ARRANGEMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF IN VITRO BIOCOMPATIBILITY TESTS

Abstract

An assembly for performing in vitro biocompatibility tests, at least one sample is arranged on a surface of a base plate or the sample forms a surface or a surface region of the base plate. A holding element having at least one through-hole is placed onto the sample so that a first opening of the through-hole, which first opening is arranged facing the base plate, is arranged in the region of the sample. The through-hole, with the hollow space thereof, and the sample form a cavity. A cover element is placed onto and fastened on the holding element so that a compressive force acts on the holding element, which compressive force leads to at least partial deformation of the holding element and to a fluid-tight closure of the first opening of the through-hole, which first opening is arranged facing the base plate.

Claims

1. An arrangement for the implementation of in vitro biocompatibility tests, in which at least one sample is disposed on a surface of a base plate or in which the at least one sample forms a surface or a surface region of the base plate and a receiving element having at least one through-hole can be placed on the at least one sample such that a first opening, which is disposed pointing in the direction of the base plate, of the at least one through-hole is disposed in the region of the at least one sample, the at least one through-hole with its hollow space and the sample forming a cavity, and the receiving element being formed from or with an elastically deformable material; a cover element placed and fixed on the receiving element such that a pressure force acts on the receiving element, which leads to an at least partial deformation of the receiving element and the fluid-impermeable closure of the first opening, which is disposed pointing in the direction of the base plate, of the at least one through-hole, the base plate and the cover element being connected together on one side by at least one joint; the at least one joint and closing elements being arranged at oppositely-disposed sides of the arrangement.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is formed from a biocompatible and/or sterilisable material.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is formed from or with an elastically deformable material which has a Shore hardness in the range of 30 to 50.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sample can be fixed in a form-fit on the surface of the base plate.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one opening is disposed on the cover element such that it leaves at least partially open a second opening of the respective through-hole of the receiving element which is disposed in the direction of the cover element.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein on the base plate and the cover element, closing elements are positioned, with which a form-fit connection of base plate and cover element and also a pressure force exertion on the receiving element are achievable.

7-8. (canceled)

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein corresponding to the current well formats in cell culture research, the cover element and the receiving element adapted thereto are modularly exchangeable.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sample can be inserted in a cavity which is configured in the base plate and, after placing the receiving element, one or more through-holes are disposed in the region of a sample and the respective sample does not thereby contact the inner wall of the adjacent through-holes of the receiving element.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through-holes is configured or disposed in assigned groups.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is retained in a form-fit in the base plate or the cover element.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a closing cover can be placed on the cover element, and allows a gas exchange with the environment, for a defined prescribable positioning or orientation on a surface of the closing cover or the cover element, at least one construction element is present for a form-fit orientation.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein on the base plate, at least one opening is present for guiding objects, in and out.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein elements which allow a gas exchange with the ambient atmosphere are present on the cover element or on a closing cover.

16. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of different samples are disposed on a surface of a base plate or various samples respectively form a surface or a surface region of the base plate.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The invention is intended to be explained subsequently in more detail, by way of example.

[0045] There are thereby shown:

[0046] FIG. 1 consists of FIGS. 1A-1C and are an example of a base plate with a suitable receiving element and also a sample in perspective illustration;

[0047] FIG. 2 a perspective illustration of a base plate with inserted sample;

[0048] FIG. 3 a perspective illustration of a base plate with inserted sample and receiving element placed thereon;

[0049] FIG. 4 an example of a cover element which can be used in the arrangement according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 5 an assembly drawing of an example of an arrangement according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 6 an example of a closing cover and

[0052] FIG. 7 a closing cover which is placed on an arrangement consisting of base plate, sample with receiving element and cover element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] In FIG. 1A, an example of a base plate 1 is shown. Receiving means 1.3 for a form-fit hold of samples 3 are present in the base plate 1.

[0054] In addition, a gap-shaped opening 1.1 for introducing and removing objects, in particular object carriers, and an edge 1.2, which is intended to simplify this process, are present.

[0055] FIG. 1B shows an example of a sample 3 which can be placed on a surface of the base plate 1. This is effected preferably in the region of a receiving means 1.3.

[0056] After inserting at least one sample 3, a receiving element 2, shown in FIG. 1C, can be placed on the base plate 1. Through-holes 2.1 are present on the receiving element 2 and disposed such that they communicate with a surface region of a sample 3 and hence can form a cavity which can be filled with a liquid in which particularly biological material is contained in order to be able to test the respective sample 3 in biological or biochemical scenarios. This construction is shown in FIG. 3.

[0057] The cover element 4 shown in FIG. 4 can be connected, in an articulated manner, to the base plate 1 on an end-side. In the cover element 4, likewise through-holes 4.2 are present in this example and disposed such that they communicate with the samples 3 and the through-holes 2.1 in the receiving element 2 so that filling and removal of liquids in the through-holes 2.1 and a gas exchange is possible. In addition, the content of the cavities can be monitored visually. On the end-side of the cover element 4 which is disposed opposite the articulated connection, an edge 4.4 is configured, which edge, in the assembled state, can engage a lower edge 1.4 of the base plate 1 for a form-fit connection. As a result, pressure forces can be exerted on the elastically deformable receiving element 2 which effect pressing together and a fluid-impermeable closure of the cavities. The receiving element 2 is thereby elastically deformed. On this end-edge, a gripping element 4.3 with which opening and closing of the arrangement can be facilitated is present for convenience.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows an assembled closed state.

[0059] On the cover element 4, markings or characterising elements, for example in the form of letters and/or numbers, can be present, with which the assignment and recognition of specific samples 3 can be facilitated.

[0060] The closing cover 5 shown in FIG. 6 can be placed on the cover element 4 and be fixed on the cover element 4 and/or the base plate 1 in a form-fit, as is shown in FIG. 7. The closing cover 5 has, for this purpose, a circumferential edge 5.1 which enables, in cooperation with the edge 4.1 of the cover element 4, placing on the cover element 4 in a prescribed orientation.

[0061] The closing cover 5 should be optically transparent, at least in the region which covers the through-holes 2.1 and 4.2.

[0062] The receiving element 2 can consist for example of silicone and have a dimensioning, as was mentioned in the general part of the description.

[0063] The surface of the base plate 1 on which the receiving element 2 is placed has web-like raised portions on which outer edges of the receiving element 2 can abut and thus a form-fit hold of the receiving element 2 on the base plate 1 can be achieved.

[0064] Also on the cover element 4, web-like raised portions can be configured in the direction of the receiving element 2, with which a form-fit hold of the receiving element 2 can be achieved.

[0065] On the end-side, base plate 1 and cover element 4 can be connected together in an articulated manner so that the cover element 4 can be folded up and down. On the opposite end-side, closing elements can be configured on base plate 1 and cover element 4. They can form a kind of clip-on or snap-on closure when the cover element 4 closes the arrangement.

[0066] The closing elements can be configured, dimensioned and disposed such that, when closing the cover element 4 and the form-fit engagement of the closing elements between base plate 1 and cover element 4, the pressure forces act on the receiving element 2, with which the required deformation, which leads to closure of the openings of through-holes 2.1 which are disposed on the surface of the respective sample 3.

[0067] With pressure forces acting between base plate 1 and cover element 4, on the receiving element 2 and the surface of the sample(s) 3 orientated towards the receiving element 2, a fluid-impermeable seal between the surface of the receiving element 2 and the surface of the sample(s) 3, orientated towards the latter, can be achieved in the region of the cavities, with correspondingly deformed receiving element 2. For this purpose, the respective surface sizes of the sample(s) 3 in the region of the first openings and the configuration in this region should be dimensioned and chosen such that no liquid can emerge.

[0068] On the cover element 4, openings 4.2 are present, which are dimensioned and disposed such that second openings of through-holes 2.1 which are disposed on the cover element 4 are kept free so that a gas exchange with the environment can be effected. The cavities formed by the through-holes 2.1 and the sample(s) 3 can be filled via the second openings which are disposed on the surface of the receiving element 2 opposite the first openings, i.e. on the side orientated towards the cover element 4, with biological material and solvent before the respective test is implemented. During or after a test, liquid can be likewise removed through the through-holes 2.1 and 4.2 so that washing steps of the cavities are also possible.

[0069] Base plate 1, cover plate 4 and closing cover 5 are formed from autoclavable plastic (polycarbonate) in this example.