Dynamic incubator system and method

Abstract

A dynamic incubator system and method for mammalian cells. The dynamic incubator system includes an incubator and a programming device communicatively coupled to the incubator. The programming device includes a memory, one or more processors, a display, and an input mechanism. The programming device is adapted to enable at least one preset temperature and gas concentration sequence to be one or more of designed for the interior of the incubator, saved to the memory of the programming device and/or selected for implementation within the interior of the incubator. The at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence includes programmed changes to the temperature and a CO2 gas concentration. A purging mechanism is coupled to the incubator and releases a portion of a gas concentration to enable rapid changes in the temperature and gas concentration in the incubator.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of dynamically incubating cells, the method comprising:
 one of designing or selecting at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence for an interior of an incubator via a programming device communicatively coupled to the incubator;   executing the at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence within the interior of the incubator, the at least one temperature and gas concentration including programmed changes to the temperature and a CO 2  gas concentration in the interior of the incubator after designated periods of time; and   enabling rapid changes in one or more of: (a) the at least one temperature and gas concentration within the interior of the incubator; or (2) a temperature within the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism coupled to the incubator and the programming device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein designing at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence for an interior of an incubator comprises selecting a first temperature T1, a first CO 2  gas concentration level G1, and a first period of time t1 at which the temperature T1 and CO 2  gas concentration level G1 will cycle in the interior of the incubator via the input of the programming device; selecting a second temperature T2, a second CO 2  gas concentration level G2, and a second period of time t2 at which the temperature T2 and CO 2  gas concentration level G3 will cycle in the interior of the incubator to effect dynamic via the input of the programming device to form a preset temperature and gas concentration sequence; and saving the preset temperature and gas concentration sequence to the memory of the programming device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein selecting at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence for an interior of an incubator via a programming device comprises listing at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence on the display of the programming device and selecting the at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence for execution within the interior of the incubator via the input of the programming device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein executing at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence for an interior of an incubator via a programming device comprises: setting a first temperature T1 and a first CO 2  gas concentration G1 of the interior of the incubator;
 maintaining the first temperature T1 and the CO 2  gas concentration G1 for a time t1;   setting a second temperature T2 and a second CO 2  gas concentration to a value G2;   purging a portion of the gas concentration of the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism for a time tp; and   maintaining the second temperature T2 and the second CO 2  gas concentration G2 for a time t2.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein setting a first temperature T1 and a first CO 2  gas concentration G1 of the interior of the incubator is setting at the first temperature T1 to 37 degrees C. and the first CO 2  gas concentration G1 to 5% CO 2 ; maintaining the first temperature T1 and the CO 2  gas concentration G1 for a time t1 is for a time t1 of about 8 hours; setting a second temperature T2 and a second CO 2  gas concentration to a value G2 includes setting a second temperature 38 degrees C. and a second CO 2  gas concentration G2 to 5.5% CO 2 ; purging a portion of the gas concentration of the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism for a time tp includes for a time tp of about 1 minute; and maintaining the second temperature T2 and the second CO 2  gas concentration G2 for a time t2 includes for a time t2 of about 30 minutes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein setting a first temperature T1 and a first CO 2  gas concentration G1 of the interior of the incubator includes setting the first temperature T1 to 38 degrees C. and the first CO 2  gas concentration G1 to 6% CO 2 ; maintaining the first temperature T1 and the CO 2  gas concentration G1 for a time t1 is for a time t1 of about 60 minutes; setting the second temperature T2 and the second CO 2  gas concentration to a value G2 includes setting the second temperature to 37 degrees C. and the second CO 2  gas concentration G2 to 5% CO 2 ; purging a portion of the gas concentration of the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism for a time tp includes for a time tp of about 1 minute; and maintaining the second temperature T2 and the second CO 2  gas concentration G2 for a time t2 includes for a time t2 of about 8 hours. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , setting a first temperature T1 and a first CO 2  gas concentration G1 of the interior of the incubator includes setting at the first temperature T1 to 36 degrees C. and the first CO 2  gas concentration G1 to 5.5% CO 2 ;
 maintaining the first temperature T1 and the CO 2  gas concentration G1 for a time t1 is for a time t1 of about 120 minutes; setting a second temperature T2 and a second CO 2  gas concentration to a value G2 includes setting the second temperature to 37 degrees C. and the second CO 2  gas concentration G2 to 5% CO 2 ; purging a portion of the gas concentration of the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism for a time tp includes for a time of about 1 minute; and maintaining the second temperature T2 and the second CO 2  gas concentration G2 for a time t3 includes for a time t2 of about 20 hours.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein executing at least one temperature and gas concentration sequence for an interior of an incubator via a programming device further comprises:
 setting an O 2  gas concentration level to a value G3 after setting the temperature T1 and the CO 2  gas concentration value G1 via the programming device;   maintaining each of the temperature T1, the CO 2  gas concentration value G1, and the O 2  gas concentration value G3 for the time t1 via the programming device;   setting the CO 2  gas concentration value to a value G4 via the programming device;   setting the O 2  gas concentration value to a value G5 via the programming device; and   maintaining the CO 2  gas concentration value to a value G4 and the O 2  gas concentration value to a value G5 for a period of time t1 via the programming device.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising setting the O 2  gas concentration value to zero before operating the purging mechanism for a time tp via the programming device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein at least one or more of the O 2  gas concentration value G3 is 18% O 2 , the CO 2  gas concentration value G4 is 6% CO 2 , and the O 2  gas concentration value G5 is 15% O 2 . 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein enabling rapid changes in at least one temperature and gas concentration within the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism coupled to the incubator and the programming device comprises purging a portion of at least the CO 2  gas concentration in the interior of the incubator via actuating the purging mechanism for a limited period of time. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein enabling rapid changes in the temperature within the interior of the incubator via a purging mechanism coupled to the incubator and the programming device comprises releasing an amount of water disposed in an internal tank of the incubator to enable rapid changes in the temperature of the incubator 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising preventing loss of gas concentration of the interior of the incubator when the purging mechanism is not operating via an air lock assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising listing one or more of an actual temperature of the interior of the incubator, an actual gas concentration of the interior of the incubator, and at least one log of a previous actual temperature and actual gas concentration over a period of time on a display disposed on an outside surface of the incubator. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising repeating the temperature and gas concentration sequence when the temperature and gas concentration sequence is complete.