Cell Container with Fluid Displacement for Gas Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for shipping cells, such as islets, lack effective control over pressure and contamination, leading to cell damage and inefficient gas exchange, as they often result in high cell surface density, contamination risks, and stress on container walls due to gas contraction during cooling.
Innovation Solution
The development of cell containers with a fluid displacement member and overflow reservoir allows for gas displacement without filling the container entirely with medium, incorporating a cell compartment volume adjustment feature to regulate pressure and maintain uniform cell distribution, using gas-permeable materials for optimal oxygen exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cells are consolidated from many flasks into fewer flasks or conical tubes for shipping, then shipping efficiency is improved, but cell surface density increases excessively leading to increased competition for nutrients and oxygen and diminished cell health
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments, each capable of holding individual flasks or conical tubes. This segmentation allows cells to be distributed across multiple isolated units, maintaining lower cell surface density in each compartment while improving overall shipping efficiency through consolidated transport.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If flasks or conical tubes are filled entirely with medium to displace all gas, then gas damage to cells is prevented, but contamination risk increases and oxygen availability to cells is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Gas is extracted from the system through dedicated gas exit paths that lead to collection chambers, allowing gas to be removed without requiring complete filling of the container with medium. This extraction approach prevents gas damage while avoiding the contamination risks associated with overfilling.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas-permeable membrane is introduced as an intermediary between the cell-containing compartment and the gas collection chamber. This membrane allows gas to be displaced and collected while maintaining a controlled environment, preventing both gas damage and contamination without requiring complete medium filling.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If flasks or conical tubes are filled entirely with medium to displace gas, then gas damage is prevented, but oxygen availability to cells is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A gas-permeable membrane is used to separate the cell-containing compartment from the gas collection chamber. This porous membrane allows oxygen and other gases to permeate through, maintaining oxygen availability to cells while still enabling gas displacement and collection to prevent gas damage.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If medium is used to displace gas in sealed containers, then gas damage is prevented, but pressure is exerted on container walls when medium contracts during cooling, causing cracks or leaks
Solution Approach 1:
Gas is extracted from the container through dedicated exit paths before sealing, eliminating the gas that would otherwise contract and exert pressure on container walls during cooling. This extraction prevents the development of pressure-induced cracks or leaks while still protecting cells from gas damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design allows for volume expansion and contraction of the cell-containing compartment in response to temperature changes. This parameter change capability accommodates medium contraction during cooling without exerting excessive pressure on container walls, preventing cracks or leaks while maintaining gas displacement functionality.
5Reliability
If cells are placed in conical tubes or flasks with minimal medium for shipping, then contamination risk is reduced, but uniform cell distribution is lost and cell surface density increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into multiple compartments, each providing a defined space for cell-containing units. This segmentation maintains cell distribution uniformity by providing adequate space in each compartment while reducing overall contamination risk through isolated, controlled environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design creates equipotential conditions for cell distribution through controlled medium levels and compartment geometries that promote uniform cell placement. This equipotential approach maintains cell distribution uniformity while allowing for reduced contamination risk through controlled access points and sealed compartments.
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
This solution reduces contamination risks, maintains uniform cell distribution, minimizes stress on container walls, and ensures efficient gas exchange, thereby improving the overall quality and safety of cell shipping by controlling pressure and oxygen availability.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid displacement member, an overflow reservoir, and a fluid exit path allowing fluid to move from the cell compartment to the overflow reservoir
Implementation Method 2
using gas-permeable materials for optimal oxygen exchange
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a cell compartment volume adjustment feature to regulate pressure
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to methods and devices that improve the process of culturing cells and/or shipping cells from one location to another. They have the capacity to reduce the risk of contamination, regulate pressure in the medium surrounding cells, and maintain cells in a uniform distribution throughout transit. This leads to an improved level of process control relative to current methods.