Cell culture device having a modular construction
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023714806
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-03-31
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing cell culture devices face issues with deformation and instability during handling and transport due to spring-type fixing devices that exert force on flexible culture plates, leading to optical reading interference and risk of spilling.
A culture box with a housing that uses retaining walls and support surfaces to securely position and maintain culture plates without mechanical force, allowing for elastic nesting and easy insertion/removal, and a complementary module for supporting the culture plate during removal to prevent deformation.
The solution ensures the culture plates are held securely in all directions without deformation, preventing spilling and allowing for precise optical reading, while facilitating easy handling and orientation.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: Cell culture device with modular construction
[0003] The invention relates to the field of cell culture devices and more specifically to a culture dish, a culture plate, a complementary tool, an assembly and a kit.
[0004] Cell culture devices are designed to grow cells in at least one culture well that is used like a small test tube. The culture well may be, for example, a microfluidic well and may be connected to a microfluidic chip.
[0005] The culture well is made on a culture plate. These plates have become standard tools in research and clinical analysis of laboratory diagnostic tests. A culture plate is usually called a "microtiter" plate, and can generally contain 6, 24, 96, 384, or even 1536 culture wells, usually arranged in a rectangular matrix of 2:3 format, in other words, whose width to length ratio is equal to 2 / 3. Various characteristics, including the dimensions of the culture wells (diameter, spacing, depth), as well as the dimensions and rigidity of these plates have been standardized and standardized by the American National Standards Institute, at the initiative of the SBS (Society for Biomolecular Screening). The geometric coordinates of the centers of the wells are standardized by style, the style of a plate being determined by the number of wells in the plate.Culture plates are generally made of Polystyrene, also known by the abbreviation PS, which is a transparent, biocompatible, rigid, inexpensive, and easy-to-mold thermoplastic. Also known, culture plates, and more specifically culture plates for microfluidic applications, can be made of Polydimethylsiloxane or dimethicole, also known by the abbreviation PDMS, which is a transparent, biocompatible, deformable, very easy-to-mold elastomer and which has interesting oxygen permeability properties for microfluidic applications.
[0006] There are culture boxes for containing at least one culture plate, such as the one described in patent document EP1932904. These culture boxes comprise, on the one hand, spring-type fixing devices for fixing the culture plate to the culture box, and on the other hand, a disassembly hole on a lower face for removing the culture plate from the culture box.
[0007] These fixing devices have the disadvantage of holding the culture plate by exerting a force on it in two directions perpendicular to each other, and extending in the plane of the culture dish. Thus, when the culture plate is flexible, the fixing devices deform the latter, which in particular prevents optical reading of the culture wells. In addition, the culture plate is held in a third direction perpendicular to the first two by friction exerted between the culture plate and the culture dish. Thus, the holding in the third direction is not perfectly ensured, in particular when the culture dish is shaken or dropped, for example during transport.
[0008] In addition, the disassembly hole allows a disassembly rod to be inserted under a corner of the culture plate to lift it, which causes deformation of the latter and a risk of spilling the contents of the culture plate.
[0009] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a culture box comprising at least one housing configured to position and hold a culture plate, said housing comprising:
[0010] - at least one retaining wall configured to come at least partially into contact with an edge of the culture plate,
[0011] - at least one bearing surface secured to the retaining wall, said bearing surface being configured to come at least partially into contact with a first elongation surface of the culture plate, characterized in that the housing comprises at least one device for fixing the culture plate, secured to the retaining wall, said at least one fixing device comprising at least one retaining surface positioned opposite the bearing surface, said retaining surface delimiting a holding space with the bearing surface, said holding space having a dimension corresponding to at least one thickness of the culture plate intended to come opposite the at least one retaining surface.
[0012] The retaining wall is intended to surround all or part of the edge of the culture plate. The retaining wall surrounds at least part of the housing. The retaining wall is configured to allow the introduction of the culture plate into the housing while taking into account manufacturing tolerances of the culture plate.
[0013] The holding wall allows the culture plate to be positioned in a holding plane when the latter is inserted into the housing. Preferably, the holding plane is a plane in which the culture box extends.
[0014] In the remainder of the description, the term “solid elements” means that said elements are single-piece and unitary, irremovable from one another, formed from a single piece, or that there are no relative movements possible between them without degradation.
[0015] The bearing surface is intended to come into contact with all or part of the first elongation surface of the culture plate. In other words, when the culture plate is positioned in the housing, the first elongation surface is in contact with the bearing surface. Preferably, the bearing surface makes it possible to hold the culture plate in a holding direction substantially perpendicular to the holding plane. The fixing device comprises at least one retaining surface which is positioned opposite the bearing surface. The retaining surface comprises a first end extending at a distance from the holding wall and a second end attached directly or via a connecting element to the holding wall. The retaining surface is separated from the bearing surface by the holding space. The latter has a dimension allowing insertion of the culture plate between the bearing surface and the retaining surface.In other words, the dimension of the holding space corresponds at least to the thickness of the culture plate taken at the level of the retaining surface when the culture plate is positioned in the housing.
[0016] Preferably, the holding space is measured along the holding direction.
[0017] Thus, the culture plate can be inserted into the holding space without any mechanical force or stress being exerted on it after insertion that could cause deformation of the culture plate. In other words, when the plate is in its housing and is being held, no force is exerted on said culture plate.
[0018] When the culture plate is introduced into the housing it is perfectly held in the holding plane and in the holding direction so that the culture plate is held in all directions of space regardless of the orientation of the culture box.
[0019] The invention may also have one or more of the following features taken alone or in combination.
[0020] According to one embodiment, the culture dish comprises at least one housing configured to receive a culture plate for a microfluidic application.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the holding wall ensures suitability for an SBS (Society for Biomolecular Screening) format. In other words, the holding wall allows a center of a well of the culture plate to be positioned in a circle 0.7 mm in diameter from a theoretical position.
[0022] According to one embodiment, the bearing surface forms an edge along the retaining wall, the edge being configured not to completely cover the first elongation surface.
[0023] According to one embodiment, the holding space has a dimension corresponding to at least one thickness of the culture plate intended to come opposite the at least one retaining surface, increased by a functional clearance.
[0024] The functional clearance is included in a first predetermined value range. The first predetermined value range is defined so as to take into account manufacturing tolerances of the culture plate. Thus, when the culture plate is inserted into the holding space, no mechanical force or stress that could cause deformation of the culture plate is exerted on the latter once held. The first predetermined value range can also be defined so as to guarantee a suitability with an SBS (Society for Biomolecular Screening) format. In other words, the holding wall makes it possible to position the center of a well of the culture plate in a circle 0.7 mm in diameter from a theoretical position.
[0025] According to one embodiment, the at least one fixing device comprises at least one introduction surface forming an angle of inclination with the holding wall.
[0026] The insertion surface moves away from the holding wall when it approaches the support surface. Said angle of inclination is within a second predetermined value range between [0° and 90°], preferably between [40° and 85°], and in particular 80°.
[0027] The introduction surface facilitates the insertion of the culture plate into the housing and more particularly into the holding space by forming an insertion ramp.
[0028] According to one embodiment, the at least one retaining surface forms an angle of inclination with the retaining wall.
[0029] The retaining surface moves away from the retaining wall when it moves away from the support surface. Said angle of inclination is within a third predetermined value range between [0° and 90°], preferably between [5° and 85°], and in particular 20°.
[0030] The inclination of the retaining surface facilitates removal of the culture plate from the housing and more specifically from the holding space. The retaining surface acts as an ejection surface for the culture plate.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the angle of inclination of the retaining surface is less than the angle of inclination of the introduction surface.
[0032] Thus, maintaining the culture plate is favored over removing the culture plate.
[0033] According to one embodiment, the at least one fixing device allows elastic fitting of the culture plate.
[0034] Elastic interlocking is a method of joining a first element with a second element, in which the first element is elastically deformed when inserted onto the second element, or in which the first and second elements are elastically deformed. After interlocking, no stress is exerted on the first element and the second element, which are then at rest. The elements cannot be separated without exerting a new stress. In this case, the first element corresponds to the culture dish while the second element is the culture plate. Depending on the material of the culture plate and the geometry of the fixing device, elastic interlocking is achieved by the deformation of one, the other, or both.The invention also relates to a culture plate intended to be inserted into a housing of a culture dish according to the invention, comprising at least one edge configured to cooperate with the at least one fixing device of the culture dish.
[0035] In other words, the culture plate includes an edge that can be inserted into the holding space.
[0036] According to one embodiment, the edge of the culture plate has a constant thickness.
[0037] According to one embodiment, the edge of the culture plate comprises at least one notch intended to cooperate with the at least one fixing device of the culture box.
[0038] Thus, the thickness of the culture plate at the level of the fixing device is reduced. The culture plate therefore has a holding zone which is easily deformable and which is positioned at the level of the fixing device. This deformable holding zone makes it easier to insert and remove the culture plate from the culture dish. Indeed, only this holding zone will be deformed and not the entire culture plate. There is therefore no risk of spilling the contents of the culture plate when inserting or removing it.
[0039] According to one embodiment, the culture plate has a non-symmetrical shape.
[0040] The shape allows for a key to be made to easily orient the said culture plate.
[0041] According to one embodiment, the culture plate comprises a second elongation surface comprising at least one culture well.
[0042] According to one embodiment, the culture plate comprises a second elongation surface, parallel to the first elongation surface.
[0043] According to one embodiment, the first elongation surface is spaced from the second elongation surface by a constant thickness.
[0044] The invention also relates to an additional module intended to be used with a culture dish according to the invention, comprising at least one withdrawal surface configured to come at least partially into contact with the first elongation surface of the culture plate, and at least one withdrawal element configured to be positioned opposite the at least one fixing device, and to exert a localized force on the culture plate at the fixing device.
[0045] The purpose of the withdrawal surface is to support the culture plate during its removal, preventing it from deforming at the supported locations. The withdrawal surface therefore comes into contact with the first elongation surface, and more particularly with a central area of the first elongation surface.
[0046] According to one embodiment, the at least one removal surface extends substantially in a removal plane. The removal element makes it possible to exert a force on the culture plate so as to produce a local deformation of the culture plate, preferably at the level of the holding zone of the culture plate, or, via the culture plate, a deformation of the fixing device, in order to remove the culture plate from the culture dish without deforming the latter overall.
[0047] According to one embodiment, the withdrawal surface and the withdrawal element extend substantially in the same plane.
[0048] Thus, the withdrawal surface and the withdrawal element constitute a flat support for the culture plate which can be flexible, which limits the propensity of the culture plate to store energy in bending. Indeed, the culture plate tends to release this energy in jolts or jolts, causing the contents of the culture wells to squirt or spill.
[0049] According to one embodiment, the removal element has a dimension allowing it to be positioned opposite the notch of the edge of the culture plate so as to allow deformation of the holding zone at the bottom of said notch.
[0050] According to one embodiment, the add-on module is physically independent of the culture box. In other words, there is no physical link between the culture box and the add-on module, which can therefore be moved away from the culture box by a non-predetermined distance.
[0051] According to one embodiment, the additional module comprises at least one support surface configured to come to bear on the support surface when the additional module is positioned in the at least one housing.
[0052] So the add-on module is configured to be positioned in the culture box housing in place of a culture plate.
[0053] According to one embodiment, the add-on module comprises at least one edge, configured to cooperate with the at least one fixing device of the culture box.
[0054] This way the add-on module can be inserted into the holding space of the fixing device.
[0055] According to one embodiment, the edge of the add-on module has a substantially constant thickness.
[0056] According to one embodiment, the edge of the additional module comprises at least one elastic zone intended to cooperate with the at least one fixing device of the culture box.
[0057] According to one embodiment, the edge of the additional module comprises at least one notch intended to cooperate with the at least one fixing device of the culture box.
[0058] Thus the thickness of the add-on module at the fixing device is reduced in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the add-on module from the culture box.
[0059] According to one embodiment, the add-on module has a non-symmetrical shape. The shape makes it possible to produce a keying device allowing said add-on module to be easily oriented.
[0060] According to one embodiment, the support surface of the add-on module is substantially parallel to the removal surface.
[0061] According to one embodiment, the support surface is spaced from the removal surface by a constant thickness.
[0062] According to one embodiment, the additional module comprises at least one functional means from among: a humidifying means, a lighting means, a ventilation means, a chemical measuring means, an acidity measuring means, a humidity measuring means, a heating means, a means for adding or removing at least one fluid, a biological measuring means, a means for measuring a mechanical deformation of at least one culture plate contiguous to said means for measuring the mechanical deformation, a simulation means.
[0063] So when the add-on is positioned in the grow box, it brings an additional functional means.
[0064] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a culture box according to the invention and an additional module according to the invention.
[0065] The invention also relates to a kit comprising at least one culture box according to the invention, an additional module according to the invention and a culture plate according to the invention.
[0066] The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to several embodiments according to the present invention, given as non-limiting examples and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:
[0067] [FIG. 1] is an exploded view of a culture dish according to the invention comprising at least one culture plate according to the invention;
[0068] [FIG. 2] is a view of the culture dish in which the at least one culture plate is inserted into a housing;
[0069] [FIG. 3] is a view of the culture dish in which the at least one culture plate is inserted into a housing and in which a bottom plate is fixed;
[0070] [FIG. 4] is a view of the culture dish in the closed position;
[0071] [FIG. 5] is a view of an additional module according to the invention seen from above;
[0072] [FIG. 6] is a three-dimensional view of the add-on;
[0073] [FIG. 7] is a side view of the add-on;
[0074] [FIG. 8] is a view of a culture plate according to the invention seen from above;
[0075] [FIG. 9] is a three-dimensional view of the culture plate;
[0076] [FIG. 10] is a view of a detail of the culture plate;
[0077] [FIG. 11] is a side view of the culture plate; [FIG. 12] is a three-dimensional view of the culture dish and a detail thereof;
[0078] [FIG. 13] is a three-dimensional, cross-sectional view of the culture box under which the add-on module is positioned;
[0079] [FIG. 14] is a three-dimensional, cross-sectional view of the culture dish under which the add-on module is positioned to allow removal of the culture plate;
[0080] [FIG. 15] is a three-dimensional, cross-sectional view of the culture box in which the add-on module is positioned in a housing;
[0081] The culture box 1 according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 4. It comprises a base plate 11, an intermediate element 12 and a cover 13.
[0082] The base plate 11 extends substantially in one plane. The base plate 11 has a non-symmetrical shape, i.e. it has a substantially rectangular shape with three rounded corners and one right angle. On at least one edge, it comprises first attachment means 111. The base plate 11 also comprises at least one centering shoulder 112.
[0083] The cover 13 has a shape substantially identical to an upper part of the intermediate element 12, in the present case, the cover 13 has a non-symmetrical shape, that is to say it has a substantially rectangular shape with three rounded angles and a right angle, so as to be able to be fitted onto the intermediate element 12. The cover 13 also comprises at least one centering shoulder 131 on an inner face and / or on an outer face to allow stacking of several culture dishes 1.
[0084] The intermediate element 12 has a shape substantially identical to the base plate 11 in a lower part and to the cover 13 in the upper part. In the present case, the intermediate element 12 has a non-symmetrical shape, that is to say it has a substantially rectangular shape with three rounded corners and a right angle. On at least one edge, it comprises third attachment means 121.
[0085] The intermediate element 12 comprises at least one housing 2 for positioning and holding a culture plate 4 or additional modules 3.
[0086] The housing 2 comprises a retaining wall 21 configured to come into contact with an edge 41 of the culture plate 4. The retaining wall 21 is intended to surround in whole or in part the edge 41 of the culture plate 4. The retaining wall 21 surrounds the housing 2.
[0087] The holding wall 21 is configured to allow the introduction of the culture plate 4 into the housing 2 while taking into account manufacturing tolerances of the culture plate 4. The holding wall 21 makes it possible to position the culture plate 4 in a holding plane when the latter is inserted into the housing 2. Preferably, the holding plane is a plane in which the culture dish 1 extends.
[0088] According to one embodiment, the holding wall 21 makes it possible to ensure suitability with an SBS (Society for Biomolecular Screening) format. In other words, the holding wall 21 makes it possible to position a center of a well 42 of the culture plate 4 in a circle of 0.7 mm diameter from a theoretical position.
[0089] The housing 2 also comprises a bearing surface 22 secured to the holding wall 21, said bearing surface 22 being configured to come partially into contact with a first elongation surface 43 of the culture plate 4. In other words, when the culture plate 4 is positioned in the housing 2, the first elongation surface 43 is in contact with the bearing surface 22. Preferably, the bearing surface 22 makes it possible to hold the culture plate 4 in a holding direction substantially perpendicular to the holding plane.
[0090] According to one embodiment, the bearing surface 22 forms an edge along the holding wall 21, the edge being configured so as not to completely cover the first elongation surface 43. The housing 2 further comprises at least one fixing device 23 for the culture plate 4. Each fixing device 23 is secured to the holding wall 21.
[0091] The fixing device 23 comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a retaining surface 232 positioned opposite the bearing surface 22. The retaining surface 232 comprises a first end extending at a distance from the retaining wall 21 and a second end attached directly or via a connecting element to the retaining wall 21.
[0092] According to one embodiment, the at least one retaining surface 232 forms an angle of inclination with the retaining wall 21. More precisely, the retaining surface 232 moves away from the retaining wall 21 when it moves away from the bearing surface 22. Said angle of inclination is included in a third predetermined value range between [0° and 90°], preferably between [5° and 85°], and in particular 20°.
[0093] The inclination of the retaining surface 232 facilitates removal of the culture plate 4 from the housing 2. The retaining surface 232 acts as an ejection surface for the culture plate 4.
[0094] A holding space is delimited between the retaining surface 232 and the support surface 22. The holding space has a dimension corresponding to at least one thickness of the culture plate 4 intended to come opposite the at least one retaining surface 232. Preferably, the holding space is measured along the holding direction.
[0095] The holding space has a dimension allowing insertion of the culture plate 4 between the support surface 22 and the retaining surface 232. In other words, the dimension of the holding space corresponds at least to the thickness of the culture plate 4 taken at the level of the retaining surface 232 when the culture plate 4 is positioned in the housing 2.
[0096] The holding space can be increased by a functional clearance. The functional clearance is included in a first predetermined value range. The first predetermined value range is defined so as to take into account manufacturing tolerances of the culture plate 4. Thus, when the culture plate 4 is inserted into the holding space, no mechanical force or stress capable of causing deformation of the culture plate 4 is exerted on the latter.
[0097] The first predetermined value range can also be defined so as to ensure suitability with an SBS (Society for Biomolecular Screening) format. In other words, the holding wall 21 makes it possible to position the center of a well 42 of the culture plate 4 in a circle 0.7 mm in diameter from a theoretical position.
[0098] According to one embodiment, the at least one fixing device 23 also comprises at least one introduction surface 231, as illustrated in FIG. 12, which forms an angle of inclination with the holding wall 21. The introduction surface 231 moves away from the holding wall 21 when it approaches the bearing surface 22. Said angle of inclination is within a second predetermined value range of between [0° and 90°], preferably between [40° and 85°], and in particular 80°.
[0099] The insertion surface 231 facilitates the insertion of the culture plate 4 into the housing 2 and more particularly into the holding space by forming an insertion ramp.
[0100] The fixing device 23 allows elastic fitting of the culture plate 4 in the housing 2.
[0101] Elastic interlocking is a method of assembling the culture plate 4 with the intermediate element 12, in which, depending on the material of the culture plate 4 and a geometry of the fixing device 23, the fixing device 23 or the culture plate 4 are elastically deformed when one is inserted into the other, or in which the fixing device 23 and the culture plate 4 are elastically deformed. After the interlocking has been carried out, no stress is exerted on either the fixing device 23 or the culture plate 4, which are then at rest. The fixing device 23 and the culture plate 4 can no longer be separated without exerting a new stress.
[0102] Thus, the culture plate 4 can be inserted into the holding space without any mechanical force or stress that could cause deformation of the culture plate 4 being exerted on the latter after insertion, that is to say once in place. When the culture plate 4 is introduced into the housing 2, it is perfectly held in the holding plane and in the holding direction so that the culture plate 4 is held in all directions of the space regardless of the orientation of the culture dish 1.
[0103] The intermediate element 12 also comprises an air humidifying means 122. The air humidifying means 122 continuously surrounds an edge of the intermediate element 12 so that a liquid can be distributed over the entire edge of the intermediate element 12. The air humidifying means 122 comprises meandering elements for damping and controlling a movement of the fluid. The base plate 11, the cover 13 and the intermediate element 12 are configured to be nested together in a separable manner. More precisely, and as illustrated in figures 1 to 4, the first attachment means 111 of the base plate 11 cooperate with the third attachment means 121 of the intermediate element 12, while the cover 13 is fitted without specific support on the intermediate element 12. Thus, the base plate 11 and the cover 13 can be assembled on the intermediate element 12.
[0104] Furthermore, the at least one centering shoulder 112 of the base plate 11 makes it possible to easily position the intermediate element 12 on the latter in order to easily fix the intermediate element 12 to the base plate 11.
[0105] The at least one centering shoulder of the outer face 131 of the cover 13 makes it possible to easily stack several culture boxes 1 on top of each other. More precisely, the centering shoulder 131 can cooperate with the bottom plate 11 or with the intermediate element 12. Thus, it is possible to stack several culture boxes comprising the bottom plate 11, or alternatively without the bottom plate 11.
[0106] The culture dish 1 can be used with or without the bottom plate 11. The bottom plate 11 makes it possible to protect, in particular during handling, the at least one culture plate 4 positioned in the housing 2 of the intermediate element 12. In addition, the bottom plate 11 has thickness and transparency characteristics allowing medium magnification microscope imaging, for example x10, x20, etc., of the contents of the culture plate 4. The bottom plate 11 can be removed in particular to carry out high magnification microscope imaging, or to carry out confocal imaging of the contents of the culture plate 4, or even for handling the culture dish 1 by laboratory automation.
[0107] The housing 2 of the culture box 1 is intended to position and hold a culture plate 4 such as for example a culture plate 4 for a microfluidic application.
[0108] The culture plate 4 according to the invention is more particularly illustrated in figures 8 to 11. The culture plate 4 comprises at least one edge 41 configured to cooperate with the fixing device 23 of the culture dish 1. In other words, the culture plate 4 comprises an edge 41 which can be inserted into the holding space.
[0109] According to one embodiment, the edge 41 of the culture plate 4 has a constant thickness. Thus, the culture plate 4 is easy to manufacture.
[0110] According to one embodiment, the edge 41 of the culture plate 4 comprises at least one notch 44 intended to cooperate with the fixing device 23 of the culture box. Thus the thickness of the culture plate 4 at the fixing device 23 is reduced. The culture plate 4 therefore has a holding zone 441 which is easily deformable and which is positioned at the fixing device 23. This deformable holding zone 441 makes it easier to insert and remove the culture plate 4 from the culture box 1. Indeed, only this holding zone 441 will be deformed and not the entire culture plate 4. There is therefore no risk of spilling the contents of the culture plate 4 when the latter is inserted or removed.
[0111] According to one embodiment, the culture plate 4 has a non-symmetrical shape, for example it has a substantially rectangular shape with three rounded corners and one right angle. The shape makes it possible to produce a keying device allowing said culture plate 4 to be easily oriented.
[0112] According to one embodiment, the culture plate 4 comprises a second elongation surface 45 comprising at least one culture well 42.
[0113] According to one embodiment, the culture plate 4 comprises a second elongation surface 45, parallel to the first elongation surface 43.
[0114] According to one embodiment, the first elongation surface 43 is spaced from the second elongation surface 45 by a constant thickness.
[0115] When the culture plate 4 is introduced into the housing 2, the culture plate 4 and more precisely the first elongation surface 43 comes into contact with the introduction surface 231 of the fixing device 23. The holding zone 441 is then locally deformed by the introduction surface 231 so as to allow the insertion of the culture plate 4 into the housing 2. When the culture plate 4 is sufficiently inserted into the housing 2, the holding zone 441 is positioned in the holding space and no longer undergoes any force or mechanical stress that could cause deformation of the culture plate 4, and the first elongation surface 43 is in contact with the bearing surface 22 of the intermediate element 12.
[0116] Furthermore, the culture box 1 according to the invention cooperates with an additional module 3 illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 is physically independent of the culture box 1. In other words, there is no physical link between the culture box 1 and the additional module 3 which can therefore be moved away from the culture box 1 by a non-predetermined distance. More precisely, it can be positioned on each side of the intermediate element 12.
[0117] According to one embodiment, the add-on module has a shape that allows it to be inserted into the housing of the culture box.
[0118] According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 has a symmetrical shape.
[0119] According to one embodiment, the add-on module has a non-symmetrical shape, for example it has a substantially rectangular shape with three rounded corners and one right angle. The shape makes it possible to produce a keying device allowing said add-on module 3 to be easily oriented.
[0120] According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 has a shape identical to that of the culture plate 4. The additional module 3 makes it possible to easily remove the culture plate 4 from the housing 2. For this, the additional module 3 comprises a removal surface 31 configured to come partially into contact with the first elongation surface 43 of the culture plate 4. The purpose of the removal surface 31 is to support the culture plate 4 during its removal from the housing 2 while avoiding deformation of the latter. The removal surface 31 therefore comes into contact with the first elongation surface 43, and more particularly with a central zone of the first elongation surface 43.
[0121] According to one embodiment, the withdrawal surface 31 extends substantially in a withdrawal plane.
[0122] The add-on module 3 also comprises at least one removal element 32 configured to be positioned opposite a fixing device 23, and to exert a localized force on the culture plate 4 at the fixing device 23.
[0123] According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 comprises as many removal elements 32 as the housing 2 comprises fixing devices 23.
[0124] To remove a culture plate 4 from the housing 2, the additional module 3 is positioned opposite the first elongation surface 43 of the culture plate 4 as illustrated in FIG. 13. Then the additional module 3 is brought into contact with said first elongation surface 43 as illustrated in FIG. 14. The culture plate 4 is then positioned on the removal surface 31 and on the removal elements 32 of the additional module 3. The culture plate 4 is then extracted from the housing 2 and can be removed from the additional module 3.
[0125] The removal element 32 makes it possible to exert a localized force on the culture plate 4 so as to produce a local deformation of the culture plate 4, preferably at the level of the holding zone 441 of the culture plate 4, or, via the culture plate 4, a deformation of the fixing device 23, in order to remove the culture plate 4 from the culture dish 1 without deforming the latter overall.
[0126] According to one embodiment, the withdrawal surface 31 and the withdrawal element 32 extend substantially in the same plane. Thus, the withdrawal surface 31 and the withdrawal element 32 constitute a flat support for the culture plate 4 which can be flexible, which limits the propensity of the culture plate 4 to store energy in bending. Indeed, the culture plate 4 has a tendency to restore this energy in a jolt or jump, causing the contents of the culture wells 42 to squirt or spill.
[0127] According to one embodiment, the withdrawal element 32 has a dimension allowing it to be positioned on either side of the notch 44 of the edge of the culture plate 4 so as to allow deformation of said notch 44, and more particularly of the holding zone 441. According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 can be inserted into the housing 2 in place of a culture plate 4 as illustrated in FIG. 15. For this, the additional module 3 comprises at least one support surface 33 configured to come to bear on the support surface 22. According to one embodiment, the support surface 33 of the additional module 3 is substantially parallel to the withdrawal surface 31.
[0128] According to one embodiment, the support surface 33 is spaced from the withdrawal surface 31 by a constant thickness.
[0129] According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 comprises at least one edge 34, configured to cooperate with the at least one fixing device 23 of the culture box 1. Thus the additional module 3 can be inserted into the holding space of the fixing device 23.
[0130] According to one embodiment, the edge 34 of the additional module 3 has a constant thickness.
[0131] So, add-on 3 is easy to make.
[0132] According to one embodiment, the edge 34 of the additional module 3 comprises at least one notch 341 intended to cooperate with the at least one fixing device 23 of the culture box 1.
[0133] Thus the thickness of the additional module 3 at the level of the fixing device 23 is reduced in order to facilitate the introduction and removal of the additional module 3 from the culture box 1.
[0134] According to one embodiment, the additional module 3 comprises at least one functional means from among: a humidifying means 35, a lighting means, a ventilation means, a chemical measuring means, an acidity measuring means, a humidity measuring means, a heating means, a means for adding or removing at least one fluid, a biological measuring means, a means for measuring a mechanical deformation of at least one culture plate 4 contiguous to said means for measuring the mechanical deformation, a simulation means.
[0135] So when the add-on 3 is positioned in the culture box 1, it brings an additional functional means.
[0136] The humidifying means 35 may be identical to that of the intermediate element 12, that is to say that the humidifying means 35 continuously surrounds an edge 34 of the complementary module 3 so that a liquid can be distributed over the entire edge 34 of the complementary module 3. The humidifying means 35 comprises meandering elements making it possible in particular to dampen and control a movement of the fluid. The complementary module 3 positions the humidifying means 35 as close as possible to the adjacent wells of the culture plates 4, so as to limit a distance between the wells and the humidification source. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the appended figures. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
Claims
DEMANDS 1. Grow box (1) comprising at least one housing (2) configured to position and hold a grow plate (4), said housing (2) comprising: - at least one retaining wall (21) configured to come at least partially into contact with an edge (41) of the culture plate (4), - at least one bearing surface (22) integral with the retaining wall 21, said bearing surface (22) being configured to come at least partially into contact with a first elongation surface (43) of the culture plate (4), - at least one fixing device (23) for the culture plate (4), attached to the support wall (21), said at least one fixing device (23) comprising at least one retaining surface (232) positioned opposite the support surface (22), said retaining surface (232) defining a holding space with the support surface (22), and forming an angle of inclination with the support wall (21), said holding space having a dimension corresponding to at least one thickness of the culture plate (4) intended to come opposite the at least one retaining surface (232), the at least one fixing device (23) comprising at least one introduction surface (231) forming an angle of inclination with the support wall (21), characterized in that the angle of inclination of the retaining surface is less than the angle of inclination of the introduction surface.
2. Culture box (1) according to claim 1, in which the holding space has a dimension corresponding to at least one thickness of the culture plate (4) intended to come opposite at least one retaining surface (232), increased by a functional clearance.
3. Culture box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fastening device (23) allows elastic fitting of the culture plate (4).
4. Culture plate (4) intended to be inserted into a housing (2) of a culture box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one edge (41) configured to cooperate with at least one fastening device (23) of the culture box (1).
5. Additional module (3) intended to be used with a culture box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one withdrawal surface (31) configured to come at least partially into contact with the first elongation surface (43) of the culture plate (4), and at least one withdrawal element (32) configured to be positioned opposite at least one fixing device (23), and to exert a localized force on the culture plate (4) at the level of the fixing device (23).
6. Additional module (3) according to claim 5, comprising at least one support surface (33) configured to bear against the support surface (22) when the additional module (3) is positioned in at least one housing (2).
7. Additional module (3) according to claim 5 or 6, comprising at least one edge (34), configured to cooperate with at least one fastening device (23) of the culture box (1).
8. An additional module (3) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising at least one functional means from among: a humidifier (35), a lighting means, a ventilation means, a chemical measurement means, an acidity measurement means, a humidity measurement means, a heating means, a means for adding or removing at least one fluid, a biological measurement means, a means for measuring the mechanical deformation of at least one culture plate 4 contiguous to said mechanical deformation measurement means, and a simulation means.
9. An assembly comprising at least one culture dish (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and an additional module (3) according to any one of claims 7 to 8.
10. Kit comprising at least one culture box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an additional module (3) according to any one of claims 7 to 8 and a culture plate (4) according to claim 4.