Cell Incubation Cassette With Conveyor Imaging and Low-Shear Screening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for cell screening and production are slow, cause shear stress, and lack optical access, making it difficult to efficiently screen large volumes of cells without damaging them.

Innovation Solution

A cassette with a conveyor system that allows for simultaneous cell production and high-throughput screening, featuring an optical window for imaging and a driving mechanism to move cells through an illumination region, maintaining an aseptic environment and minimizing perturbation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If cells are moved rapidly through fluid flow for screening, then screening speed is improved, but cells are damaged by shear stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreening speedVSAvoidshear stress damage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A conveyor belt acts as an intermediary carrier that physically transports cells through the screening system. The conveyor provides mechanical support to cells, allowing them to be moved without direct exposure to high-velocity fluid flow that would cause shear stress damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces fluid-based cell transport with a mechanical conveyor system. Instead of using fluid flow to move cells through the screening apparatus, a solid conveyor belt mechanically transports cells, eliminating the harmful shear stress associated with rapid fluid flow while maintaining high screening speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If cells are removed from the incubation environment for screening, then screening can be performed, but cells are exposed to unfavorable conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreening throughputVSAvoidcell viability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the incubation environment with the screening system by integrating the conveyor belt directly into the incubator. Cells remain in the controlled incubation environment (with appropriate temperature, humidity, and gas composition) while being transported through the screening apparatus, thus maintaining cell viability during high-throughput screening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor belt serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a transport mechanism for moving cells through the screening system and as a substrate that maintains the incubation environment. This multi-functionality allows continuous screening without compromising cell health.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If conventional screening systems are used, then cell screening is possible, but the speed is insufficient for large-scale cell therapy production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell production volumeVSAvoidscreening speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt enables continuous cell screening by constantly transporting cells through the illumination and detection regions. Unlike batch processing systems that require loading and unloading cycles, this system maintains continuous operation, significantly increasing screening throughput for large-scale cell therapy production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Speed

If cells are exposed to rapid fluid flow for transport, then transport speed is improved, but cells are perturbed by unfavorable conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidexposure to unfavorable conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt serves as a protective intermediary between the cell culture medium and the external environment. Cells are transported on the conveyor surface rather than being suspended in rapidly flowing fluid, providing mechanical support and protecting cells from shear stress and other unfavorable conditions while maintaining efficient transport speed.

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

Enables fast, minimally perturbing screening of large volumes of cells, ensuring every cell is screened without being removed from the aseptic environment, allowing only healthy cells to be harvested for therapeutic use.

Implementation Method 1

The cassette comprises an optical window configured to allow at least one imaging light beam to illuminate at least a portion of the conveyor at an illumination region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP4667557A1Cassette with a conveyor for incubation of cells

Publication Date: 2025.12.24 DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIV

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AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a cassette comprising a conveyor, a driving mechanism, and a medium handling mechanism. The cassette comprises an optical window configured to allow at least one imaging light beam to illuminate at least a portion of the conveyor at an illumination region. The medium handling mechanism is configured to provide a medium to the conveyor and the driving mechanism is configured to move the conveyor. The conveyor is configured to move through the illumination region. The cassette and the conveyor are configured as an incubator for cells comprised in the medium.