Cell Culture Device With Segmented Wells For Uniform Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell culture devices struggle to achieve uniform density of seeded cells on the circumferential surface of a band-shaped member, as cells can adhere arbitrarily, leading to varying cell density.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture device featuring a band-shaped flexible member with an inner and outer circumferential surface, where the inner surface is equipped with a plurality of concave wells connected by culture solution conduits, allowing for controlled seeding and uniform culture solution flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cells are seeded on the flat circumferential surface of the band-shaped member, then a large number of cells can be seeded, but the cell density varies depending on location
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential surface is divided into multiple discrete wells, each capable of containing a specific number of cells. This segmentation allows independent control of cell distribution across different locations, ensuring uniform density while maximizing total cell number.
Solution Approach 2:
Each well is designed with specific local properties (concave shape, defined volume) to control cell adhesion and distribution. The local geometry of each well ensures that cells are uniformly distributed within each well, addressing the location-dependent density problem.
2Productivity
If cells are seeded on the circumferential surface to maximize cell number, then productivity increases, but cell density control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the surface into multiple wells, the system can simultaneously culture a large number of cells (high productivity) while maintaining precise control over cell density in each well through defined geometric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The well geometry parameters (depth, width, volume) are optimized to control the number of cells each well can accommodate, enabling precise cell density control while scaling up total cell number for high productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the circumferential surface is made adhesive to promote cell attachment, then cell seeding is facilitated, but arbitrary adhesion locations result in non-uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive properties are localized to specific well structures rather than the entire surface. Cells are guided to adhere at specific locations within each well through the concave geometry, ensuring uniform distribution while maintaining easy seeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The wells are pre-formed with adhesive-coated surfaces during manufacturing, establishing predetermined adhesion sites before cell seeding. This preliminary preparation guides cells to specific locations, preventing arbitrary adhesion and ensuring uniform distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell culture device (100) includes a band-shaped flexible member (10), the band-shaped member being configured to be circumferentially windable. The band-shaped member (10) has an inner circumferential surface (1a) and an outer circumferential surface (1b), at least one of which is provided with a plurality of wells (2) each having a concave shape, and at least some (2) of the plurality of wells (2) are connected to each other by a culture solution conduit (3).