Feeding tray for multiwell test apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention will be described herein with reference to the growing and use of cells on a membrane positioned and secured to the bottom of each of a multiplicity of wells.
However, it is to be understood that the present invention need not be used in conjunction with cells.
Other representative uses include filtration, dialysis, or the like.
The present invention provides a feeding tray for retaining a nutrient medium, which can be a liquid or a gel, for use in a multiwell test apparatus.
The feeding tray promotes quick replenishment of the nutrient medium while avoiding damage to membranes secured to a multiplicity of wells or damage to cells positioned on the membranes.
The feeding tray comprises an inclined bottom surface for the nutrient medium surrounded by walls that retain the nutrient medium on the inclined bottom surface.
The bottom surface is inclined so that the nutrient medium can be supplied to the feeding tray at a high point of the inclined bottom surface and so that the nutrient medium can be removed from the bottom surface at a low point of the inclined support surface.
By providing such a feeding tray, the nutrient medium can be supplied to the feeding tray in a manner that assures determining when spent nutrient medium is substantially completely removed from the feeding tray.
The feeding tray also allows for both adding and removing the nutrient medium at the same time.
In one embodiment, the feeding tray includes a plurality of protrusions such as posts secured to and extending from the bottom surface, one or more protrusion positioned adjacent each well which extends into the feeding tray.
The protrusions displace some of the volume of nutrient medium, thereby reducing the amount of nutrient medium needed to fill the feeding tray to the desired level.
A guide means is provided for positioning the wells to contact a protrusion when they are removed from the feeding tray so that any liquid droplet extending from the bottom surface of the membrane is guided by the protrusion back into the feeding tray