Cell Culture Liquid Interface for Shared Media and Clean Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell culture systems face high costs and low yields due to specialized bioreactors and disposable containers, which are either costly to maintain or limited in capacity, and lack automation for industrial-scale use.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply interface with multiple connection formations and valve configurations allows for the efficient transfer and cleaning of nutrient media between cell culture containers and a shared nutrient medium reservoir, preventing cross-contamination and enabling flexible use of multiple containers with a single reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If specialized bioreactors with integrated heating and stirring mechanisms are used, then cell cultivation functionality is improved, but device complexity and procurement costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the bioreactor into two distinct parts: an active liquid supply interface unit (100) containing all functional elements (heating, stirring, valve configurations) and passive disposable cell culture containers (200) that serve only as culture vessels. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be concentrated in a reusable unit while keeping the containers simple and disposable.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid supply interface unit (100) is designed as a universal device that can be coupled to multiple different cell culture containers (200) through standardized coupling formations (130, 230). This multi-functionality allows a single complex unit to serve multiple containers, reducing the need for specialized bioreactors for each container.
2Ease of manufacture
If disposable cell culture containers are used, then procurement costs are reduced, but yields are limited due to small usable volume and lack of automation
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable cell culture containers (200) are designed to be self-sufficient for their primary function of holding and culturing cells, while the active liquid supply interface unit (100) provides automated nutrient medium supply, waste removal, and cleaning functions. This division allows simple disposable containers to achieve industrial-scale productivity through the automated interface unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the advantages of disposable containers (low cost, single-use sterility) with the capabilities of automated bioreactors (large volume, industrial-scale productivity) by combining passive containers with an active liquid supply interface unit that provides automated nutrient medium management and cleaning functions.
3Ease of operation
If a single access opening with screw cap is used on disposable containers, then ease of operation is improved, but automation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The access opening is segmented into two functional parts: a coupling formation (230) on the container for automated fluid connection and a separate fill/vent opening (30) with screw cap for manual operations. This segmentation allows the container to support both automated liquid handling through the coupling formation and manual filling/ventilation through the screw cap opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling formation (230) acts as an intermediary interface that enables automated connection to the liquid supply interface unit (100), allowing automated nutrient medium supply and waste removal without requiring the screw cap to be involved in automated operations, thus preserving both manual ease of operation and automation capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If bioreactors are reused after single use, then procurement costs are reduced, but cleaning effort increases and contamination risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies discarding to the disposable cell culture containers (200) which are discarded after single use to eliminate contamination risk, while the expensive liquid supply interface unit (100) is recovered and reused. The reusable unit incorporates automated cleaning functions that restore it between uses, making the discarding/recovering strategy economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid supply interface unit (100) performs preliminary cleaning actions automatically between uses of different containers. The cleaning fluid reservoir (106) and associated pumping mechanisms prepare and deliver cleaning fluid to sanitize the unit before the next container is connected, reducing manual cleaning effort and contamination risk.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a liquid supply interface for a cell culture system for supplying cell cultures found in different cell culture containers with a nutrient medium, wherein the liquid supply interface comprises: a housing defining a flow area; a first connection formation for the liquid-transferring connection of a first fluid line to the housing; a second connection formation formed separately from the first for the liquid-transferring connection of a second fluid line to the housing; a third connection formation formed separately from the first two for the liquid-transferring connection of the housing to a third fluid line; a coupling formation formed separately from the connection formations, which is formed for the producible and detachable liquid-transferring coupling contact according to the operation, with a corresponding counter-coupling formation of a cell culture container.