Miniaturized Cell Culture Incubator With Real-Time Environmental Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture platforms lack the ability to provide real-time control of optimal environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, CO2, pH, and dissolved oxygen, while also being bulky, lacking sterilization capacity, and having limited interfaceability to external hardware.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized incubator system with integrated sensors and control modules for real-time monitoring and adjustment of environmental conditions, combined with UV sterilization and easy interfacing with microscopy and spectroscopy platforms, using miniaturized components and automated control logic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cell culture platforms are used, then basic cell culture functions are provided, but real-time control of environmental conditions and monitoring capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple independent systems (incubator, sterilization unit, microscopy platform, spectroscopy platform, and control modules) into a single unified platform. This merging allows real-time control and monitoring of environmental conditions while maintaining individual functionality of each component, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is designed with multi-functional capabilities, combining cell culture, sterilization, imaging, and spectral analysis in one system. This universality enables comprehensive environmental control and monitoring without requiring separate standalone devices, improving reliability while managing complexity through integrated design.
2Volume of moving object
If miniaturized components are used, then device size is reduced, but integration of multiple functions becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The miniaturized platform incorporates multiple functions including incubation, UV sterilization, microscopy, and spectroscopy capabilities in a compact design. This multi-functionality ensures that despite reduced size, the system maintains comprehensive adaptability and interfaceability with various external hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design nests multiple functional components within each other - the incubator chamber contains culture supports, which interface with microscopy and spectroscopy platforms. This nested arrangement maximizes functionality within minimal volume while maintaining ease of integration with external systems.
3Extent of automation
If automated control systems are implemented, then operator dependency is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform incorporates sensors that continuously monitor environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels) and provide feedback to control modules. This automated feedback loop maintains optimal cell culture conditions without operator intervention, achieving high automation while managing complexity through closed-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment of environmental conditions through integrated sensors and control algorithms. The automated control system manages itself without requiring external operation, reducing operator dependency while the modular design keeps complexity manageable.
4Reliability
If sterilization capacity is added, then cell culture sterility is ensured, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization function is merged into the incubator design, with UV LEDs integrated directly into the incubator chamber. This combination ensures sterility through UV irradiation while minimizing additional space requirements, as the sterilization capability is built into rather than added as a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization system uses UV LEDs that emit ultraviolet light (invisible to human eye) to sterilize the culture environment. This approach provides effective sterilization without adding visible light interference to microscopy observations, and the compact LED design minimizes space requirements compared to traditional sterilization methods.
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
The system effectively replicates and controls the cellular microenvironment, ensuring sterility and optimal conditions for cell cultures, facilitating real-time monitoring and easy integration with external instruments, enhancing the efficiency and versatility of cell culture processes.
Implementation Method 1
a heating system, which reproduces, through conduction and/or convection, the temperature of the cellular microenvironment
Implementation Method 2
a heating system, which reproduces, through conduction and/or convection, the temperature of the cellular microenvironment
Implementation Method 3
a humidification system, which reproduces, through evaporation and/or convection, the humidity of the cellular microenvironment
Implementation Method 4
a humidification system, which reproduces, through evaporation and/or convection, the humidity of the cellular microenvironment
Implementation Method 5
easy interfacing with microscopy and spectroscopy platforms, using miniaturized components and automated control logic
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Platform (100) for screening static and dynamic cell culture supports, comprising: - a miniaturized incubator (101) for cell cultures comprising: a body; a plurality of sensors; and a heating system, a sterilization system and a humidification system; said miniaturized incubator (101) removably housing the static and dynamic cell culture supports; - a control module (115) comprising: a case (117); and an electronic unit (116), housed in said case (117) and connected to the plurality of sensors, to the heating system, to the sterilization system and to the humidification system; - a base stage (102) comprising at least one interfacing means removably connecting said platform (100) to at least one microscope or spectroscope (300). The body comprises a carriage (113), provided with an optical window (112), supporting and introducing in a removable way inside the miniaturized incubator (101), alternatively, the static and dynamic cell culture supports.