Method and apparatus for producing container, cell culture vessel, method for culturing cells, method for producing cell culture vessel, and apparatus for producing cell culture vessel

Abstract

A vessel manufacturing method includes placing a bag-shaped, film-based vessel on a placement stage with concave portions formed on the stage, introducing fluid into the vessel placed on the stage, and pressing the vessel which is placed on the stage, by a pressing member while heating at least one of the stage and the pressing member. Meanwhile, a cell culture vessel includes a first vessel wall as a bottom wall and a second vessel wall. The first vessel wall is formed of a flat film having gas permeability. The second vessel wall is disposed in contact with a peripheral edge portion of the first vessel wall, and has a bulge shape protruding relative to the first vessel wall. The first vessel wall is flat at its section other than a region where the first vessel wall is in contact with at least a charge/discharge port.

1 . A method for manufacturing a vessel, comprising the steps of:
 placing a bag-shaped, film-based vessel on a placement stage with concave portions formed thereon; and   pressing the bag-shaped, film-based vessel which is placed on the placement stage, by a pressing member which opposes the placed bag-shaped, film-based vessel, while heating at least one of the placement stage and the pressing member.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein fluid is introduced into the bag-shaped, film-based vessel placed on the placement stage while restraining the bag-shaped, film-based vessel at a peripheral edge portion thereof by a restraint member. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the placement stage includes a heat-insulating region formed at a part thereof where the placement stage opposes the restraint member. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein fluid is introduced into the bag-shaped, film-based vessel with the pressing member maintained apart by a predetermined distance from the placement stage, whereby a bulge shape with an upwardly protruding top wall is formed on the bag-shaped, film-based vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 performing suction through the concave portions formed on the placement stage when the fluid has been introduced into the bag-shaped, film-based vessel placed on the placement stage.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 cooling at least one of the placement stage and the pressing member after the bag-shaped, film-based vessel has been heated.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for manufacturing a vessel, comprising:
 a placement stage with concave portions formed on a placement surface thereof on which a bag-shaped, film-based vessel is to be placed;   a fluid inlet device configured to introduce fluid into the bag-shaped, film-based vessel placed on the placement surface;   a pressing member arranged movably up and down relative to the placement surface and configured to press the bag-shaped, film-based vessel into which the fluid has been introduced; and   a heating device configured to heat at least one of the placement stage and the pressing member.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a restraint member arranged opposite the placement surface and configured to restrain the bag-shaped, film-based vessel, which has been placed on the placement surface, at a peripheral edge portion thereof,   wherein fluid is introduced into the bag-shaped, film-based vessel by the fluid inlet device while restraining the bag-shaped, film-based vessel at a peripheral edge portion thereof by a restraint member.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a suction device configured to perform suction through the concave portions formed on the placement stage when the fluid has been introduced into the bag-shaped, film-based vessel placed on the placement surface.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a cooling device configured to cool at least one of the placement stage and the pressing member after heating by the heating device.   
     
     
         11 . A cell culture vessel comprising:
 a first vessel wall as a bottom wall, the first vessel wall having gas permeability;   a second vessel wall disposed in contact with a peripheral edge portion of the first vessel wall, and having a bulge shape protruding relative to the first vessel wall on a side inner than the peripheral edge portion; and   a charge/discharge port communicating to a culture space surrounded by the first vessel wall and the bulge shape of the second vessel wall,   wherein the first vessel wall is flat at a section thereof other than a region thereof where the first vessel wall is in contact with at least the charge/discharge port.   
     
     
         12 . The cell culture vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein the second vessel wall is flat at a top wall thereof that forms the culture space. 
     
     
         13 . The cell culture vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall have a thickness ratio of substantially 1. 
     
     
         14 . The cell culture vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the second vessel wall is a film having gas permeability, and
 the gas permeability of the first vessel wall and the gas permeability of the second vessel wall are substantially equal to each other. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cell culture vessel according to  claim 14 , wherein the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall are made from the same material. 
     
     
         16 . The cell culture vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall are parallel to each other at inner surfaces thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The cell culture vessel according to  claim 11 , wherein the charge/discharge port has a contact surface where the charge/discharge port is in contact with the first vessel wall, and the contact surface is in flush with an inner surface of the first vessel wall. 
     
     
         18 . A method for culturing cells by using the cell culture vessel according to  claim 11 , comprising:
 placing the cell culture vessel with the first vessel wall located downward relative to the second vessel wall, and charging the cells and culture liquid into the cell culture vessel through the charge/discharge port.   
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing a cell culture vessel, comprising the steps of:
 placing a first vessel wall which is formed of a film having gas permeability, and a second vessel wall which is disposed opposite the first vessel wall, in a superimposed state on a placement stage;   pressing the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall at peripheral edge portions thereof by a restraint member in a state that the second vessel wall is maintained free from being pressed at a central section thereof;   introducing fluid between the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall with the peripheral edge portions thereof pressed by the restraint member; and   heating at least the pressing member while pressing the second vessel wall at the central section thereof by a pressing member.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for manufacturing a cell culture vessel including a first vessel wall formed of a flat film and a second vessel wall disposed in contact with a peripheral edge portion of the first vessel wall and having a bulge shape protruding relative to the first vessel wall, comprising:
 a placement stage on which the first vessel wall is to be placed;   a fluid inlet device configured to introduce fluid into a space between the first vessel wall placed on the placement stage and the second vessel wall;   a pressing member arranged movably up and down relative to the placement stage and configured to press the second vessel wall with the fluid introduced in the space;   a heating device configured to heat the pressing member; and   a restraint member arranged opposite the placement stage and configured to restrain the second vessel wall which is placed on the placement stage, at a peripheral edge portion thereof,   wherein the fluid is introduced into the space between the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall by the fluid inlet device while heating the pressing member by the heating device with the second vessel wall restrained at the peripheral edge portion thereof by the restraint member.