US 12,305,153 B2
Microfluidic device and method of use for cell culture
Robert Ernest Nordon, Sydney (AU); and Osmond Tsun Yin Lao, Sydney (AU)
Assigned to NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited, Sydney (AU)
Appl. No. 17/595,236
Filed by NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited, Sydney (AU)
PCT Filed May 13, 2020, PCT No. PCT/AU2020/050473
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 11, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/227772, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019901630 (AU), filed on May 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0204903 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. C12M 3/06 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/04 (2006.01); C12M 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 23/16 (2013.01) [C12M 23/24 (2013.01); C12M 23/58 (2013.01); C12M 29/10 (2013.01); C12M 29/20 (2013.01); C12M 41/48 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-layer microfluidic bioreactor for cell culture, comprising a header layer, a base layer and a fluid permeable flow layer between the header layer and the base layer, wherein:
(a) the flow layer comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and the upper surface comprises one or more grooves for retention of cells;
(b) the base layer provides a gas flow path for gas exchange across the flow layer; and
(c) the header layer is configured to define a flow channel over the flow layer upper surface, and the header layer comprises:
(i) a first inlet port;
(ii) a first outlet port;
(iii) a second outlet port;
(iv) one or more first fluid inlets providing fluid communication between the first inlet port and the flow channel;
(v) one or more first fluid outlets providing fluid communication between the flow channel and the first outlet port; and
(vi) one or more second fluid outlets providing fluid communication between the flow channel and the second outlet port;
wherein the one or more first fluid inlets and the one or more first fluid outlets are positioned in the header layer such that fluid entering the flow channel from the one or more first fluid inlets moves in a first flow direction toward the one or more first fluid outlets, the first flow direction being across the one or more grooves to minimize disruption of cells received therein, and
wherein the one or more second fluid outlets are positioned in the header layer such that fluid exiting the flow channel through the second outlet port flows in a second flow direction toward the one or more second fluid outlets, the second flow direction being along the one or more grooves.