System for testing biological and chemical agents using two or more cartridges simulating systems in the body

Abstract

The present invention relates to joining two or more cartridges containing cell or tissue cultures from different organs found in the human body in fluid connection. It includes a vitro method and system for testing chemicals and agents as they pass through organs other than the brain or combinations of body systems including the brain. It greatly enhances the ability for researchers to test a proposed chemical or agent on human cells and tissue prior to testing it in vivo. Often, it is found that chemicals or agents have different reactions when tested on a single organ in vitro or in animals, than it does in the human body.

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         21 . A method of testing the cumulative effect of transport of chemicals or agents on two or more types of cells or tissues found between at least two organs of the human body comprising the steps of:
 assembling two or more cartridges comprising at least one hollow fiber, the hollow fiber of each cartridge comprising at least one layer of cell or tissue cultures and each cartridge being used for a different type of cell or tissue culture;   joining the two or more cartridges in fluid connection such that the chemical or agent that passes through the cells or tissue in one cartridge enters the next cartridge; and   running the chemical or agent in solution through the set of cartridges to determine the effect the chemical or agent has on the cells or tissues, and   removing a sample of the cells or tissues from the cartridge for further testing.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise kidney or liver cells and/or tissues. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cartridges comprise a combination of at least two human cell or tissue cultures from the group consisting of organs consisting of heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, gull bladder, bladder, spleen, appendix, brain, and pancreas. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the digestive system including the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines, mimicking the passage of orally administered chemicals or agents. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the respiratory system including the lungs, trachea, and diaphragm, mimicking the passage of inhaled drugs or chemicals. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the excretory system including the lungs, kidneys, and the bladder. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the circulatory system including the heart, and blood vessels, mimicking the passage of injected drugs or chemicals. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method uses at least four cartridges with at least two of the cartridges in parallel connection and at least two of the cartridges in serial connection. 
     
     
         29 . A cartridge system for testing an effect of chemicals and/or agents on two or more types of cells and/or tissues comprising:
 a system comprising at least two cartridges; each of the at least two cartridges comprising at least one hollow fiber running through a portion or entire length of the cartridge, the at least one hollow fiber of each of the at least two cartridges being used to transfer a solution comprising a chemical or agent, are fluidly connected with each other, and each comprising different cells or tissue of a same or different human organ;   wherein the solution comprising the chemical or agent is run through one cartridge; and the chemical and/or agent that passes through the cell or tissue of the first cartridge is run through the second cartridge to determine the effect of the chemical or agent the two different types of cells or tissues in sequence.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the cartridges comprise a combination of at least two human cell or tissue cultures from the group consisting of organs consisting of heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, gall bladder, bladder, spleen, appendix, brain, and pancreas. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the system is configured to test at least two chemicals and/or agents simultaneously 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the system comprises at least four cartridges. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein at least two of the cartridges in the system are in parallel connection. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the system comprises at least four cartridges and at least two of the cartridges in the system are in serial connection. 
     
     
         35 . A method of testing the cumulative effect of transport of chemicals or agents on two or more types of cells or tissues found between at least two organs of the human body comprising the steps of:
 assembling at least four cartridges, at least two of the cartridges in parallel connection and at least two of the cartridges in serial connection, each cartridge comprising at least one hollow fiber, the hollow fiber of each cartridge comprising at least one layer of cell or tissue cultures and each cartridge being used for a different type of cell or tissue culture;   joining the two or more cartridges in fluid connection such that the chemical or agent that passes through the cells or tissue in one cartridge enters the next cartridge; and   testing a chemical or agent in solution through the set of cartridges to determine the effect the chemical or agent has on the cells or tissues.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the cartridges comprise a combination of at least two human cell or tissue cultures from the group consisting of organs consisting of heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, gall bladder, bladder, spleen, appendix, brain, and pancreas. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the digestive system including the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines, mimicking the passage of orally administered chemicals or agents. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the respiratory system including the lungs, trachea, and diaphragm, mimicking the passage of inhaled drugs or chemicals. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the excretory system including the lungs, kidneys, and the bladder. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the cartridges comprise human cells or tissues from the group consisting of cells or tissues from the circulatory system including the heart, and blood vessels, mimicking the passage of injected drugs or chemicals.