WO2021064758A1

WO2021064758A1 - Containing device for cell culture

Info

Publication number: WO2021064758A1
Application number: PCT/IT2020/050228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martino MARCOLIN; Francesco TAMIAZZO; Valter VERONESE
Original assignee: Biosigma S.P.A.
Priority date: 2019-10-04
Filing date: 2020-09-22
Publication date: 2021-04-08

Abstract

Containing device for cell culture comprising a containing frame (14) having a base frame (12) from which walls (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32) project upward, delimiting one or more culture chambers (18), the base frame (12) having a lower surface (16) defining a lying plane (P) on which to position in contact a slide (11) associated with the lower part of the containing frame (14) as above.

Description

CONTAINING DEVICE FOR CELL CULTURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern a containing device for cell culture, which can be associated with a microscopy slide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that the in vitro cell culture technique is widely used in the biological, medical, veterinary and botanical fields to cultivate, that is, to grow, cells of living organisms. In general, to obtain a cell culture, the cells have to be isolated from the living organism, sown on a suitable surface, maintained and/or expanded immersed in a liquid, generally defined as a culture medium, which comprises the nutrients suitable for their growth.

The purpose of cell cultures is, generally, to obtain a suitable quantity of cells on which to carry out analyzes and/or investigations, that is, assays, for diagnostic, medical or research purposes or other.

It is known that, among the assays that can be carried out on cells, many involve the observation of these cells through a microscope, whether it be optical, fluorescence or other.

To make the cells suitable for microscopic observation, they have to be located, that is, they have to be at least sown, on supports that satisfy both the requirement of allowing cell growth and also the requirement of allowing the passage of the desired wavelengths emitted by the microscope lamp.

For observation under the microscope, therefore, suitable supports are used, called microscopy slides or, more briefly, slides, which satisfy the characteristics as above and which also have suitable shapes and sizes to be used on the microscope, typically rectangular and standardized in shape.

It is known that, in order to contain the cell cultures growing on these slides, it is necessary to provide suitable containing devices for the cell culture, also called cell culture plates with wells, provided with a containing frame having a base frame on which there is a protruding perimeter rib from which perimeter walls protrude upward, suitable to delimit, above the slides, one or more culture chambers, or wells, in which to sow the cells and suitable to be filled and to contain the culture medium. The lower surface of the base frame defines a lying plane on which the respective slide is positioned in contact when associated below the containing frame.

Once cell growth is complete, in order to perform an assay and/or to allow the insertion of the slide into a microscope, it may often be necessary to separate the slide, on which the cell culture is present, from the containing device.

It is known that some commonly used containing devices are associated with the slide in a permanent or semi-permanent way, for example, by means of glues or adhesives or mechanical attachment means.

One disadvantage is that the separation of the slide and the containing device is not possible, or is difficult, for example preventing the insertion of the slide into the microscope or the execution of certain assays or otherwise making the operation laborious.

Another disadvantage is that the removal of the slide can cause the slide itself to break, with consequent loss of the cells to be observed and possible danger for the operator.

Containing devices are also known which, to be associated with the slide, provide to use a frame-type support tray to support the slide on the respective lying plane. In particular, the frame-type support tray has shelf-type supports inside it, on which the slide rests, and the containing frame is positioned above the slide thus located. The slide is thus enclosed between the frame-type tray and the containing frame. The frame-type support tray is provided with snap-in attachment means, configured to clamp the containing frame, thus holding the slide in a stable manner between the containing frame and the frame-type tray.

The snap-in attachment means are configured, in particular, as a pair of opposite levers, at the respective ends of which there is a protruding attachment tooth which is coupled under pressure to the protruding perimeter rib, in order to clamp, therefore, from below, an upper part of the protruding perimeter rib, thus enclosing the slide against the base frame of the containing frame; specifically, the clamping is carried out on the opposite side to where the slide is present, with respect to the lying plane.

The presence of the levers with a tooth that is coupled under pressure to the protruding perimeter rib, together with the fact that the clamping takes place from below, makes it difficult for an operator to lock and unlock the attachment. The unlocking, in particular, is critical because, keeping the containing device stationary and using both hands, the operator has to carefully and attentively rotate both levers, overcoming the closing pressure of the attachment teeth of the levers themselves, which are engaged with the protruding perimeter rib, at the same time ensuring the stability of the containing device, preventing it from overturning or unbalancing, which could cause the cell culture to leak out and also damage the containing device. Therefore, the locking and especially the unlocking are laborious and dangerous, with the risk of losing the cultivated sample, risk for the operator’s safety and in any case with an evident slowdown in the analysis procedure.

Document US-A-5,518,925 describes a containing assembly for cell cultures of a known type, while document US-A-5,364,790 describes an in situ PCC amplification system of a known type.

There is therefore a need to perfect a containing device for cell culture which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a simplified containing device for cell culture with a reduced number of components, which is compatible with known slides of a standardized shape.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a containing device for cell culture thanks to which the containing frame can be separated from the slide in a simple and rapid manner.

Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a containing device for cell culture which can be associated and dissociated with/from the slide safely, even using only one hand.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, some embodiments concern a containing device for cell culture. The containing device comprises a containing frame having a base frame from which walls project upwards delimiting one or more culture chambers. The base frame as above has a lower surface defining a lying plane on which to position in contact a slide associated with the lower part of the containing frame as above.

According to one embodiment, the containing frame as above comprises attachment means selectively activatable and configured to stably associate the slide with the base frame on the lying plane as above.

According to possible embodiments, the attachment means as above comprise a pair of levers disposed externally on opposite lateral walls of the containing frame, each lever being rotating between the first operative position and the second operative position.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a containing device for cell culture according to some embodiments described here;

- fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a containing device for cell culture according to some embodiments described here;

- fig. 3 is a schematic bottom view of a containing device for ceil culture according to some embodiments described here;

- fig. 4 is a section along line IV-IV of fig. 3;

- fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of fig. 4;

- fig. 6 is another enlarged detail of fig. 4;

- fig. 7 is a schematic top view of a containing device for cell culture according to some embodiments described here;

- fig. 8 is a section along line VII-VII of fig. 7;

- fig. 9 is a schematic front view of a plurality of containing devices for cell culture according to some embodiments described here.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, one or more characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be varied or adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce other embodiments. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

Some embodiments concern a containing device 10 usable for cell culture, in the laboratory, medical, health care field or suchlike, in association with a support commonly known as a slide, indicated with reference number 11 and shown with a dashed line in figs. 1, 2 attached.

In some embodiments, the containing device 10 comprises a containing frame 14 having a base frame 12. The base frame 12 delimits one or more internal windows 19 (figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8). Such base frame 12 can essentially have a quadrangular shape, in particular rectangular, advantageously mating with the standard shape of a slide 11 commonly used in the applications in question. In some embodiments, walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32 project upward from the base frame 12 delimiting one or more culture chambers 18, also called “wells”, which develop around the one or more windows 19 as above.

In particular, such base frame 12 can have an upper surface 30 from which such walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32 extend.

Favorably, during normal use the slide 11, when suitably positioned, defines the closed bottom of the one or more culture chambers 18 as above which, otherwise, would be open in correspondence with the respective windows 19. In this way, the cell culture present in the culture chambers 18 can remain supported by the slide 11 and delimited laterally by the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32

The containing device 10 can also include a lid 13, shown only with a dashed line in fig. 1, to close the culture chambers 18 at the upper part.

According to some embodiments, the lid 13 can have a flat upper surface 40 on which a support plane R is defined, suitable to support a second containing device 10 associated with the corresponding slide 11, wherein said slide 11 contacts said support plane R.

In accordance with some embodiments, the support plane R is substantially complementary, in shape, to the slide 11 in such a way as to provide a suitable contact surface.

In this way, as described with reference to fig. 9, it is possible to stack the containing devices 10, associated with the slide 11.

It is evident that, simply to facilitate understanding, three containing devices 10 are described with reference to fig. 9, although it is possible to stack, for example, only two containing devices 10 associated with the slide 11 or more than three containing devices 10.

This disposition allows to obtain clear advantages in the management of the spaces in which such devices will be disposed, such as, for example, an incubator for cell cultures or a laboratory refrigerator.

It can also be provided to stack a plurality of containing devices 10, with relative slide 11 associated therewith, without the presence of the lid 13, by placing the slide 11 in direct contact with the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, and possibly with one or more dividing walls 32, of the containing device 10 immediately below.

In this way, the slide 11 can function as a lid closing, at the upper part, the chambers 18 of the underlying containing device 10, thus further reducing the vertical development of the stack and therefore reducing the spaces.

The lid 13 can be configured to be associated at least with the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b by means of a coupling that can be, for example, a same-shape or snap- in coupling.

In embodiments described using figs. 1, 8, 7 and 9, the lid 13 can be provided with lateral walls 41 which develop perimetrically in the opposite direction to the upper surface 40.

According to some embodiments, when such lid 13 is in use, that is, when the lid 13 is positioned in order to close the culture chambers 18 at the upper part, the lateral walls 41 can be associated with the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b of the containing device 10.

The lateral walls 41 can develop in such a way as to at least partly wrap the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b externally, producing an advantageous association able to keep the lid 13 in position preventing possible transverse movements of such lid 13 (fig. 8).

In possible implementations, the lid 13 can possibly be provided with protruding elements, which project in the direction of the upper surface 40 of the lid 13. The protruding element can be configured to be easily gripped with two fingers in order to easily move the lid 13.

The containing device 10 can be of the type with a single well, or with multiple wells, which can be two, or even more than two. For example, there can be provided lateral walls 15a, 15b and front 17a and rear 17b walls which perimetrically delimit the base frame 12, and possibly, if for example there are two culture chambers 18, also a dividing wall 32 which, since it is disposed internally, divides the two culture chambers 18. If there are more than two chambers 18, more than one dividing wall 32 will be provided (fig. 8).

The base frame 12 as above has a lower surface 16 defining a lying plane P on which to position in contact a slide 11 associated with the lower part of the containing frame 14 as above. Such lower surface 16 is configured to contact, during use, the surface of the slide 11.

In possible implementations, the lower surface 16 of the base frame 12 can be provided with sealing, or packing means 33 configured to cooperate with the slide 11 and close the bottom of the respective culture chambers 18 (fig. 6). When the containing device 10 is coupled to a slide 11 and the culture chambers 18 are filled with a suitable culture medium, the sealing means 33 prevent it from escaping. The sealing means 33 can be made as reliefs defining one or more grooves 34 made directly in the thickness of the base frame 12 (figs. 2 and 3).

In some embodiments, the sealing means 33 can be made of polymeric sealing material by means of a bi-injection process, so that such sealing means 33 are integral with the base frame 12 (fig. 8). In other words, in such embodiments the sealing means 33 and the base frame 12 are bi-injected. In the bi-injection process, therefore, two plastic materials are injected simultaneously, in particular the material that constitutes the base frame 12 and the polymeric material that constitutes the sealing means 33 are bi-injected. In this way, it is possible to combine the properties of two different polymeric plastic materials, for example in order to confer an adequate structure and mechanical strength upon the base frame 12, and the necessary sealing and packing capacity⁷ upon the sealing means 33. Advantageously, making the scaling means 33 and the base frame 12 bi- injected allows to advantageously combine the attaching effect of the levers 21 and of the sealing, guaranteeing a reliable coupling of the slide 11 with the base frame 12.

In these embodiments, the sealing means 33 can be protruding with respect to the lower surface 16 in the opposite direction of the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b.

According to other embodiments, the sealing means 33 can be packings made of plastic or silicone material, or other material suitable to provide a hermetic seal of liquids.

The walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32 as above are disposed, with respect to the lying plane P, on the opposite side to that where the slide 11 is able to be positioned, delimiting the culture chambers 18 (figs. 1, 2 and 4).

In some embodiments, the containing frame 14 comprises attachment means 20 selectively activatable and configured to stably associate the slide 11 with the base frame 12 on the respective lying plane P.

Thanks to the attachment means 20, a coupling is obtained between the base frame 12 of the containing frame 14 and the slide 11, in which these two components are juxtaposed so that, when the attachment means 20 are active, the slide 11 is integral with the containing device 10 and allows it to be used effectively for cell culture purposes.

Advantageously, the containing device 10, since it has the attachment means 20 comprised in the containing frame 14, allows the operator to quickly and easily separate the latter from the slide 11, acting favorably from above, even with a single hand. Advantageously, the attachment means 20 are configured to clamp the slide 11 directly from above. In this way, always operating from above, it is possible to activate and deactivate these attachment means 20 in a comfortable and safe manner.

In some embodiments, the attachment means 20 are selectively rotatable between a first operative position, or closed position, in which the slide 11 is engaged, and a second operative position, or open position, in which the slide 11 is released. See for example fig. 4 where the first operative position is shown with a continuous line and the second operative position is shown with a dashed line and the arrow G indicates the rotation.

Favorably, such attachment means 20 are elastic; this allows to activate the attachment means 20 by means of an appropriate stress, according to requirements, and subsequently, thanks to their elasticity, they can automatically restore their first operative position as soon as the stress received ceases. Furthermore, by making the attachment means 20 elastic, there is a higher possibility they will adapt to slides even of different thicknesses.

Advantageously, by providing that the attachment means 20 are elastic, this rotation from the first operative position to the second operative position is subjected to an elastic contrast force which tends to return the attachment means 20 to the first operative position. In other words, the first operative position is a stable position that the attachment means 20 normally maintain. This makes the attachment of the slide 11 to the containing frame 14 safe and reliable. The second operative position is not stable, and the elastic properties of the attachment means 20 tend to restore the first operative position. Favorably, the passage from the first operative position to the second operative position requires the intervention of an operator, while the reverse passage is automatic, by virtue of the elastic attachment means 20.

In some embodiments, the attachment means 20 comprise a pair of levers 21 disposed externally on opposite lateral walls 15a, 15b of the containing frame 14. For example, the levers 21 can be disposed substantially in correspondence with the transverse center line of the respective lateral walls 15a, 15b.

Advantageously, each lever 21 is rotating between the first operative position and the second operative position, and vice versa. Each lever 21 has a longitudinal extension along the respective lateral wall 15a, 15b such as to obtain a homogeneous and superficially distributed clamping on the slide 11, increasing the safety and stability of the attachment.

In some embodiments, each lever 21 is connected to the respective lateral walls 15a, 15b by a connection bridge 27a (figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5), advantageously flexible. This bridge 27a can be defined by a thin wall, an arm, a membrane of suitable thickness or suchlike. The length of this bridee 27a is such as to nosition the levers 21 at a suitable distance from the respective lateral walls 15a, 15b with which they are associated, both in order to allow their correct rotation and also in order to not interfere with the lid 13, in the event that it is used.

In some embodiments, each lever 21 is a first class lever. Each lever 21 is pivoted to a respective one of the lateral walls 15a, 15b in a respective fulcrum F disposed above the lying plane P on the same side where the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32 are present. The fulcrum F can be defined by the connection bridge, or thin wall, 27a, which connects the levers 21 to the respective lateral walls 15 a, 15b (figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5). The position of the fulcrum F makes each lever 21 an advantageous first class lever, since the applied force required is smaller than the resistance force, that is, with the resistance arm shorter than the power arm. This makes the rotation of the levers 21 and the locking/unlocking of the slide 11 particularly simple and easy.

Furthermore, according to some embodiments, each lever 21 has a lower end 23 which during use is positioned below the lying plane P, at least in the first operative position. This lower end 23 is configured to determine the attachment, and in particular the clamping, of the slide 11 against the lower surface 16 of the containing frame 14. In particular, the lower end 23 has an attachment tooth 36 protruding transversely, internally toward the base frame 12. This attachment tooth 36 is able to directly clamp the slide 11.

Moreover, according to some embodiments, each lever 21 has an upper end 25, positioned on the side opposite the lower end 23 with respect to the fulcrum F since it is a first class lever, above the lying plane P. This upper end 25 advantageously acts as an end for the application of a force, by an operator, to determine the passage from the first operative position to the second operative position. This stress, as is clear and evident from the attached drawings (for example figs. 1, 2 and 4), can also be applied favorably with only one hand or with two fingers (for example thumb and index finger).

Favorably, each attachment tooth 36 has a clamping surface 22 at least partly facing the lower surface 16 of the containing frame 14, at least in the first operative position (fig. 5). Therefore, during use the slide 11 is clamped between the clamping surface 22 and the lower surface 16, resulting stably positioned. In possible implementations, the clamping surface 22 can be knurled.

In some embodiments, in the first operative position, the attachment tooth 36 protrudes inward by a distance sufficient to take the clamping surface 22 at least partly opposite the lower surface 16, so as to produce an effective grip of the slide 11 (fig. 5).

In accordance with some embodiments, the attachment tooth 36 can be sized in order to protrude so that the area portion of the opposite surfaces, the clamping surface 22 and the lower surface 16, is suitable to guarantee a stable coupling of the slide 11.

In accordance with some embodiments, when the levers 21 are in the first operative position, the clamping surface 22 and the lower surface 16 are at a distance substantially corresponding to or smaller than the thickness of a slide. In this way, the levers 21 can exert a pressure suitable to keep the slide 11 firmly against the base frame 12 of the containing frame 14 of the containing device 10.

Favorably, the levers 21 as above are elastic in order to automatically restore their first position, as indicated above. In some embodiments, each lever 21 has an elastic element 27, intrinsic or extrinsic, able to determine an elastic return from the second operative position to the first operative position. The attached drawings show some embodiments in which the elastic element 27 is intrinsic and defined by the bridge 27a, able to obtain, by virtue of its thin thickness, the desired elastic properties. Favorably, in some embodiments this elastic element 27 is made, and more particularly defines, the fulcrum F as above (figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5). In other embodiments in which the elastic element 27 is extrinsic, it can be a spring, an element made of elastomeric or rubbery material or other.

Furthermore, in the event the levers 21 are elastic, they can also adapt to slides of different thicknesses, in any case providing to engage them and couple them to the containing device 10. In some embodiments, the base frame 12 comprises support feet 24a, 24b, for example four, projecting from the side opposite the walls 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32 with respect to the lying plane P and delimiting a housing compartment 26 able to receive the slide 11. These support feet 24a, 24b, favorably disposed opposite each other two by two, in association with the lateral walls 15a, 15b and/or the front 17a or rear 17b wall, act as a guide and lead-in for the correct positioning of the slide 11 in cooperation with the lower surface 16 of the base frame 12. In this way, once the slide 11 has been positioned precisely, it is possible to activate the attachment means 20 described above which clamp it correctly.

As further described in fig. 9, when the containing devices 10 and the respective associated slide 11 are stacked, the support feet 24a, 24b, of the containing device 10 which is disposed above another containing device 10 intersect the support plane R of the upper surface 40 of the lid 13 below. In this way, this lid 13 can be, at least partly, housed in the compartment 26, as a consequence the support feet 24a, 24b can come into contact with the lateral walls 41, keeping the containing device 10 substantially stable with the containing device 10 below.

Furthermore, the support feet 24a, 24b are configured to provide a stable support of the containing device 10 on a surface of use. Therefore, in the event that the containing devices 10 are stacked, the containing device 10 at the base, that is, in contact with the surface of use, will provide the stack with a support that is firm and substantially suitable to prevent oscillations.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the containing device 10 for cell culture as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of containing device for cell culture, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. Containing device for cell culture comprising a containing frame (14) having a base frame (12) from which walls (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32) project upward, delimiting one or more culture chambers (18), said base frame (12) having a lower surface (16) defining a lying plane (P) on which to position in contact a slide (11) associated with the lower part of the containing frame (14), said containing device being characterized in that said containing frame (14) comprises attachment means (20) selectively activatable and configured to stably associate said slide (11) with said base frame (12) on said lying plane (P), said attachment means (20) comprising a pair of levers (21) disposed externally on opposite lateral walls (15a, 15b) of said containing frame (14), each lever (21) being rotating between said first operative position and said second operative position.

2. Containing device as in claim 1, characterized in that said attachment means (20) are configured to clamp said slide (11) directly from above.

3. Containing device as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said attachment means (20) are elastic.

4. Containing device as in any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that said attachment means (20) are selectively rotatable between a first operative position in which said slide (11) is engaged and a second operative position in which said slide (11) is released.

5. Containing device as in any claim from 1 to 4, characterized in that each lever (21) is a first class lever.

6. Containing device as in any claim from 1 to 5, characterized in that said walls (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32) are disposed, with respect to said lying plane (P), on the opposite side to that where said slide (11) is able to be positioned, and in that each lever (21) is pivoted in a respective fulcrum (F) disposed above said lying plane (P) on the same side where said walls (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32) are present.

7. Containing device as in claim 6, characterized in that each lever (21) has a lower end (23), positioned below said lying plane (P) at least in said first operative position, which has an attachment tooth (36) protruding transversely, internally toward said base frame (12) and able to directly clamp said slide (11), and an upper end (25), positioned on the side opposite said lower end (23) with respect to said fulcrum (F), above said lying plane (P), which acts as an end for the application of a force to determine the passage from said first operative position to said second operative position.

8. Containing device as in claim 7, characterized in that each attachment tooth (36) has a clamping surface (22) at least partly facing the lower surface (16) at least in said first operative position, said slide (11) being clamped during use between said clamping surface (22) and said lower surface (16).

9. Containing device as in any claim from 1 to 8, characterized in that each lever (21) has an intrinsic or extrinsic elastic element (27) able to determine an elastic return from said second operative position to said first operative position.

10. Containing device as in any claim from 1 to 9, characterized in that said base frame (12) comprises support feet (24a, 24b) projecting from the side opposite said walls (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 32) with respect to said lying plane (P) and delimiting a housing compartment (26) able to receive said slide (11).

11. Containing device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a lid (13) that has a flat upper surface (40) on which a support plane (R) is defined, suitable to support a second containing device (10) associated with the respective slide (11), wherein said slide (11) contacts said support surface (R).

12. Containing device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the lower surface (16) of the base frame (12) is provided with sealing, or packing means (33) configured to cooperate with the slide (11) and close the bottom of the respective culture chambers (18).

13. Containing device as in claim 12, characterized in that said sealing means (33) are made of a sealing polymeric material by means of a bi-injection process so that they are integral with the base frame (12).