Culture insert carrier, culture insert and culture insert system

Abstract

A culture insert carrier for supporting at least one culture insert in a culture tray having at least one well, wherein the culture insert carrier comprises a plane member with at least one opening for insertion of the at least one culture insert in such a way that the culture insert carrier supports the at least one culture insert in a position in the culture tray is provided. Further, a culture insert comprising a plurality of suspension elements including a first set of suspension elements and a second set of suspension elements, the suspension elements being adapted to suspend the culture insert in a plurality of vertical positions, including a first vertical position and a second vertical position, in relation to a frame is provided.

1 . A culture insert carrier for supporting at least one culture insert in a culture tray having at least one well, wherein the culture insert carrier comprises a plane member with at least one opening having a first support element with a bottom and a top and being shaped to support a culture insert for insertion and removal of the at least one culture insert in the culture insert carrier in such a way that the culture insert carrier supports the at least one culture insert in a position in the culture tray. 
     
     
         2 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier supports a culture insert such that the culture insert has a well-defined lateral position in the culture tray. 
     
     
         3 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the first support element extends substantially perpendicular to the plane member. 
     
     
         4 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the first support element has a first rim extending substantially parallel to the plane member for supporting the culture insert. 
     
     
         5 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the first support element comprises a first set of rims. 
     
     
         6 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the first support element comprises at least one recess that is adapted to guide the culture insert during insertion in the carrier. 
     
     
         7 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening further comprises a second support element with a bottom and a top and extending substantially perpendicular to the plane member and being shaped to support the culture insert. 
     
     
         8 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 7 , wherein the second support element has a second rim extending substantially parallel to the plane member for supporting the culture insert. 
     
     
         9 . A culture insert according to  claim 7 , wherein the second support element comprises a second set of rims. 
     
     
         10 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 7 , wherein the second support element comprises at least one recess that is adapted to guide the culture insert during insertion in the carrier. 
     
     
         11 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening further comprises a third support element with a bottom and a top and extending substantially perpendicular to the plane member and being shaped to support the culture insert. 
     
     
         12 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the third support element further comprises a third rim extending substantially parallel to the plane member for supporting the culture insert. 
     
     
         13 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the third support element comprises a third set of rims. 
     
     
         14 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the third support element comprises at least one recess that is adapted to guide a culture insert during insertion in the carrier. 
     
     
         15 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one opening is formed for reception and accommodation of selected suspension elements of an insert. 
     
     
         16 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one opening has notches for reception and accommodation of respective protrusions of an insert. 
     
     
         17 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the culture insert carrier is adapted to support a culture insert in at least two vertical positions in relation to the plane member. 
     
     
         18 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the culture insert carrier is adapted to support a culture insert in three vertical positions in relation to the plane member. 
     
     
         19 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the culture insert carrier further comprises at least one support member for supporting the culture insert carrier when placed on a flat surface. 
     
     
         20 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a plurality of legs. 
     
     
         21 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of legs comprise four tube-shaped legs. 
     
     
         22 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is formed such that an area of the opening remains unobstructed for pipette access after insertion of an insert. 
     
     
         23 . A culture insert carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plane member further comprises at least one pipette opening for pipette access to the at least one well of the culture tray.