Automated cell culture incubators comprising selectively permeable cell culture vessel storage compartments

Abstract

In some aspects, the invention relates to selectively permeable cell culture vessel storage containers and their methods of use. In some embodiments, the containers comprise a gas-permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor.

1 . A cell culture incubator comprising:
 an incubator cabinet comprising a temperature controlled internal chamber; and   one or more cell culture vessel containers, wherein each container comprises a compartment having one or more walls configured to enclose a cell culture vessel within a compartment interior, wherein a portion of at least one wall of the compartment comprises a gas permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor.   
     
     
         2 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1  further comprising one or more cell culture vessels, wherein each of the cell culture vessels is housed in the each of the one or more cell culture vessel containers. 
     
     
         3 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable membrane is permeable to O 2  and CO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable membrane has a thickness in a range of 0.1 μm to 200 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable membrane is composed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethersulfone (PES), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP). 
     
     
         6 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable membrane is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         7 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable membrane is connected to a support structure having one or more passages to the compartment interior wherein the gas permeable membrane covers the passages. 
     
     
         8 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable membrane is readily detachable. 
     
     
         9 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one wall of the compartment comprises:
 a passage configured for removing from the compartment and/or introducing into the compartment a cell culture vessel; and a moveable structure configured for opening and closing the passage.   
     
     
         10 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable structure comprises a seal configured to interface with a surface of the container that surrounds the passage. 
     
     
         11 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 9 , wherein the moveable structure comprises a hinge connected to the compartment and configured to permit the moveable structure to rotate between an open position to a closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 9 , wherein the moveable structure is configured to automatically transition between an open position to a closed position in response to an input signal from a remote control unit. 
     
     
         13 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 9 , wherein the moveable structure is optically transparent. 
     
     
         14 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more walls are optically transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises at least one exterior portion configured to interface with a second container. 
     
     
         16 . The cell culture incubator of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a modular unit configured to physically interface with a plurality of other containers to form a rack of containers. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for culturing cells, the method comprising:
 culturing cells in a within a cell culture vessel, wherein the cell culture vessel is present within a container, the container comprising a compartment having one or more walls configured to enclose the cell culture vessel within a compartment interior, wherein a portion of at least one wall of the compartment comprises a gas permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor.   
     
     
         19 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A container for enclosing a cell culture vessel, the container comprising: a compartment having one or more walls configured to enclose a cell culture vessel within an interior, wherein a portion of at least one wall of the compartment comprises a gas permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor. 
     
     
         35 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A plurality of containers, wherein each container is a container as described in  claim 34 , and wherein each container of the plurality is physically connected to at least one other container of the plurality. 
     
     
         51 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . An incubator comprising the container of  claim 34 .