where the two sheets are connected. A culture vessel that holds two culture sheets in a region having two flat sheets facing each other and defined by a joint where the two sheets are connected; and
A cylindrical body and a bottom surface bulge formed at the bottom of the cylindrical section, and a support for supporting the culture vessel;
A stirring device for generating a swirl flow in the culture solution in the culture vessel ;
With
The culture vessel is a culture apparatus in which a horizontal cross section has a flat circular shape. The culture vessel is deformable constructed, culture apparatus according to claim 2. The culture apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the culture container is disposed on a vertical plane in which the joint portion passes through the long axis of the cross section. The culture apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sheet includes a rectangular region and an extending portion configured in a downwardly convex curved shape extending to a lower end of the rectangular region. Rectangular area before Symbol sheet is substantially half of the inner peripheral dimension of the width direction of the tubular portion,
6. The culture apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the extending portion of the sheet has a height dimension that is substantially half of the line of intersection between a vertical plane passing through the short axis of the cross section and the inner surface of the bottom bulge portion.

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