Bioreactor, devices, systems and methods

Abstract

Disclosed are bioreactor devices, systems and methods. A bioreactor system can include one or more bioreactor modules that can be individually controllable and identifiable. A bioreactor module can be connected to one or more functional modules such as a pump module, a stimulation signal generation module, a motor module, a mechanical transmission module, a gas exchange module, a temperature module, a humidity module and/or a CO 2 module, among others. The bioreactor and functional modules can include standard or universal connectors to facilitate connection and movement of modules. The bioreactor system can be controlled and/or monitored by a controller that can individually identify and control each connected module and that can be adapted to collect signal data from sensors embedded in any of the modules.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for culturing cells or tissue in a modular bioreactor, the method comprising:
 assembling a bioreactor cartridge having a perfusion chamber and perfusion loop;   sterilizing the bioreactor cartridge;   placing a tissue construct into the perfusion chamber of the cartridge;   adding perfusion medium to the cartridge and closing the cartridge;   placing the cartridge into an incubator;   connecting the cartridge to a controller adapted to identify the cartridge individually and to control tissue culture according to a predetermined protocol for that cartridge; and   establishing perfusion of the medium through the tissue construct via the perfusion loop and under control of the controller.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including connecting the cartridge to one or more functional modules adapted to provide stimulus to the tissue construct. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more functional modules includes a mechanical stimulation module having a motor and a transmission adapted to provide mechanical stimulation to the tissue construct according to a control signal supplied by the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more functional modules includes a signal generator module adapted to provide an electrical stimulation to the tissue construct according to a control signal supplied by the controller. 
     
     
         14 . A bioreactor cartridge comprising:
 a perfusion chamber adapted to hold a tissue scaffold, the perfusion chamber having a cell seeding port;   a gas exchanger adapted to be coupled to the perfusion chamber and to circulate medium between the perfusion chamber and the gas exchanger, the gas exchanger having a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port and a sampling port;   a pump connected to the perfusion chamber and the gas exchanger and adapted to pump the medium through the gas exchanger and the perfusion chamber; and   an interface connector adapted to connect the cartridge to an external control and data acquisition system.   
     
     
         15 . The bioreactor cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the perfusion chamber includes a loading platen adapted to provide mechanical loading to the tissue scaffold, a PDMS gasket adapted to hold the tissue scaffold in place and a porous platen adapted to hold the tissue scaffold in place and to permit medium to flow through the porous platen. 
     
     
         16 . The bioreactor cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the perfusion chamber includes an alignment cover adapted to hold the tissue scaffold, electrodes adapted to provide electrical stimulation to the tissue scaffold and wiring connected to the electrodes and adapted to be connected to the external control and data acquisition system. 
     
     
         17 . The bioreactor cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the perfusion chamber includes perfusion tubing configured to provide medium to the tissue scaffold, a PDMS gasket adapted to hold the tissue scaffold, an indenter and an objective lens. 
     
     
         18 . The bioreactor cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the objective lens is adapted to be coupled to an imaging device connected to the external control and data acquisition system to provide imaging of the tissue scaffold during a tissue culturing operation. 
     
     
         19 . The bioreactor cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the indenter is adapted to provide mechanical stimulation of the tissue scaffold and to keep a plane of the tissue scaffold constant relative to the objective lens, and
 wherein the PDMS gasket is adapted to keep a plane of the tissue scaffold constant relative to the objective lens during a mechanical loading of the tissue scaffold by the indenter.   
     
     
         20 . The bioreactor cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein an exterior configuration of the cartridge is configured to be connected to a bioreactor system or a measurement system and an interior of the cartridge can be configured to accommodate a tissue scaffold applicable to a culturing operating being carried out with the cartridge.