Compact Incubation Device Developed for Incubation of Cells

Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering have developed a new incubation device that is significantly smaller than the traditional incubator used in the incubation of cells.

The device is no bigger than a soda can and also combines the functions of a microscope, thereby saving not only the valuable lab space but also the cost as it is 30 times less expensive than buying an incubator and a microscope separately.

The device will be on display at the MEDTEC in Stuttgart and its makers reveal that it will be able to take time lapse images of cell cultures as well as to gather fluorescent images at different wavelengths. The cells are grown on a thin, replaceable glass plate in the incubation chamber and the only things that are needed to be kept constant are the temperature and the nutrient supply flow rate.

"The system is stable and can be used for time-lapse observation spanning several weeks. Our customers get a biomedical analysis tool of the highest quality - well priced, space-saving and tailored to their needs. The system is compact, mobile, extremely efficient and fully automatic in operation", Dr Thomas Velten, head of the Biomedical Microsystems department, said.

Source: Medindia