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The CULTEX® LTC-C (LongTermCultivation – Continuous) was designed to automatically supply cell cultures with medium at different time intervals over longer periods of time (weeks). In such a way epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, for example, can be used for toxicological studies both in an undifferentiated and differentiated stage of cell development. Medium exchange as well as medium agitation and mixing are computer-controlled to avoid staff-dependent variations during the cultivation process.

For an optimized cultivation process with high reproducibility

The equipment consists of the incubator module and a supply unit, which can be operated under cell-specific conditions in a CO2 incubator. The incubator module can hold up to 24 cell culture inserts (e.g. COSTAR® or FALCON®, size 12 mm) and is connected to the control unit via two tubes and two electric connector cables.

The control unit is placed outside the CO2 incubator. Integrated in the control unit, there is a programmable logic controller (PLC) as well as a pump for the supply of medium to the incubator module and a pump for the removal of the medium. The pumps are located inside the control unit in a sliding cassette, the LH module (LH = Liquid Handling), where they are easily accessible for maintenance and sterilization.

The control unit is equipped with an integrated web server. Visualization of the procedures and measured data is carried out by a web browser, e.g. via a laptop computer. The controls can also be accessed via the web browser, to change settings, for instance. The computer itself does not carry out any control tasks, whereby the management of the cell cultures continues even if the computer operating system breaks down.

The fully automated CULTEX® LTC-C requires less manual work compared with standard cell culture work, saves manpower and removes the individual influence of the worker.


Design and handling

● Operation of the CULTEX® LTC under cell-specific conditions inside a CO2 incubator ● Control unit outside the CO2 incubator ● Preheating of the fresh medium by a heat exchanger in the control unit ● Air bubble precipitator ● All cell or medium housing components of the system are autoclavable


Performance

● Requires less manual work and saves manpower ● Continuous as well as intermittent medium supply of the cultures ● Computer-controlled medium exchange (volume fractions or the total volume of the incubator module) ● Computer-controlled circulation of the medium via a mixing disc ● Control of the medium level by an ultrasonic pulse-echo sensor


Literature

CULTEX® High Precision Exposure and Cultivation Systems


Videos

CULTEX® LTC (Long-Term Cultivation)