Cell Culture Device Lactic Acid Sensor Error Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell culture devices face inaccuracies in calculating the number of cells due to measurement errors caused by interfering substances in the culture medium, which react with enzyme sensors and lead to incorrect lactic acid concentration readings.

Innovation Solution

A cell culture device equipped with a sensor that measures both the lactic acid concentration in the culture medium and an error output value from interfering substances, allowing for the calculation of a corrected physical quantity by subtracting the error output value from the measured lactic acid concentration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an enzyme sensor is used to measure lactic acid concentration in the culture medium, then the number of cells can be calculated based on lactic acid discharge amount, but measurement errors occur due to interfering substances in the culture medium reacting with the enzyme sensor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelactic acid concentration measurement accuracyVSAvoidinterfering substances reacting with enzyme sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful interfering substances from the measurement system by measuring them separately and subtracting their contributions. The sensor measures both lactic acid and interfering substances, then the calculation system extracts only the lactic acid component by subtracting the interfering substance measurement, thereby obtaining accurate lactic acid concentration despite the presence of harmful factors in the culture medium

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of interfering substances into a beneficial correction mechanism. Instead of trying to eliminate interfering substances, the system measures their signal contribution and uses this information to correct the total measurement, transforming the harmful interference into a useful correction factor that improves measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If interfering substances are present in the culture medium, then the culture medium can be maintained with necessary nutrients, but measurement errors are generated in lactic acid concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell culture viabilityVSAvoidlactic acid concentration measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring the interfering substance concentration and using this information to correct subsequent lactic acid measurements. The system establishes a feedback loop where the presence of interfering substances is detected and compensated for in real-time, allowing accurate cell number calculation while maintaining reliable cell culture conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary correction calculation that mediates between the total measurement signal and the actual lactic acid concentration. This intermediary step subtracts the interfering substance contribution from the total signal, acting as a mediator that reconciles the presence of necessary culture medium components with accurate measurement requirements

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

This approach enables accurate calculation of the number of cells by eliminating the impact of interfering substances on the measurement, thereby improving the precision of cell counting in cell culture devices.

Implementation Method 1

an enzyme sensor utilizing an enzyme reaction as disclosed in Patent Document 2 (the biosensor in Patent Document 2) is generally used. The enzyme sensor in Patent Document 2 includes an oxidoreductase that reacts with lactic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme reaction: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

an oxidoreductase that reacts with lactic acid, which is a substance to be measured and is one of metabolites of cells, and an electron transfer substance that transfers electrons obtained by oxidation-reduction reaction of the lactic acid to a measurement electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation-reduction reaction: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentEP4560002A1Cell culture device and method for calculating cell number
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 SINFONIA TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4560002A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4560002A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4560002A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present disclosure is to accurately calculate the number of cells. A cell culture device 1 includes a sensor 26 for measuring the lactic acid concentration in a medium. The sensor measures the concentration of lactic acid in a medium in a culture vessel 21 during the cultivation of cells as a first physical quantity. The sensor also measures the output value of the lactic acid concentration in the medium in a supply bag 23, i.e., the output value of the lactic acid concentration in the medium supplied to the culture vessel 21, as an error output value. Further, the cell culture device 1 includes a calculator 14 that calculates the number of cells in the culture vessel 21 on the basis of the value of the corrected physical quantity that is calculated by subtracting the error output value from the value of the first physical quantity.