JPS6221312Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention aims to obtain a cell culture stirring device with excellent stirring effects using a device as small as possible even when culturing large quantities of cells. In a cell culture stirring device comprising a culture container and a stirring shaft provided with a magnet at the lower end, a stirring blade in the center, and rotatably suspended within the culture container, at least the bottom of the culture container is formed into a hemispherical shape, and a stirring plate is attached to the lower end of the stirring shaft.

Normally, one of the essential conditions for cell culture, such as cell growth and proliferation, is the adjustment of the concentrations of PH, PO ₂ and PCO ₂ , and in order to meet these optimal conditions, the culture solution in the culture container must It is necessary to gently supply O ₂ gas or CO ₂ gas into the air in the head space above the surface, and to sufficiently stir the upper and lower layers of the culture solution.

Furthermore, even with this stirring, if the speed is too high or if the stirring device has frictional parts, the efficiency of cell proliferation may be reduced or the cells may die.

Therefore, recently, in order to solve these problems, for example, the space capacity of the culture container is set to more than twice the volume of the culture solution, or the depth of the culture solution is reduced, and the surface area of the culture solution is increased. _O2 gas or _CO2
Efforts are being made to increase the contact time and area with the gas.

However, although these stirring devices meet the basic conditions for cell culture, there is very little vertical movement of the culture solution, and because the container is cylindrical, they leave dead space directly below the stirring shaft or in the corners of the culture container. Not only is the stirring efficiency extremely low, but also
In large-capacity cell culture, the size of the stirring device increases, creating problems in its installation location, and there are still unresolved issues.

This invention aims to solve these unresolved issues.
It was completed as a result of intensive experimentation and research.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the cell culture stirring device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A magnet 3 is attached to the rotating shaft 2 of a motor 1, and a spherical culture container 5 made of a chemically stable non-magnetic material such as glass is placed above a magnetic stirrer 4 installed in the center. It will be placed. A stirring shaft hanging port 6 that also serves as a culture solution inlet is formed in the upper center of the culture container 5, and a stirring shaft 7 is rotatably supported in the stirring shaft hanging port 6 in an airtight manner. The lid 8 is fitted.

As the stirring shaft 7, a stirring plate 9 whose lower side is formed into a curved surface corresponding to the arc of the inner bottom surface of the culture container 5 is attached to the lower end thereof, and a magnet 10 is fixed directly above it, A stirring blade 11 made of flexible material is located at approximately the center height.
The one with which it is attached is used.

The stirring shaft 7, the stirring plate 9, the magnet 10, and the stirring blade 11 have at least their surfaces covered with a chemically stable material such as tetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene.

Above the culture container 5, O ₂ gas is introduced into the container 5.
an inlet 12 for supplying CO ₂ gas, etc.;
An outlet 13 is formed for discharging the air inside the culture container 5 to the outside of the container.

Therefore, when using this embodiment device, remove the airtight lid 8 of the cell culture stirring device assembled as shown in the figure from the stirring shaft hanging port 6, pour the culture solution a into the culture container 5, and then pour it again. As shown, an airtight lid 8 is placed over the stirring shaft hanging port 6, the inlet 12 is connected to a required gas supply source (not shown), and the outlet 13 is connected to a required exhaust device (not shown).

Here, since the stirring blade 11 is flexible, even if its width when extended is larger than the stirring shaft hanging port 6, there is no problem in inserting and removing the stirring shaft 7.

Next, drive motor 1 and magnet 1
0, that is, the stirring shaft 7 is indirectly and periodically rotated at a desired rotation speed, the required gas is supplied from the inlet 12 into the culture container 5, and the air in the culture container 5 is exhausted from the outlet 13 to perform cell culture. It is something to do.

In addition, in the above example, the lower side of the stirring plate attached to the lower end of the stirring shaft is formed into a curved surface corresponding to the spherical surface of the inner bottom surface of the culture container. The shape does not matter as long as it can be attached to.

Furthermore, although a spherical culture container is shown, the top may be cylindrical as long as the bottom is hemispherical.

As described above, the cell culture stirring device according to the present invention has at least the bottom of the culture container formed in a hemispherical shape, and the stirring plate is attached to the lower end of the stirring shaft. Even at low speeds, no dead space is formed at the inner bottom of the culture container, so the culture solution can be efficiently stirred, and the stirring plate and stirring blades create complex convection throughout the culture solution. , it is possible to improve stirring efficiency and obtain a uniform stirring effect, and at the same time, it is also possible to prevent cell death due to precipitation and decrease in proliferation efficiency.

In addition, by improving the stirring efficiency and achieving uniform stirring efficiency, cells can obtain a stable supply of O ₂ and CO ₂ , and the space inside the culture container is reduced, unlike in conventional culture containers. Increase capacity or
There is no need to increase the surface area of the culture solution, and large-capacity cell culture can be carried out with a device as small as possible compared to conventional devices, so the installation location can be determined arbitrarily. It has many excellent effects.

Note that, as shown in the examples, when the lower surface of the stirring plate is formed into a curved surface corresponding to the spherical surface of the inner bottom surface of the culture container, the stirring efficiency directly below the stirring shaft can be further improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the cell culture stirring device according to the present invention. 1...Motor, 3...Magnet, 4...Magnetic stirrer, 5...Culture container, 7...
Stirring shaft, 9... Stirring plate material, 10... Magnet, 11... Stirring blade.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A culture container placed on a magnetic stirrer, a magnet at the bottom end, a stirring blade in the center, and rotatably suspended within the culture container. A cell culture stirring device comprising a stirring shaft provided therein, wherein at least the bottom of the culture container is formed in a hemispherical shape, and a stirring plate is attached to the lower end of the stirring shaft. Device. (2) The cell culture stirring device according to claim (1), wherein the lower surface of the stirring plate attached to the lower end of the stirring shaft is formed into a curved surface corresponding to the spherical surface of the inner bottom surface of the culture container.