Large scale cell culture system for making meat and associated products

Abstract

Provided is a large-scale cell culture system for producing products without harming animals. Also provided is a method for making meat products using this cell culture system. Further provided is a method for making personal care products using this cell culture system, as well as a method for making nutritional supplements using this cell culture system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cell culture system comprising;
 a pump; at least two culturing vessels; a fresh basal medium vessel; and a waste collecting vessel, wherein at least two culturing vessels, the fresh basal medium vessel and the waste collecting vessel are connected in parallel with means for enabling a serum-free medium to move between the vessels.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each culturing vessel contains a different type of cells selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, and lung, and other mammalian cells. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a single culturing vessel contains multiple types of cells wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, and lung, and other mammalian cells. 
     
     
         4 . A method for making conditioned medium comprising:
 providing the system of  claim 1  with a serum-free medium;   adding animal cells into the culturing vessels;   circulating the serum-free medium between the vessels;   heating the system to a temperature suitable for culturing; and   agitating and incubating the cells in the vessels for a time sufficient to culture the cells   to a desired cell density.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each culturing vessel contains a different type of cells selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, and lung, and other mammalian cells. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a single culturing vessel contains multiple types of cells wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, and lung, and other mammalian cells. 
     
     
         7 . A method for making meat comprising:
 providing the system of  claim 1  with a serum-free medium;   adding animal cells into the culturing vessels;   circulating the serum-free medium between the vessels;   heating the system to a temperature suitable for culturing;   agitating and incubating the cells in the vessels for a time sufficient to culture the cells to a desired cell density;   separating the cells from the medium; and   forming the cells into meat.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each culturing vessel contains a different type of cells selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, and lung, and other mammalian cells. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a single culturing vessel contains multiple types of cells wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, and lung, and other mammalian cells. 
     
     
         10 . A cell culture system comprising;
 a sub-system comprising a pump, a fresh basal medium vessel, and a waste collecting vessel,
 wherein the fresh basal medium vessel and the waste collecting vessel which are connected in parallel with respect to each other; and at least three culturing vessels 
 wherein at least two of the at least three culturing vessels are arranged in series relative to each other and at least one of the at least three culturing vessels are arranged in parallel relative to the culturing vessels arranged in series. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method for making meat comprising:
 providing a cell culture system comprising a pump; at least one culturing vessel; a fresh basal medium vessel; and a waste collecting vessel, wherein the pump, the culturing vessels, the fresh basal medium vessel and the waste collecting vessel are connected with means for enabling a serum-free medium to move between the vessels;   adding animal cells into the culturing vessel;   circulating the serum-free medium between the vessels;   heating the system to a temperature suitable for culturing;   agitating and incubating the cells in the vessel for a time sufficient to culture the cells to a desired cell density;   separating the cells from the medium; and   forming the cells into meat.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of muscle, fat, cartilage, liver, heart, kidney, lung, and other mammalian cells and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the culturing vessels are connected in series. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the culturing vessels are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cell culture system comprises a sub-system and at least three culturing vessels, wherein the cell culture system is arranged such that the sub-system comprises a pump, a fresh basal medium vessel, and a waste collecting vessel,
 wherein the fresh basal medium vessel and the waste collecting vessel which are connected in parallel with respect to each other; and with respect to the at least three culturing vessels at least two of the at least three culturing vessels are arranged in series relative to each other and at least one of the at least three culturing vessels is arranged in parallel relative to the culturing vessels arranged in series.