Biological species culture treatment system

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for treating the culture of biological species, comprising: - a rotating mobile device (1) comprising at least one housing (100) configured to receive a container (10, 11) intended to contain biological species such as petri dishes, said housing (100) being arranged at the periphery of the mobile device (1); - means (6, 8) for conveying containers (10, 11) into the housings - means (7) for extracting said containers (10, 11) from the housings (100) after treatment; the conveying means (6, 8) and the extraction means (7) being arranged at the periphery of the mobile device (1), the arrangement of the conveying means relative to the extraction means as well as the rotation speed of the mobile device being configured as a function of the treatment duration. Figure for the abstract: Fig.1

Description

Title of the invention: System for processing the culture of biological species

[0001] GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD AND STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The invention relates to cell culture systems and methods, in particular those using electromagnetic radiation on cell culture dishes.

[0003] Cell culture can be used for experimental or therapeutic purposes, for example by providing cell transplantation of the cultured cells.

[0004] Cell culture involves arranging biological species in culture dishes such as petri dishes and subjecting them to various conditions in order to transform them either for experimental or therapeutic purposes.

[0005] When species are subjected to electromagnetic radiation, it is important to control both the radiation and the exposure to that radiation.

[0006] Furthermore, when it comes to culturing multiple cells for therapeutic purposes, it may be useful to be able to culture a large number of species simultaneously. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention makes it possible to culture species in large quantities by subjecting cultures to repeatable conditions. Such cultures are advantageously used in regenerative medicine, in cell therapy and in particular in neurology.

[0008] To this end, the invention proposes, according to a first aspect, a system for treating the culture of biological species, comprising:

[0009] - a rotating mobile device comprising at least one housing configured to receive a container intended to contain biological species such as petri dishes, said housing being arranged on the periphery of the mobile device;

[0010] - means for conveying containers into the housings;

[0011] - means for extracting said containers from the housings after treatment;

[0012] the routing means and the extraction means being arranged at the periphery of the mobile device, the arrangement of the routing means relative to the extraction means as well as the rotation speed of the mobile device being configured as a function of the treatment duration.

[0013] The invention is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

[0014] - the mobile device is a disk preferably comprising several housings distributed evenly around the periphery of the disc;

[0015] - the housings are shaped to fit the shape of the container and are, for example, U-shaped notches, the housings including a support for supporting a container in the housing;

[0016] - it comprises at least one adapter intended to be arranged on a support in the housing and configured to position in a housing a container of variable shape and size;

[0017] - it comprises at least one irradiation module support arranged above each housing, the module support consisting of a tab comprising a lower end fixed to the upper surface of the mobile device and a free upper end comprising means for fixing an irradiation module at a variable height above the housing;

[0018] - the conveying means and / or the extraction means comprise a belt conveyor comprising a drive motor, a drive pulley and a return pulley;

[0019] - it comprises pads secured to the conveyor, each pad being configured to support a container in order either to position a container in a housing or to extract a container from a housing

[0020] - it comprises container supply means, conveying means and / or means of recovering containers after treatment.

[0021] The invention proposes, according to a second aspect, an assembly comprising a system according to the first aspect of the invention and irradiation modules arranged above each housing, each irradiation module being configured to irradiate a container in a housing by means of photonic and / or electromagnetic radiation.

[0022] The assembly according to the first aspect of the invention is such that each module comprises a housing and a collector skirt flaring from the housing, the skirt being adapted to concentrate a flux of photons towards the mobile device.

[0023] The invention proposes, according to a third aspect, a method for obtaining stem cells by means of an assembly according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0024] The invention provides, according to a fourth aspect, stem cells obtained by means of a method according to the third aspect of the invention, said cells being intended to be grafted onto a patient.

[0025] Thus, the invention also consists of treating cellular systems by electromagnetic and / or magnetic radiation which could in turn be used for cellular therapy for therapeutic purposes for neurological diseases, for example, but also for other pathologies.

[0026] The invention therefore makes it possible to optimize stem cell cultures with a view to cell transplantation in a sick patient. The irradiated and grafted stem cells level of the patient's affected area, allows for better uptake of the cell graft, with less rejection and cell death. PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0027] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0028] [fig. 1] figure 1 illustrates an overview of a treatment system according to the invention;

[0029] [fig.2] figure 2 illustrates a side view of the treatment system according to the invention;

[0030] [fig.3] figure 3 illustrates a view of a detail of the treatment system according to the invention;

[0031] [fig.4a]

[0032] [fig.4b] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate two views of a module used with the processing system.

[0033] Throughout the figures, similar elements bear identical references. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a system for treating cultures of biological species in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Mobile Device 1 - Carousel

[0036] The treatment system comprises a rotating mobile device 1 comprising at least one housing 100 configured to receive a culture container 10, 11 intended to contain biological species. A culture container 10, 11 is preferably a petri dish. Alternatively, the culture container may be:

[0037] - a rectangular or square box;

[0038] - a multi-well cell culture plate (6-well plate type);

[0039] - a cell culture flask (for example of the ThermoFisher™ brand);

[0040] . a large-scale cell culture flask (e.g. known as commercial Nunc Triple Flask),

[0041] . a bioprocess-scale cell culture flask (e.g. known as the trade name Nunc High Density Cell Factory Systems or Nunc standard cell factory Systems).

[0042] The mobile device 1 is in particular a rotating carousel in the form of a disc. One or more housing(s) 100 are arranged at the periphery of the disc, the disc comprising an upper surface 101 and a lower surface 102. The number of housings and therefore the size of the mobile device are variable. The number of housings depends on the need and will be at least two. The size of the mobile device 1 will depend on the number of housings; the more housings there are, the greater the diameter of the mobile device will be important.

[0043] The mobile device 1 is preferably driven in rotation by a stepper motor (not shown) positioned in the center of the lower surface 102. The rotation can of course be implemented in several ways.

[0044] Each housing 100 is adapted to the shape of the container that it is to receive. For a petri dish type container, it is constituted by a U-shaped notch formed in the thickness of the disc.

[0045] A housing 100 makes it possible to receive a culture container 10, 11. As such, each housing 100 comprises a support 210 which advantageously forms a step with the internal contour of the housing 100. In the case of a petri dish, the support is U-shaped and forms a step with the internal contour of the housing 100.

[0046] Thus, to insert the container into the housing, the container is slid onto the support 210 and is inserted correctly when it comes into abutment with the bottom of the contour of the housing 100. As will have been understood, each housing has a contour adapted to the shape of the container that it must receive.

[0047] To take into account several types of container, the system comprises removable adapters 2, 3 and 4 of variable sizes forming in turn a support for a container. These removable adapters 2, 3 and 4 are arranged on the initial supports 210 of the housings 100. These removable adapters 2, 3 and 4. To be correctly inserted into the housings 210, the removable adapters 2, 3 and 4 are of a shape complementary to the housing 210. Of course, when they are inserted into the housings 210, they allow insertion of the containers as described above.

[0048] Thus, the housings 100 can receive different types of container held firmly. Such holding is important since in the case of irradiation it is important to irradiate the species contained in the containers in a homogeneous manner.

[0049] When the mobile device 1 comprises several housings 100, different adapters 2, 3 and 4 can be provided from one housing to another, the adapters having different sizes. In this way, on the same mobile device 1, there can be containers of different sizes or shapes.

[0050] This provides modularity in the containers that can be used with the treatment system.

[0051] In the case of petri dishes, it is possible to provide adapters designed to allow the insertion into the housings of dishes having a diameter between 35 mm and 100 mm, knowing that each housing by default is adapted to receive a predetermined type of container. The dishes can have the following sizes: 035x10mm, 060x15mm, 0100x15mm, 0100x20mm, 0150x20mm. The dishes can be squares of size 245x245mm.

[0052] Means of conveyance and means of extraction

[0053] In order to position the containers 10, 11 in the housings and to extract them from the mobile device, conveying means 6 and extraction means 9 are positioned on the periphery of the mobile device 1.

[0054] The conveying means 6 and the extraction means 9 are preferably constituted by a belt conveyor: an input conveyor 60 and an output conveyor 70. Each conveyor comprises a drive motor, a drive pulley and a return pulley. These constituent elements of the conveyor are not detailed here in more detail because they are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0055] The conveying means 6 are coupled with a device 8 for feeding the culture container. Such a feeding device 8 is for example a robotic arm. Alternatively, the feeding of the conveying means can be manual: an operator can place the boxes on the input conveyor.

[0056] For placement in the housings, the conveying means 6 comprise means 61 for positioning the containers in the housings. As illustrated in the figures, these may be raising pads 61 on which the containers are positioned. The pads 61 make it possible to raise the containers, for example by a few millimeters so that they do not interfere with the adapters 2, 3, 4 when the container approaches the carousel.

[0057] As can be seen in the figures, the studs consist of discs arranged on the conveyor belt and are integral with the belt: they rotate with the belt. To allow the containers to be positioned in the housings of the carousel, the input conveyor 60 is positioned relative to the carousel so that when the container arrives in position in a housing (with or without an adapter), the container is captured and it detaches from the raising stud 61 which rotates with the conveyor 60. The rotation of the carousel will finish positioning the container correctly on the carousel.

[0058] Each stud has a diameter smaller than that of the removable support so as not to interfere with the latter.

[0059] The speed of the conveyor will, in operation, be adapted to allow, during the rotation of the carousel, the positioning of the container aided by the corresponding stud.

[0060] Of course, other positioning means can be envisaged as long as they allow each container to be positioned from the conveyor to the carousel.

[0061] The extraction means 9 are coupled with a device 9 for recovering the culture containers. Such a recovery device 9 is for example an incubator. It may also be another system allowing the culture containers to be subjected to other treatments.

[0062] To extract the containers, the extraction means 7 comprise evacuation means 71. The extraction means 7 are similar to the conveying means and are constituted by a belt conveyor called an output conveyor comprising studs 71 ​​similar to the positioning means 61. The studs 71 ​​of the output conveyor are integral with the conveyor belt. By rotating, the stud of the conveyor of the extraction means 7 will come into contact with the petri dish (positioned on the removable support) and capture it. When the container is positioned on the raising stud, it is evacuated towards the recovery device 9.

[0063] Irradiation module

[0064] Above each housing, an irradiation module 5 is arranged. To do this, each module is arranged at an upper end 520, of a tab 90 extending from the upper surface 101 of the mobile device 1, a lower end 710 being attached and fixed to the upper surface 101 of the mobile device 1. The fixing of the tab 90 is implemented either by gluing or welding or more generally by any manner allowing such a tab to be fixed.

[0065] The tab comprises a lower end 91, an upper end 92 and an intermediate portion 93. A groove 94 is present at the upper end 92 to allow the irradiation module 5 to be fixed at a variable height above the housing 100.

[0066] Figures 2a and 2b respectively illustrate a bottom view of an irradiation module 5 and a top view of an irradiation module 5.

[0067] As can be seen in these figures, the irradiation module 5 has a substantially triangular shape and comprises a housing 50 in which several components are arranged.

[0068] Each module 5 is configured to emit photonic radiation in possible combination with electromagnetic radiation. In the example illustrated, the module 5 uses three photonic sources 510, 520, 530 simultaneously in operation (the photonic sources are represented schematically by cylinders). Of course, a different number of sources can be implemented.

[0069] To allow the radiation from the sources to pass through, the module comprises a central opening 54. Advantageously, a collector skirt 56 is fixed at the central opening 54. The collector skirt 56 consists of a hollow cone flaring out from the housing 50. Each skirt comprises a reflective internal wall (for red and infrared light) in order to control the quantity of light energy sent to the cells. The collector skirt 56 is adapted to the dimensions of the containers below. Furthermore, the skirt limits the risk of dazzling operators working around the system.

[0070] Module 5 allows you to select different sources.

[0071] For this purpose, several electronic cards 51, 52, 53 are housed inside the housing 50. In Figures 2a and 2b, three electronic cards are present. Each electronic card 51, 52, 53 contains one or more photonic sources 510, 520, 530 of the same type but with different functional characteristics (wavelength for example). A type of photonic source is for example: an LED, a laser, etc.

[0072] For example:

[0073] - an electronic card 51 may comprise infrared LEDs of different wavelengths

[0074] - an electronic card 52 may comprise red LEDs of different lengths wave

[0075] - an electronic card 53 can comprise Lasers of different lengths wave.

[0076] The cards 51, 52, 53 consist of a disk on which the different sources are distributed regularly.

[0077] Thus, each card 51, 52, 53 can comprise several sources but the module 5, thanks to the central opening, allows only one source from each card 51, 52, 53 to pass through.

[0078] To select which source to use, the module 5 comprises a wheel 511, 521, 531 associated with each card 51, 52, 53 allowing the source to be selected. In particular, the wheel 511, 521, 531 allows the disk to be rotated so that the desired source is at the central opening 54 of the module 5.

[0079] Alternatively, the selection can be made remotely via a control unit (not shown). In this case, the modules 5 comprise communication means for putting the control unit and the modules into communication.

[0080] In a complementary manner, each module 5 comprises a magnet 55 arranged around the sources which makes it possible to couple electromagnetic radiation to the photonic radiation.

[0081] To fix the modules on the legs, the latter comprise a rod 81 into which a nut 82 is screwed. In this way, the rod is inserted into the groove 94 of the leg and the fixing is carried out thanks to the nut 82 which makes it possible to tighten the rod on the leg, the module 5 then being fixed above a housing. The rod 81 can move in the groove 94 to allow the height of the module above the carousel to be regulated.

[0082] Description of the system in operation

[0083] In operation, the irradiation modules 5 are positioned above the housings 100.

[0084] The conveying means bring a container 10, 11 of cultures into a housing 100, the device being mobile in rotation it marks a stop time when a box or a support with a box is in front of a housing. This stopping time allows the container to be correctly inserted into the support. Note that the supports 2, 3, 4 are housed prior to the operation of the mobile device in each housing in order to adapt to the containers that will be used.

[0085] To implement the culture, the modules irradiate the container during the rotation of the mobile device, the treated container is evacuated when it arrives in front of the evacuation means. Here again, there is a stopping time to allow the treated container to be evacuated.

[0086] The duration of the treatment, that is to say the duration of irradiation of the containers, is a function of the arrangement of the conveying means in relation to the extraction means as well as the rotation speed of the mobile device. The duration of treatment is therefore equal to the time taken by a container from the moment it is inserted into a housing to reach the evacuation means.

[0087] In the illustrated example, the mobile device comprises six housings, the conveying and extraction means being arranged side by side so that the inlet and outlet of the device are constituted by adjacent housings. In this way, the processing time of a container is at least almost one complete revolution of the mobile device.

Claims

Claims

1. System for processing the culture of biological species, comprising: - a rotating mobile device (1) comprising at least one housing (100) configured to receive a container (10, 11) intended to contain biological species such as petri dishes, said housing (100) being arranged at the periphery of the mobile device (1); - means (6, 8) for conveying containers (10, 11) into the housings - means (7) for extracting said containers (10, 11) from the housings (100) after treatment; the conveying means (6, 8) and the extraction means (7) being arranged at the periphery of the mobile device (1), the arrangement of the conveying means relative to the extraction means as well as the rotation speed of the mobile device being configured as a function of the treatment duration.

2. System according to claim 1, in which the mobile device (1) is a disk preferably comprising several housings (100) distributed regularly on the periphery of the disk.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the housings are shaped to match the shape of the container and are, for example, U-shaped notches, the housings comprising a support (210) for supporting a container in the housing.

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one adapter (2, 4) intended to be arranged on a support (210) in the housing and configured to position in a housing (100) a container of variable shape and size.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one support (90) for an irradiation module (5) arranged above each housing (100), the module support (90) consisting of a tab comprising a lower end (91) fixed to the upper surface of the mobile device and a free upper end (92) comprising means for fixing an irradiation module at a variable height above the housing.

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conveying means (6) and / or the extraction means (7) comprise a belt conveyor comprising a drive motor, a drive pulley and a return pulley.

7. A system according to claim 6, comprising pads (61,71) integral with the conveyor, each pad being configured to support a container in order either to position a container in a housing or to extract a container from a housing.

8. System according to the preceding claim, comprising means (8) for supplying containers, conveying means and / or means (9) for recovering the containers after treatment.

9. Assembly comprising a system according to one of claims 5 to 8 and irradiation modules (5) arranged above each housing (100), each irradiation module being configured to irradiate a container in a housing by means of photonic and / or electromagnetic radiation.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein each module comprises a housing (50) and a collector skirt (56) flaring from the housing (50), the skirt being adapted to concentrate a flux of photons towards the mobile device (1).

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