Bioreactor Cell Culture Control With Real-Time Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bioreactor operation support tools struggle to adapt operations based on real-time culture conditions, making it difficult to appropriately control cell culture.

Innovation Solution

A bioreactor system that includes a bioreactor, an analyzer, and a control device to generate and implement culture control information based on real-time data for optimal cell growth and lifespan extension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a predetermined procedure manual is used to adjust the operation support tool, then the operation process is standardized and easy to follow, but the system cannot adapt to real-time culture situation changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to culture situationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors culture data from the bioreactor and analyzer, compares actual culture state with target culture state, and automatically adjusts operation parameters based on the deviation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time adaptation to culture situation changes without requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The operation support tool automatically generates and adjusts operation instructions based on real-time culture data analysis, eliminating the need for operators to manually interpret complex culture situations. The system serves itself by autonomously determining optimal operation parameters based on predefined culture models and real-time measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual operation is used, then flexibility to adjust to culture changes is possible, but individual differences and human errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation reliabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The operation support tool acts as an intermediary between the operator and the bioreactor control system. It automatically generates operation instructions based on culture data analysis and presents them to the operator, who then executes them. This intermediary layer eliminates individual differences and human errors in decision-making while maintaining operational simplicity through clear, step-by-step instructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If real-time culture data analysis is performed continuously, then adaptive control is achieved, but data processing load and system response time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell culture efficiencyVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs continuous monitoring of culture data but only triggers detailed analysis and control actions when culture parameters deviate from target ranges or when significant changes are detected. This partial action approach maintains high productivity by focusing computational resources on critical decision points rather than continuously processing all data points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4632057A1Cell culture control system, cell culture control method, and cell culture control program
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4632057A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4632057A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4632057A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cell culture control system (100) includes: a bioreactor (3) that cultures a cell; an analyzer (4) that analyzes a culture state of the cell; a bioreactor control device (1), and an advice generation server (2). The advice generation server (2) includes an advice generation unit (23) that generates culture control information based on culture data obtained from the bioreactor (3) and the analyzer (4). The bioreactor control device (1) includes: a control unit (14) that controls the bioreactor (3); and an advice processing unit (151) that acquires culture control information from the advice generation server (2) and instructs the control unit (14) to perform, on the bioreactor (3), control for allowing the cell to grow and extending a lifespan of the cell in accordance with the culture control information.