Collaborative robots are used in automated systems for dispensing cell culture media.

Abstract

A collaborative robot is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, addressing the problems of contamination and human error in conventional cell culture processes. The system includes: a volume detection platform with a stepper motor driving the rotation of several centrifuge tubes and an imaging unit capturing the liquid level of each centrifuge tube; a shaking platform that oscillates a culture flask using biaxial vibration; a robotic arm module that moves between the centrifuge tubes and the culture flask; and a control module that determines the volume of each centrifuge tube based on the liquid level, operates the robotic arm module to adjust liquid aspiration and dispensing, and schedules the shaking platform to agitate the culture flask for mixing. This achieves the effects of reducing the risk of contamination and improving the accuracy of the culture process.

Claims

1. An automated system for dispensing cell culture medium using a collaborative robot, comprising: a volume detection platform having a stepper motor driving the rotation of several centrifuge tubes and an imaging unit capturing the liquid level of each centrifuge tube; a shaking platform for biaxially oscillating and shaking a culture flask; a robotic arm module having a replaceable pipette and a gripper, the robotic arm module moving between the several centrifuge tubes and the culture flask, controlling the pipette to aspirate and drip liquid onto each centrifuge tube and the culture flask, and controlling the gripper to open, close, and sterilize each centrifuge tube; and a control module coupled to the volume detection platform, the shaking platform, and the robotic arm module, the control module determining the volume of each centrifuge tube based on the liquid level captured by the imaging unit, the control module operating the robotic arm module to adjust the aspiration and dripping of liquid, and scheduling the shaking platform to shake the culture flask for mixing.

2. If the collaborative robot described in Request 1 is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, then, The capacity measurement platform includes at least three centrifuge tubes to identify the liquid level height for various types of liquids.

3. If the collaborative robot described in Request 1 is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, then, The control module operates the robotic arm module to perform operations on the culture flask, the centrifuge tubes, and the waste liquid tank, and supports various tube diameters and liquid properties.

4. If the collaborative robot described in Request 1 is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, then, The shaking table platform is driven by a stepper motor to a sliding pneumatic cylinder and a rotary pneumatic cylinder.

5. If the collaborative robot described in Request 1 is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, then, The control module adjusts parameters to control the work schedule of the capacity detection platform, the shaking table platform, and the robotic arm module.

6. If the collaborative robot described in Request 1 is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, wherein, The robotic arm module has two miniature pneumatic cylinders that operate the pipette to aspirate and dispense liquid.

7. If the collaborative robot described in Request 1 is applied to an automated system for dispensing cell culture medium, wherein, The robotic arm module has a pneumatic gripper cylinder that opens the container lid and sterilizes it.

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