Bioreactor Probe Snap-Fit Sealing for Sterile Measurement Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bioreactor systems face challenges in ensuring proper placement and secure attachment of probes for electrical or electromagnetic measurements while minimizing contamination risks and assembly complexity.

Innovation Solution

A bioreactor design featuring a probe with resiliently deformable mechanisms and complementary surfaces that secure through a lid aperture, allowing fast assembly and sealing without adhesives, ensuring correct placement and easy replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive-based fixing techniques are used to secure the probe to the lid, then the probe can be fixed in place, but there is a risk of contamination by contact of the cell culture with glues or glue residuals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidassembly method

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the adhesive-based fixing mechanism from the system, replacing it with a mechanical joining approach using resiliently deformable mechanisms and complementary surfaces. This eliminates the source of contamination (glues and residuals) while maintaining the probe's secure attachment to the lid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesives) with a mechanical joining system consisting of resiliently deformable mechanisms and complementary surfaces. This mechanical substitution achieves secure probe fixation without introducing contaminants into the cell culture environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional assembly methods are used to secure the probe to the lid, then the probe can be fixed, but the assembly process is slow and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly securityVSAvoidassembly speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs resiliently deformable mechanisms that dynamically adapt during the insertion process. The deformable mechanisms allow for quick insertion by deforming during assembly and then resiling to lock the probe in place, enabling fast and secure assembly without complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The resiliently deformable mechanisms perform the securing action automatically upon insertion. The mechanisms self-actuate through deformation and resiling, eliminating the need for additional fastening steps or complex assembly procedures, thereby achieving both security and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the probe is designed as a non-integral part of the lid, then the probe can be easily replaced and assembled, but correct location of the sensing end in the vessel cannot be assured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe replaceabilityVSAvoidsensing end positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the lid with resiliently deformable mechanisms and complementary surfaces as an intermediary between the replaceable probe and the vessel. This intermediary ensures that when the probe is inserted through the lid, it achieves correct positioning in the vessel while maintaining easy replaceability through the same lid interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures accurate and contamination-free probe placement within the bioreactor, facilitating rapid assembly and maintenance, while maintaining measurement integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the one or more resiliently deformable mechanisms are first deformed on sliding against the one or more complementary surfaces and then resile when the probe reaches a predetermined insertion position relative to the lid to secure the probe to the lid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12624331B2Bioreactor including probe for electrical or electromagnetic measurements

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 THE AUTOMATION PARTNERSHIP (CAMBRIDGE) LTD

AI summary

A bioreactor includes a rigid-walled vessel for containing a biological medium, the vessel having a lid. The bioreactor further includes a probe passing through an aperture in the lid and having a sensing end inside the vessel and a remote end outside the vessel. The sensing end has plural electrodes for immersion in the biological medium, and the remote end is configured for coupling to external devices and transmission thereto of electrical or electromagnetic measurements made by the electrodes. One of the lid and the probe has one or more resiliently deformable mechanisms and the other of the lid and the probe has one or more respective complementary surfaces. The resiliently deformable mechanisms and the complementary surfaces are configured such that, on insertion of the probe through the aperture to assemble the probe to the lid, the one or more resiliently deformable mechanisms are first deformed on sliding against the one or more complementary surfaces and then resile when the probe reaches a predetermined insertion position relative to the lid to secure the probe to the lid. One of the lid and the probe carries a sealing element which seals the probe to the lid when the probe is secured at the predetermined position.