Cell Collection Using Used Culture Medium to Inactivate Detachment Liquid

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and cell damage associated with using fresh culture medium to inactivate detachment liquid during cell collection from culture containers, particularly in large-scale cell culturing, where a significant amount of fresh medium is consumed.

Innovation Solution

A cell collection method that utilizes a used culture medium to dilute and inactivate the detachment liquid, reducing the need for fresh medium and minimizing cell damage by moving the used medium to a reservoir where it mixes with the detachment liquid and cells, thereby reducing the number of processes and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fresh culture medium is used to inactivate detachment liquid, then cell damage is suppressed, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell integrityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The used culture medium, which still contains inactivating components for the detachment liquid, is reused to inactivate the detachment liquid. This self-service approach allows the medium to continue functioning in its inactivating role without requiring additional fresh medium, thereby reducing cost while maintaining cell integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the used culture medium immediately, the invention recovers its remaining inactivating capacity by using it to neutralize the detachment liquid. This recovery process extracts continued utility from what would otherwise be waste material, reducing the need for fresh medium and lowering costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Productivity

If detachment liquid is supplied for complete cell detachment, then cell collection efficiency improves, but cell damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell collection efficiencyVSAvoidcell damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The used culture medium is mixed with the detachment liquid before the detachment liquid contacts the cells, creating a pre-neutralized solution. This preliminary anti-action reduces the concentration of harmful detachment liquid components, allowing effective cell detachment while minimizing cell damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The used culture medium acts as an intermediary substance between the detachment liquid and the cells. It mediates the interaction by inactivating the detachment liquid's harmful effects while preserving its cell-detaching capability, thereby protecting cells during the detachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4148113B1Cell collection method
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 SINFONIA TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4148113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4148113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4148113B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A cell collection method of collecting cells (13) includes a culture medium movement process, a detachment liquid supply process, and a mixing process. In the culture medium movement process, a used culture medium (11) in a culture container (6) is moved to a collection container (5). In the detachment liquid supply process after the culture medium movement process, a detachment liquid (12A) for detaching the cells (13) from an inner surface (9) of the culture container (6) is supplied to the culture container. In the mixing process after the detachment liquid supply process, the detachment liquid (12A) and the used culture medium (11) are mixed with each other.