Cell Detachment Tapping Control for Leak-Free Culture Base Exchange

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell detachment methods cause damage to cells and hinder the efficient replacement of culture bases during the cell detachment process, leading to inefficiencies and potential leakage of culture solutions.

Innovation Solution

A cell detachment apparatus that stops the tapping member at a position separated from the culture base, allowing for easy replacement and improved cell detachment performance by controlling the movement and separation of the tapping member from the culture base, utilizing a tapping control unit to manage the impact force and vibration frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the tapping member stops at a position in contact with the culture base, then the cell detachment function is maintained, but the replacement of culture base becomes difficult and culture solution leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacing culture baseVSAvoidcell detachment function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tapping member is designed to dynamically adjust its stop position between two states: (1) contacting the culture base during cell detachment operation, and (2) separated from the culture base during replacement operations. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to optimize for different operational phases, resolving the contradiction between maintaining detachment function and enabling easy replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates the timing and position of the tapping member relative to culture base replacement operations. By receiving signals about replacement intent and adjusting the tapping member position accordingly, the control unit prevents interference between the tapping member and culture base during replacement while ensuring proper contact during detachment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of substance

If the tapping member contacts the culture base during replacement, then culture solution leakage occurs, but separating the tapping member complicates the detachment process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveculture solution leakageVSAvoidtapping member control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by positioning the tapping member in a separated state before culture base replacement begins. The control unit receives a signal indicating intent to replace the culture base and proactively adjusts the tapping member position to prevent potential leakage before it can occur, rather than reacting after leakage starts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit implements feedback control by monitoring the operational state (replacement vs. detachment) and adjusting the tapping member position accordingly. When replacement is detected, the system feedbacks a command to separate the tapping member; when detachment is detected, the system feedbacks a command to position the tapping member for contact, thus simplifying the control mechanism through state-based automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enhances cell detachment efficiency with reduced damage to cells and improved workability by ensuring the culture base and tapping member are not in contact during replacement, minimizing leakage and optimizing detachment performance.

Implementation Method 1

a tapping member 2 configured to tap the culture base 1 and release cells adhering to a culture surface of the culture base 1, from the culture surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4682236A1Cell detachment apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 CANON KK
  • EP4682236A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682236A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4682236A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cell detachment apparatus that releases cells adhering to a culture surface of a culture base, from the culture surface, by tapping the culture base, the apparatus includes a tapping member for tapping the culture base, and a tapping control means for moving the tapping member and control position of the tapping member, wherein the tapping control means stops the tapping member at a position separated from the culture base.