Advanced tissue engineering system

Abstract

The invention is an automated advanced tissue engineering system that comprises a housing in which one or more tissue engineering modules are accomodated together with a central microprocessor that controls functioning of the tissue engineering modules. In one embodiment, the tissue engineering module comprises a housing supporting one or more bioreactor chamber assemblies and a fluid reservoir operationally engageable with the housing. The bioreactor chamber assemblies may be selected depending on the end product option desired and may include, for example, a cell therapy bioreactor chamber, a single implant bioreactor chamber and a multiple (mosaic) implant bioreactor chamber.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A proliferation chamber assembly for proliferating cells to a desired confluence, said proliferation chamber assembly in operation with a fluid reservoir for processing fluids and waste fluid for automated flow to and from the proliferation chamber assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a proliferation bioreactor comprising a proliferation chamber having a base, a lid for containment of fluid, and a channel system therein; and   at least one biosensor for the monitoring of cell confluence and parameters of the fluid reservoir and cells within said proliferation chamber assembly, said at least one biosensor relaying variable parameter information to a microprocessor to process the parameters and dynamically adjust and adapt to specific needs of the cells during proliferation.   
     
     
         3 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the base is mounted within the proliferation chamber at an angle to provide an elevational change from an inlet to an outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the base is substantially flat. 
     
     
         5 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the proliferation chamber has more than one base stacked on top of one another to provide additional surface area for the proliferation of cells. 
     
     
         6 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the channel system is for flow of medium and cells. 
     
     
         7 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein one of the least one biosensor is a confluence sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the proliferation bioreactor further comprises a flow interruptor to deliberately cause controlled turbulence along a length of the proliferation chamber, the flow interruptor place perpendicular to the flow such to cause controlled mixing along the length of the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the proliferation bioreactor further comprises a gas permeable membrane to adjust or maintain the levels of dissolved gases in the medium. 
     
     
         10 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the channel system forces medium to follow a predefined pathway from an inlet port to an outlet port. 
     
     
         11 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising vibratory elements to facilitate cell release from the proliferation surface in said proliferation bioreactor. 
     
     
         12 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said fluid reservoir operates at reduced temperature from the housing to keep fluids viable for extended periods by local active temperature control. 
     
     
         13 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid reservoir is operationally engaged with a collection reservoir to allow for warming of fluid from said fluid reservoir prior to introduction into said proliferation chamber assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the channel system provides for a uniform distribution of cells to enable homogeneous cell feeding of the proliferation substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein cells are released from the proliferation substrate by delivery of enzymes. 
     
     
         16 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid reservoir can store autologous cells and/or autologous serum of a patient. 
     
     
         17 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said assembly is clear to permit for inspection of contents and optionally rigid. 
     
     
         18 . The proliferation chamber assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said confluence sensor monitors the onset of confluence by residing on the proliferation surface to be exposed to media to monitor changes in impedence that occurs with increasing cell growth. 
     
     
         19 . A method for the proliferation of cells comprising:
 seeding a volume of cells from a patient into the proliferation bioreactor of the assembly of  claim 2 ;   automatically maintaining suitably parameters to allow for the proliferation of the seeded cells to reach a desired level of confluence.