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 accommodated 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product chamber assembly, comprising:
 a bioreactor;   a set of flexible bags that are used to contain processing fluids and for automated flow to and from the bioreactor, wherein at least one flexible bag operates at reduced temperature from the bioreactor, and wherein at least one flexible bag is operationally engaged with a collection reservoir; and   at least one biosensor for the monitoring of parameters of the flexible bags and cells within the bioreactor, the at least one biosensor relaying variable parameter information to a microprocessor to process the parameters and dynamically adjust and adapt to specific needs of cells during cell proliferation.   
     
     
         2 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the set of flexible bags and the bioreactor are connected via at least one of a passageway, tubing, connector, valve, pump, filter, fluid access port, in-line gas exchange membrane, and in-line sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the product chamber assembly provides an environment for at least one of the following: cell sorting, cell washing, cell concentrating, cell seeding, cell proliferation, cell storage, and cell transport. 
     
     
         4 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bioreactor is a cell therapy bioreactor. 
     
     
         5 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 4  wherein the cell therapy bioreactor collects and holds proliferated cells for cell therapy applications. 
     
     
         6 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one biosensor has the ability to monitor the specific performance of cells in the bioreactor and thereby, allow the system to accommodate for the requirements of cells of an individual in the product chamber assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the product chamber assembly is portable. 
     
     
         8 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bioreactor is removable from the product chamber assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bioreactor further comprises at least one of a gas permeable membrane, flow interrupters, and vibratory elements. 
     
     
         10 . A product chamber assembly, comprising:
 a bioreactor, the bioreactor having a bioreactor lid connected to a vertical chamber and a bioreactor base, the bioreactor containing a conical cell collector;   a set of flexible bags that are used to contain processing fluids and for automated flow to and from the bioreactor, wherein at least one flexible bag is in fluid communication with the bioreactor; and   at least one biosensor for monitoring parameters of the flexible bags and cells within the bioreactor, the 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.   
     
     
         11 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a temperature controller to allow for reduced temperature operation. 
     
     
         12 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a collection reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid pump. 
     
     
         14 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more fluid control valves. 
     
     
         15 . A product chamber assembly comprising:
 a bioreactor;   a set of flexible bags that are used to contain processing fluids and for automated flow to and from the bioreactor, wherein at least one flexible bag is in fluid communication with the bioreactor;   a flow control valve housing comprising one or more control valves; and   at least one biosensor for monitoring parameters of the flexible bags and cells within the bioreactor, the 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.   
     
     
         16 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bioreactor is a cell therapy bioreactor. 
     
     
         17 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a collection reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a fluid pump. 
     
     
         19 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one flexible bag is fluidly connected to the bioreactor via a needless connection. 
     
     
         20 . The product chamber assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the flow control valve housing is a fluid pathway tube interconnect and fluid direction interface between the bioreactor and the at least one flexible bag.