| CPC C12M 29/10 (2013.01) [C12M 23/16 (2013.01); C12M 23/42 (2013.01); C12M 23/44 (2013.01); C12M 29/14 (2013.01); C12M 41/32 (2013.01)] | 4 Claims |
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1. A microperifusion system, comprising:
a plurality of perifusate reservoir modules, each of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules having a plurality of receptacles, and each of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules having at least one port arranged to communicate a pressurizing gas into or out from the respective perifusate reservoir module;
for each of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules, a corresponding perifusion chamber module, each corresponding perifusion chamber module having a plurality of microperifusion channels, and each corresponding perifusion chamber module mechanically coupleable to one of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules to thereby form, when coupled, a sealed fluid communication between a selected first number of the plurality of receptacles and a selected second number of the plurality of microperifusion channels;
a plurality of gaskets, wherein each gasket of the plurality of gaskets is positioned at an interface between the respective perifusate reservoir module and the corresponding perifusion chamber module, wherein the plurality of gaskets is configured to seal an associated perifusate reservoir module of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules,
wherein the plurality of receptacles of each of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules includes a first perifusate receptacle and a second perifusate receptacle,
wherein the plurality of microperifusion channels of each of the perifusion chamber modules includes a first microperifusion channel;
a single pressure regulator that control flow rates between the first perifusate receptacle and a second perifusate receptacle, the first perifusate receptacle being pressurized to a first pressure, and the second perifusate receptacle being pressurized to a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is different from the second pressure, and said differential pressure causes perifusate material to flow from the first perifusate receptacle to the second perifusate receptacle;
a first conduit arranged between the first and second perifusate receptacles and configured to pass perifusate material between the first perifusate receptacle and the second perifusate receptacle, wherein the first conduit is a low-resistance transfer tube, wherein a portion of the first conduit is arranged within the perifusion chamber module;
a second conduit coupled to the first microperifusion channel and configured to pass perifusate material from the second perifusate receptacle to the first microperifusion channel, wherein the second conduit is a high-resistance source tube; and
wherein the single pressure regulator is configured to control a flow of pressuring gas communicated into or out from the perifusate reservoir module;
wherein the single pressure regulator is configured to control a flow rate of perifusate material from the first perifusate receptacle of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules to the second perifusate receptacle of the plurality of perifusate reservoir modules; and
optical sensors coupled to the plurality of microperifusion channels including the first microperifusion channel and are configured to asses tissue during a microperifusion test operation occurring in each of the plurality of microperifusion channels including the first microperifusion channel.
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