PCT No. PCT / GB95 / 01833 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 12, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 12, 1997 PCT Filed Aug. 2, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 05285 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 22, 1996A
cell culture apparatus is disclosed. The
cell culture apparatus includes a
chassis or supporting frame. The
cell culture apparatus also includes a rotor releasably housing a plurality of
cell culture vessels / roller bottles, the rotor being mounted about a substantially
horizontal axis or shaft supported by said frame, with means provided to facilitate rotation of the rotor at a controlled speed. The
cell culture apparatus also includes a reversible multi-channel pump or pumps, mounted on and rotating with the rotor. The
cell culture apparatus also includes a manifold with one or more sealable external connections and a plurality of connections communicating with the individual channels of the multi-channel pump or pumps, each of the cell culture vessels being equipped with a microporous air vent to
atmosphere and a dip tube. The dip tube is fixed with respect to the cell
culture vessel and positioned to permit extraction of fluid when the cell
culture vessel is stopped in a specific orientation. The dip tube of each vessel is individually connected to one channel of said multi-channel pump or pumps. The arrangement of the parts is such that the
assembly comprising the rotor, cell culture vessels, pump, manifold and the connections to the cell culture vessels are rotatable about the
horizontal axis. The arrangement also allows fluid to be injected into or extracted from the roller bottles simultaneously via a single
external connection, under the influence of the multi-channel pump or pumps.