Portable CO2 incubator for cell cultures

INTRODUCTION:

Cell lines grown in-vitro in specialized CO2 incubators are kept in standard conditions involving constant temperature, CO2 level (sometimes also O2) and 100% humidity. However some experimental procedures demand a transport of live cell cultures leading to an exposition of the cells to the environmental conditions for pro-longed time period.

TECHNOLOGY (INVENTION) DESCRIPTION:

We developed and successfully tested a small portable cell culture incubator which integrates systems for temperature and CO2 concentration control and keeps 100% humidity. It can be used as a standard cell culture incubator connected to the external 220V power and CO2 source. In case it is needed the incubator can be switched into the transport regime involving its own high-power battery and internal CO2 source (it has embedded 2L cylinder with liquid CO2). Disconnected it can keep constant conditions for many hours (depending on environmental conditions and frequency of doors opening). Practical handle, low weight and small size allow one-person transport of the incubator. In case of transport inside a car it can be connected to the standard 12V plugin to save internal battery.

ADVANTAGES OVER EXISTING SOLUTIONS:

► High-power LiFePO4 battery powered ► Its own source of CO2 ► Holds 100% humidity ► Disconnected keeps constant cell culturing conditions for many hours ► Can be connected to external power sources (220V AC and 12V DC car plugin) ► Can be connected to external source of CO2 ► Small size, low weight and practical handle – one person can carry it ► Allows easy refi lling of internal CO2 cylinder from standard CO2 cylinders

DEVELOPMENT STATUS (STAGE):

Prototype.

PUBLICATIONS:

IP PROTECTION STATUS:

CZ 27799 PCT/CZ2014/000153

TECHNOLOGY / IP OWNERS :

Palacky University Olomouc - Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine (IMTM), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Brno University of Technology