Lab on a chip automates in vitro cell culturing

A novel in vitro fertilization system is presented based on an incubation chamber and a microfluidic device which serves as advanced microfluidic cultivation chamber. The flow is controlled by hydrostatic height differences and evaporation is avoided with help of mineral oil. Six patient compartments allow six simultaneous temperature and pH controlled cultivations with 12 embryos with continuous logging of the monitoring data. Two media can be controlled with help of opening or closing of openings at the microfluidic disposable devices. The flow rates through the single cell compartments can be controlled up to 20 mu l/h. A common pH electrode is supplied by 14 mu l sample, which is expanded with help of DI water. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.