US 12,257,579 B2
Recirculating unidirectional perfusion flow devices and methods of use thereof
Michael L. Shuler, Ithaca, NY (US); and Ying Wang, Ithaca, NY (US)
Assigned to CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY (US)
Filed by Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/441,633.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/684,873, filed on Jun. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0070165 A1, Mar. 5, 2020
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 3/06 (2006.01); C12N 5/071 (2010.01); G01N 33/50 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502753 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); C12M 27/16 (2013.01); C12N 5/0671 (2013.01); G01N 33/5011 (2013.01); G01N 33/5017 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0861 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0406 (2013.01); B01L 2400/084 (2013.01); G01N 2800/7028 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device comprising:
a reservoir base extending along a horizontal axis and having a first reservoir and a second reservoir positioned at opposing ends thereof and configured to hold a fluid, each of the first reservoir and the second reservoir having an inlet and an outlet extending through the reservoir base, the outlets of the first reservoir and the second reservoir located closer to the horizontal axis than the inlets of the first reservoir and the second reservoir, respectively, when the device is tilted between a forward tilted position, with respect to the horizontal axis, and a reverse tilted position, with respect to the horizontal axis; and
a channel layer comprising one or more inlet channels extending between and in fluid communication with the inlets of the first and second reservoirs, one or more outlet channels extending between and in fluid communication with the outlets of the first and second reservoirs, and a channel network comprising at least one channel extending between the one or more inlet channels and the one or more outlet channels; wherein the inlets, outlets, inlet channels, and outlet channels are positioned and configured such that:
when the device is tilted to the forward tilted position a first flow of the fluid from the first reservoir is directed from the outlet of the first reservoir, to the one or more outlet channels, through the channel network, and to the one or more inlet channels to both the inlet and outlet of the second reservoir, wherein the inlet of the first reservoir is configured to provide a passive valve such that fluid flow between the inlet of the first reservoir and the one or more inlet channels is prevented and the first flow of fluid traverses the channel network in a direction from the outlet channel to the inlet channel, and
when the device is tilted to the reverse tilted position i a second flow of the fluid from the second reservoir is directed from the outlet of the second reservoir, to the one or more outlet channels, through the channel network, and to the one or more inlet channels to both the inlet and outlet of the first reservoir, wherein the inlet of the second reservoir is configured to provide a passive valve such that fluid flow between the inlet of the second reservoir and the one or more inlet channels is prevented and the second flow of fluid traverses the channel network in the same direction from the outlet channel to the inlet channel.