Cancer cell enrichment system

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a cell culture incubator having a gas flow regulation system that exerts control over atmospheric parameters within the incubator. Particular embodiments include an enclosed environmental chamber and a control unit operably linked thereto, the control unit having an oxygen module and a pressure module. Control unit embodiments, by way of these modules, are configured to regulate both oxygen partial pressure and total gas pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber. Embodiments of the control unit are adapted (a) to provide instructions to the oxygen module to regulate an oxygen level to an instructed hypoxic oxygen level and (b) to provide instructions to the pressure module to regulate total gas pressure to an instructed positive pressure level. The regulation of oxygen to the instructed hypoxic level prevails despite an oxygen partial pressure-increasing effect of the positive pressure condition associated with the instructed positive pressure level.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A cell culture incubator comprising:
 an enclosed environmental chamber; and   a control unit operably linked to the enclosed environmental chamber, wherein the control unit comprises an oxygen module and a pressure module,   wherein the control unit is configured to regulate each of an oxygen level and a total gas pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber, and wherein the control unit is adapted to:
 a) provide instructions to the oxygen module to regulate the oxygen level to an instructed hypoxic oxygen level; and 
 b) provide instructions to the pressure module to regulate the total gas pressure to an instructed positive pressure level, 
   wherein the regulation of the oxygen level to the instructed hypoxic level prevails despite an oxygen partial pressure increasing effect of a positive pressure condition, per the instructed positive pressure level.   
     
     
         28 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 an oxygen sensor configured to measure the oxygen level within the enclosed environmental chamber and to convey an informative signal to the oxygen module; and   a pressure sensor configured to measure the total atmospheric gas pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber and to convey an informative signal to the pressure module.   
     
     
         29 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , further comprising a nitrogen source operably connected to the enclosed environmental chamber, wherein a flow of nitrogen is regulated by the control unit. 
     
     
         30 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 29 , wherein the regulated nitrogen flow is directed into the enclosed environmental chamber by way of a chamber gas flow path, and wherein the regulated nitrogen flow comprises a response to oxygen sensor data via the oxygen module, wherein in the response to a sensed oxygen level that is above the instructed oxygen level, the response comprises an instruction to flow nitrogen into the environmental chamber. 
     
     
         31 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 30 , wherein as a result of a dilution of oxygen within the enclosed environmental chamber by the flow of nitrogen, the sensed oxygen level reaches the instructed oxygen level, and wherein the control unit then instructs a cessation of the nitrogen flow into the environmental chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 29 , wherein the regulated nitrogen flow is directed into the enclosed environmental chamber by way of a chamber gas flow path, and wherein the regulated nitrogen flow comprises a response to pressure sensor data by way of the pressure module, wherein the response to a pressure level that is below the instructed pressure level comprises an instruction to flow nitrogen into the environmental chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 32 , wherein as a result of an increase in pressure level within the enclosed environmental chamber by the flow of nitrogen, the pressure level comes reaches the instructed pressure level, and wherein the control unit then instructs a cessation of the nitrogen flow into the environmental chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 28 , wherein the regulation of pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber by the control unit comprises a response to the pressure sensor, as mediated by the pressure module. 
     
     
         35 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 34 , wherein the regulation of pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber comprises a response to a pressure lower than the instructed pressure level, and wherein the response to the high pressure comprises an inflow of nitrogen. 
     
     
         36 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 34 , wherein the regulation of pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber comprises a response to a pressure lower than the instructed pressure level, and wherein the enclosed environmental chamber further comprises a carbon dioxide source operably connected to the enclosed environmental chamber, wherein a flow of carbon dioxide is regulated by the control unit, and wherein the response to the high pressure comprises an inflow of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         37 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 36 , wherein the regulation of pressure within the enclosed environmental chamber comprises a response to a pressure lower than the instructed pressure level, and wherein the response to the low pressure comprises a cessation of inflow of carbon dioxide or inflow of nitrogen. 
     
     
         38 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 36 , wherein the regulation of carbon dioxide flow into the enclosed environmental chamber by the control unit comprises a response to a carbon dioxide sensor configured to measure the carbon dioxide level within the enclosed environmental chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 36 , wherein the regulation of carbon dioxide flow into the enclosed environmental chamber by the control unit comprises a response to the pressure sensor, as mediated by the pressure module. 
     
     
         40 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the oxygen level within the enclosed environmental chamber is regulated by the oxygen module, and wherein the oxygen module provides instructions to regulate any one or both of a flow of nitrogen or a flow of carbon dioxide into the enclosed environmental chamber. 
     
     
         41 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate to an instructed hypoxic level comprise instructions to adjust the oxygen level to a value within a range of about 0.1% to about 21% oxygen. 
     
     
         42 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate to an instructed hypoxic level comprise instructions to adjust the oxygen level to a value within a range of about 1.0% to about 12% oxygen. 
     
     
         43 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate to an instructed hypoxic level comprise instructions to adjust the oxygen level to a value within a range of about 2% to about 6% oxygen. 
     
     
         44 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the pressure level within the enclosed environmental chamber is regulated by the pressure module, wherein the pressure module provides instructions to regulate any one or more of a flow of nitrogen or a flow of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         45 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate pressure to an instructed positive pressure level comprise instructions to adjust the pressure to a value within a range of about 0.5 PSIG to about 30 PSIG. 
     
     
         46 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate pressure to an instructed positive pressure level comprise instructions to adjust the pressure to a value within a range of about 1.0 PSIG to about 20 PSIG. 
     
     
         47 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate pressure to an instructed positive pressure level comprise instructions to adjust the pressure to a value within a range of about 2.0 PSIG to about 10 PSIG. 
     
     
         48 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions to regulate pressure to an instructed positive pressure level comprise instructions to adjust the pressure to a value within a range of about 2.5 PSIG to about 5.0 PSIG.