Cell Culture Vessel with Adjustable Volume for Automated Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell culture vessels are not suitable for high-volume, automated manufacturing of cell therapies, leading to inefficiencies and batch variability, as they do not allow for adjustable volumes and integrated automation, which is necessary for scalable and precise production of cell-based treatments.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture vessel system comprising an inner container with a pocket and an outer shell that forms a chamber, allowing for adjustable volume through clamps, and includes conduits for fluid transfer and sensors for monitoring, enabling automated processing and mixing, and integration with workstations for analysis and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cell culture vessels are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but productivity and automation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is divided into an inner container and an outer shell that can be separately manufactured and assembled. The inner container includes a collapsible pocket structure that can be compressed by clamps on the outer shell to adjust volume. This segmentation enables standardized mass production of components while allowing customized volume adjustment, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel incorporates dynamic volume adjustment capability through collapsible pockets that can be compressed by clamps. The pocket can transition between expanded and collapsed states, allowing the same vessel to serve different production volumes. This dynamic feature enables high productivity and automation while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed volume containers are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel incorporates dynamic volume adjustment capability through collapsible pockets that can be compressed by clamps. The pocket can transition between expanded and collapsed states, allowing the same vessel to serve different production volumes. This dynamic feature enables high productivity and automation while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel design serves multiple functions: the inner container holds cell culture, the outer shell provides structural support and volume adjustment, and the clamp mechanism enables volume modification. This multi-functional design increases adaptability while avoiding the need for completely different vessels for each volume requirement, thus managing manufacturing complexity.
3Productivity
If manual processing is used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but productivity and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel includes self-contained features such as integrated clamps for volume adjustment, built-in conduits for fluid transfer, and sensors for monitoring. These features enable the vessel to perform its own volume adjustment and monitoring functions without requiring complex external equipment or manual intervention, thereby increasing productivity while keeping operations relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: the inner container and outer shell are combined with built-in clamp mechanisms, conduits, and sensors. This integration allows automated processing while reducing the number of separate components and operations needed, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If batch processing is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing precision and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel incorporates sensors that provide real-time feedback on cell culture conditions such as volume, pressure, or other parameters. This feedback enables precise control and monitoring during processing, ensuring consistent batch results. The feedback mechanism allows for automated adjustment and quality control without requiring overly complex system integration.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated manufacturing system and method of manufacture of a cell therapy are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more workstations for processing a cell culture, with the cell culture being moved between workstations in a cell culture vessel. In some embodiments, the cell culture vessel includes an inner container (350) and an outer shell (358). In some embodiments, the shell includes a top (374) and bottom (376) that cooperate with one another to form a chamber for holding the inner container.